The Rise of the European Emperor

Next, there is another important issue - the legal status of the divided Duchy of Holstein.

Is this question more complicated than the previous one. Marin directly occupied a duchy, and just changed the duke from King Hans to Marin.

But the Principality of Holstein, originally one country, is now split into two. Now, what kind of identity should be used in the future of East Holstein occupied by Lübeck and West Holstein occupied by Hamburg.

Obviously, after the split, the Principality of Holstein can no longer be called the Principality of Holstein. After all, there is only one duke title. Is it better for Lübeck or for Hamburg?

The opinion put forward by Lübeck and Hamburg is to imitate the system of Venice and divide the Principality of Holstein into two republics - the Republic of Lübeck and the Republic of Hamburg.

However, many great aristocrats in Germany are not very interested in the title of the Republic. Because a republic means no monarch. This made many conservative German nobles very dissatisfied, thinking that the republic was a deformed country without order and no monarch.

Lübeck and Hamburg also bribed many feudal lords, although it was out of the face of the Hanseatic League. However, many princes who received money suggested that Lübeck and Hamburg were not allowed to use the republic. Otherwise, they will vote against it even if they receive the money.

After half a day of controversy, Marin finally put forward a proposal - that is, to elect a duke in name for the Principality of Holstein. The titular duke then signed documents formally authorizing Lübeck and Hamburg to rule the eastern and western parts of the Duchy of Holstein respectively. And this duke has no right to levy a pfennig tax from the duchy of Holstein, nor has the right to interfere in the internal affairs of Lübeck and Hamburg.

In other words, choose a Duke Holstein as a display. But in fact, what happened to the Lübeck and Hamburg-controlled areas will remain the same in the future, without any influence.

In this way, those old-fashioned aristocrats will not be able to oppose the rule of Lübeck and Hamburg over their respective control areas in the name of opposing the republic. Basically, it's a compromise.

After deliberation, Tagfacht, the Chancellor of Lübeck, and Heisenberg, the Chancellor of Hamburg, jointly decided to let the ally Marin serve as the nominal duke. The instrument was then signed by Marin to permanently authorize the legal rule of the two Hanseatic cities in the areas under their control.

In fact, this model is very similar to the later constitutional monarchy. Even if he became the Duke of Holstein, he was only a nominal puppet.

Marin was in need of the help of the Hanseatic League at this time, so he naturally agreed.

then,

In the afternoon, Lübeck and Hamburg offered to make Marin the titular Duke of Holstein, hereditary. However, Marin will sign the paper, swearing never to interfere in anything in the Holstein area, and be a mascot with peace of mind...

This result was absurd, but the old-fashioned aristocrats who took bribes from Lübeck and Hamburg went down the stairs and agreed. As for the others, most of them have also been bought, so of course there is no problem. One vote, the result was a thrilling pass of 250 votes.

Then came the world's first constitutional monarchy...

After that, Marin signed a document on the spot to permanently authorize the autonomy of East Holstein and West Holstein, and vowed not to interfere in the government affairs of the Holstein region.

Only when the two Hanseatic cities of Lübeck and Hamburg elect a new Grand Chancellor do they need to go to Marin, make a pretence, and swear allegiance. However, this is basically just a matter of going through the motions. Then, Marin also pretended to give the new Grand Chancellor full authority to deal with any affairs of East Holstein or West Holstein.

After that, the two presidents did not need to consult Marin for any decision made in the area under their control. Unlike the Queen of England in later generations, there is at least a chance to sign her face. As for the nominal monarch, Marin, except for a chance to show his face when appointing a new speaker, at other times, he is basically regarded as air, and he has no sense of existence...

However, Marin had no intention of interfering in the affairs of the Principality of Holstein, and was merely doing a favor to his allies. In addition, with a duke title on the head, it is quite bluffing to say it...

Finally, there is the question of the city of Hamburg joining the Reichstag. The fact that Hamburg joined the Reichstag did not harm the interests of others, it was just a number of chairs. So this resolution had the least resistance, plus there was the support of the Habsburg faction, and Hamburg itself spent a lot of money on bribes. Then, the issue was passed without a hitch.

In this way, this time, Marin, Lübeck and Hamburg, the two allies, both achieved the desired result in this imperial meeting, and naturally they were all happy.

Of course, in addition to political efforts, the reason why they are able to succeed is also a very important reason why they are willing to spend money.

This time the Worms Empire meeting, Marin and two allies, combined a huge sum of 800,000 gold coins. And Charles V spent a total of 850,000 gold coins for the election of the Holy Roman Emperor. So, if you spend so much money, it would be weird if it doesn't work.

It just so happens that Marin is rich, and Lübeck and Hamburg are the leaders and deputy leaders of the Hanseatic Business Alliance. They are both local tyrants. Why would they care about spending money? For these three, the problem that can be settled with money is not a problem...

Even if it is put into later generations, whether the elections in the old United States or the elections in other democratic countries will be settled with money, right?

The old beauty of later generations, to choose a president, spend hundreds of millions of dollars. Therefore, ordinary individuals and small parties cannot afford such expenses at all, and can only be eliminated. When Trump becomes president, he pays his own money without donations from others. Who makes him a super rich man...

That is the future, because there is a perfect anti-corruption mechanism, bribery is risky. In the early 16th century, bribery was basically public and risk-free. Others bribe MPs, if you don't bribe, you will definitely fail...

Marin likes this mechanism very much, because he has enough money to bribe the princes who have votes. If it weren't for the identity of the elector, Marin would have wanted to spend money on an emperor to play with after the death of Maximilian I. After all, after the death of Maximilian I, Charles V, the Genfugher family borrowed 850,000 gold coins and smashed it to a Shinra emperor. And for Marin, what is 850,000 gold coins? If you put it together, you can get more than one million gold coins. Isn't it like a game to smash an emperor? And you don't have to borrow...