I Am Louis XIV

  Chapter 341 The Children's First Wedding

The significance of Crete to the Roman Church is of course not comparable to that of Rhodes, where the Knights Hospitaller held to the end, as well as the well-known Istanbul (Constantinople), and even the holy city of Jerusalem, but it is wonderful. A military stronghold that can be attacked and defended, from which to the west is Sicily, Sardinia and Italy, from it to the north is Greece, and from it to the east is Rhodes and the Peninsula of Asia Minor, and it is the Coming across, and Rhodes Island are like two outstretched hands, hugging the Aegean Sea above.

If it weren't so important, the Ottoman Turks wouldn't have torn their face with the Venetians - yes, the Venetians, unlike the French, did business with pagans righteously - and fought for over a hundred years .

Louis XIV's proposal could not help but make Innocent XI not greedy and become the Pope. In terms of power, he has no room to climb, and his family will lie on the church like leeches and eat. The stomach is full, so no matter who it is, whether it is Clement X before or Innocent XI now, they will always pursue glory and ideals at the last and most glorious stage of their lives—for a What kind of honor is the highest honor for a priest? What ideal is the greatest ideal? Of course, it is to conquer the Quartet for God.

Moreover, in such wars, which are called holy wars, one-tenth of the wealth obtained will always be dedicated to the Church of Rome, and the Church can continue to receive considerable and continuous income from the recaptured territories, even if Like the king of France who intends to take the new territory as his own, to ensure the legitimacy of the territory, and there will be no problems with subsequent inheritance and transfer, the church also needs to be guaranteed. Of course, such a guarantee is very valuable.

As for all the forces of the Sun King, Innocent XI has also seen it. He saw with his own eyes that the army of Louis XIV was in the town of Colonna. When the Pope was on Louis XIV's little pilgrimage, he put on the friar's clothes and brought The most credible people, like an ordinary abbot, went out of St. Peter's Square to see, the soldiers were strong, young, brightly dressed, well-armed, and there was a kind of face-to-face in their words and deeds. The smell of blood they felt—they were all withdrawn from the army that had previously fought against Kamneko. While the Pope was resting at the family's home, the family said the soldiers and officers had been honored for their heroism in battling the Ottoman Turks, and accompanied their king on the pilgrimage to Rome.

It stands to reason that thousands of soldiers are enough to cause irreparable damage to such a town, but the Pope did not see anyone robbing, stealing or raped, and the residents of the town and the soldiers also seemed to be familiar friends when dealing with each other. Instead of an enemy who must be on guard - this is rare, not to mention that in a place like Italy that has been ravaged by mercenaries for thousands of years, the language barrier alone is a problem - at this time, only nobles and kings, scholars and priests learned foreign languages, Not to mention, there are many local languages ​​in Italy.

After watching for a while, they realized that, compared to the silver tongues that can be talked about, they are better than the clanging silver eagles and gold Louis. The coins with the head of Louis XIV have become the common currency in this town. The French soldiers' salaries are paid monthly without delay. They also have wartime allowances every day on the battlefield. They spend generously, never care too much, and are very willing to make friends with others. They come up with a lot of strong Istanbul style. It should be the loot from the battlefield, attracting a lot of idle boys, and businessmen who heard the news, making this place more lively.

When they were in the tavern, the Pope's servants also heard a new thing, that is, everyone knows that wherever there is an army, there will also be another ancient business. I heard that there is a whole army of the king here. The woman and Mingshu came overnight, but to their great disappointment, only a few soldiers were willing to trade with them, and this rare trade was stopped shortly after.

Innocent XI did not know that Louis was worried that his soldiers and officers had not been killed in the previous three battles, but because of the meidu, the disease would be transmitted to children and children by the father and husband. Mother, even if wizards had potions, he would never allow such behavior, which is commonplace elsewhere, to flood his army.

The pope had to admit that he was moved, and he even tentatively wondered if there was dissatisfaction in the French army because of it - unfortunately, no; he asked the servants to ask the priest in the chapel - usually Said that, wherever the priests in the army went, they would go to the church or the monastery to say mass. What Innocent XI wanted to know was that since Louis XIV was almost openly planting wizards and pagans in the army (at least some too deviant scholars), does anyone question that they are being loyal to a devil's retinue?

   Innocent XI would not dare to send someone to Paris like the mad Clement X to preach that their king was a wizard, but if there is... he means, always be prepared for a rainy day.

   In the end, should he be glad that he just asked the priest of the Colonna family?

   Innocent XI sighed happily.

The Pope and the Cardinals will be in trouble when this army is in Rome, but they will definitely want to see this army in Istanbul... no no no, this may be a bit early, but it's still very exciting to imagine Happy people. Innocent XI raised the teacup, "Deal."

   "Deal." Louis also raised the teacup and touched him.

Of course, there are still countless detailed articles to discuss later, there are benefits that can be grabbed right away, benefits that will flow through the water, and benefits that I don’t know if I can see it… Anyway, King Innocent XI already knew about Louis X. Four will definitely not be Louis IX (St. Louis), and he doesn't care if he can get a saint's name after death.

  In this case: "I say," said Innocent XI amiably, "since you are already in Rome, why don't you simply arrange the marriage of the Duke of Colonna and the Grand Princess of Anna?"

   This sentence made Louis stunned for a while, "Anna is not old enough to sign a marriage contract."

   "Ha," Innocent XI became proud now: "Your Majesty, you don't have to worry about this at all."

Louis XIV really doesn't have to worry about this. The Roman church learned how to cheat in the BC. After a large number of ignorant lords appeared in the Middle Ages, they were even more good at using various documents to increase their industry-like It is the will of a deceased person who, inexplicably, does not care about his parents, wives, and children, and gives fields and estates to the monastery from time to time, such as when a noble and a king are married, and the bride and groom are either one or a couple. .

   So Anna, the eldest daughter of the Grand Duke Cosimo III of Tuscany, married the Duke of Colonna. This is undoubtedly the most advantageous for Louis XIV. First, the Duke of Colonna was eighteen years old and completely out of the category of children. As a voice and credible adult for several years, Louis XIV's Italian Raiders could be implemented two to three years earlier; secondly, as Innocent XI said that being able to personally witness and witness the wedding of the eldest son is also a father's greatest wish; finally, he can just take this opportunity to see how the people here are more than a century later. What kind of thoughts do people have when they appear in Italy again - is it anticipation, or is it disgust, or is it hatred?

  ———

  Francesco, the Medici had a gout attack within minutes after hearing the news - trouble for the Medici family.

If the French king was not present at the wedding, the duke of Tuscany and the masters of the Medici family could still pretend that the duke of Colonna had nothing to do with the sun king, but it was clear that the king intended to let his personal Having a son is like the former King Ferdinand of Naples, not only can he be protected and rewarded by him like a child born in an orthodox marriage, but also let him inherit a kingdom from his father's blood.

When you think of what the Holy Roman Empire will be like, what will happen to Spain, what will happen to the princes of Italy, Francesco's gout doesn't seem to be born on the toes and knees, but on the head, but whether it is him, Neither the Grand Duke of Tuscany had any reason to refuse - even if Cosimo III's original wish was to get some help from the French king to ensure that the Medici family's rule in Tuscany could continue.

At this moment, he heard a commotion, and he asked the servant to carry himself to the window and looked down, just in time to see Ferdinand, the eldest son of Cosimo III, with the Duke of Colonna, and The French dauphin louis went out talking and laughing. They were similar in age and were both boys. Therefore, although the dauphin louis and Ferdinand had not known each other for a long time, they quickly became good friends-Fran Chesco watched seriously, frowning slowly, because apart from the Duke of Colonna and the Dauphin the little Louis, there were only one or two Italian entourage around them, and the others were all French, oh, and There was one, but it was also a Tatar named Anwo, whose father was the chief of a Tatar tribe, and he swore allegiance to the king of France, and the child was the equivalent of a hostage.

They went out on horseback with muskets and came back with a good harvest, and they shouted that they wanted to roast venison, and some said that they should cook mutton and fish soup, new recipes from Paris, and more recently from Paris and Versailles So much has come—jewelry, powder, clothing, poetry and theater, and sculpture and painting—that have replaced Florence, and Siena, and Milan, as the center of pleasure and civilization.

Francesco was so worried, with gout that he could barely sleep, he pricked up his ears - after dinner, the boys went out again, because the king of France had brought not only an army, but also a troupe , although the props they brought were not many due to the limited stock, it was enough for these children to watch one game after another with great interest.

Ferdinand was not as far-reaching as his uncle and father thought, and like most dudes at this time, his father and mother's unfortunate marriage left him with a great lack of education, although now Cosimo III has also Begin to teach him as harshly as possible - but from time to time the gout passed down from generation to generation by the Medici makes Cosimo III have to rest in bed, and the bubbly boy runs out to play again. Francesco didn't want to blame him. It was because Cosimo III was not good with his wife. By the time the Archduke wanted to educate him, his character and habits had already been fixed—he wasn't bad, just lazy and unwilling. take responsibility.

It is precisely for this reason that Cosimo III is so anxious. The members of the Medici family are not very long-lived, and he is also worried that he will not be able to last for a few years... Now it seems that he can only hope that his brother can last for twenty or thirty years. Well, even if Ferdinand can't, they might still be able to consider his child...

When Ferdinand walked into Francesco's room with a smile, Francesco instinctively felt that something was wrong, but he still sat up reluctantly and asked in a gentle tone what they were doing, Of course, hunting, swimming, and theater, and dancing, and so on, and cards and dice.

   "I think you need to get ready," Francesco hinted: "Ferdinand, your sister's wedding is going to be held in advance. You are her brother, you should do your best."

"I'm doing my best," Ferdinand sat down on the head of his bed and raised his feet, "you should also find a wizard to see your feet, and your father, I really didn't know you were worried. What, now you can see wizards appearing in every palace right now."

"It's never a bad thing to be cautious," especially them, Francesco moved his body, Ferdinand immediately came up to put him a pillow behind him, and then poured him a glass of water, he was really not a man Bad boy, as if to comfort Francesco, he said: "I have a very good relationship with the Duke of Colonna, uncle, he promised me that he will definitely treat Anna well, and they will be long after. Stay in Italy, not France."

  This is what worries me the most. Francesco said in his heart: "So is the Duke of Colonna going to spend some time in France with Anna after the wedding?"

   "Of course, always let mother see Anna." Ferdinand said indifferently, and then he was happy again: "Not only them, uncle, I have also promised His Royal Highness the Dauphin to go back to Versailles with him."

   Francesco's eyes darkened and he fainted immediately.

  ———

  The wedding of the Duke of Colonna and Ana Maria Luisa de' Medici took place in the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence.

Before Louis XIV, Charles VIII ascended the throne in Italy and declared himself the king of Naples, and then Louis XII demanded to inherit Milan and Naples at the same time as the descendants of Anjou and Visconti. The third French king who stepped into Italy within three hundred years, of course, France's ambitions for Italy have never been concealed, and Louis XIV has no intention of pretending to be a good man who wants nothing.

But no matter when the wedding is always a pleasant thing, he chooses who to go to the wedding with him. In addition to the guards and attendants, Bontang is definitely a must, as well as Vauban and Schumberg, Lu The Marquis of Vas and other generals, it is worth noting that there is a man named Nicola Catina, the son of a lawyer, who used to be a lawyer, but one day he found himself more suitable for the army - maybe we remember, The friend who came to Paris with Vauban, the one who, because of a lover on the Rue de Tourbig, took the king and his **** by mistake and saved the life of the Prince of Condé.

He is Nicholas. After Sebastian Vauban fell into the eyes of Prince Condé and Louis XIV, he was also rewarded and promoted, but Vauban joined the king and he remained in Condé In the prince's army, he followed Kongdai to Spain, and then became a prisoner together in the battle of Dunkirk. Later, the prince was pardoned and he was released. He originally wanted to continue his career as a lawyer. But within a few months, Vauban, who was willing to vouch for him, managed to stuff him back into the army.

   In the previous battles, he has accumulated a lot of merits, but he is calm by nature and too cautious, so he is not as conspicuous as Vauban or others.

But as long as Vauban was there, he wouldn't just disappear from the crowd. It's no wonder that Bontang has always been able to get so much respect and bribes. Maybe Louis XIV was not very impressed with him, but When he appointed the attache, he tickled it when he saw the name.

In Versailles and Paris, perhaps only the dukes and marquis can get this kind of honor, in the son of a lawyer, we can imagine how surprised and delighted Monsieur Nicolas Katina was, although he was not the kind of frivolous person , involuntarily ran back to his room, and began to dress himself carefully, as well as his horse and weapons, and he went to exchange a belt with another officer-because it was a cowhide belt inlaid with gold and precious stones. With a distinct Ottoman Turkish style, anyone who sees it will know that he is one of the soldiers of this jihad.

When it was time to set off, about a thousand people gathered in the square, court ministers, generals, officers, soldiers... bands, as well as entourage and servants, cooks, handymen, etc. They gathered in the streets, even if they had already The voice was deliberately lowered, but it was unavoidable to set off a wave of noise after another.

   The addition is complete.

   (end of this chapter)