Crown of the West
Part I: The Boy King
January 4, 1067
Nassau
“Forgive the intrusion, my King, but you have a visitor.”
Heinrich von Franken, King of Germany, would-be-Emperor, and boy of sixteen, looked up from the parchment he was reading.
“Who is it?”
“Regent von Bikkenbach, m’lord. Shall I send him in?”
“Yes, very well.” The servant bowed and left the room. A moment later a man walked through the door.
“You wished to see me, Regent?” Heinrich asked dryly.
“Yes, your majesty. I have something to tell you.”
“And what might that be?”
“I have come to tell you that you are Heinrich IV, King of Germany, Burgundy and Italy, Duke of Franconia. Now that you are of age my regency is at an end and I relinquish control of the realm to you.”
A broad smile broke out across Heinrich’s face. “I’ve waited a long time for this day. Ten years spent with a crown on my head but no power to go along with it. Ten long years where others have governed for me, in my name. But no longer.”
Heinrich fixed a hard gaze at the former regent.
“And now that I have assumed my birthright, do you know what I’m going to do with you, old man?”
“You may do whatever your majesty pleases,” the regent replied, his face betraying nothing. A moment passed as the two men stared at each other. Then they both broke out in laughter.
“I’ll tell you what I’m going to do,” said the King, a smile once again on his face. “I’m going to heap gold and titles upon you, you implacable old fool! Tell me, did I have you even the slightest bit concerned?”
“To be honest,” von Bikkenbach said with a slight grin, “I know your majesty far too well to be taken in by such a charade, however convincing you may appear.”
“Yes, you do know me too well for that, I suppose,” the king conceded. He stood and walked over to the other man and placed his hand on his shoulder. “I owe you much, old friend. If not for you I may not have even survived my childhood.”
Heinrich’s face grew serious again. “I may jest, Friedrich, but never think that your service will be forgotten. These past years you’ve been a friend and mentor. More than that, you’ve been like a father to me. May God strike me down if I ever raise my hand against you.”
Friedrich looked up at Heinrich, a mixture of gratitude and affection on his face.
“And you, sire, need never question my loyalty. I swore to serve and protect you and so I shall. But come, enough of these soft sentiments and on to business. I did not spend all these years instructing you to waste time when there are serious matters at hand.”
Heinrich nodded and moved to sit down again. “You are right, of course. Report, then; tell me of your mission to the Frankish court.”
“I am happy to report success, sire. The Capetian king has been persuaded to enter into an alliance with your august personage. He was skeptical, at first, of one so young as yourself, but I was able to persuade him. He is not so old himself, after all.”
“Not so old? That boy is younger than I am! Imagine, that he would doubts about my age!" Heinrich, grumbled unhappily. "It does not matter, our border to the west is secured, at least for the time. What of our envoys to the Norman court in England?”
“Alas, the news is not so good, I’m afraid,” said Friedrich, shaking his head. “Duke William has refused our entreaties, though I suppose he should more properly be called ‘King’ William now. He has had himself crowned in London as the King of England.”
“King?” Heinrich asked incredulously. “William the Bastard has made himself a king?”
Friedrich chuckled. “He has changed that title as well, m’lord. He prefers to go by ‘the Conqueror’ these days.”
This elicited a snort from the King. “The conqueror indeed! He could call himself the second coming for all I care. Still, there is something to be admired in him, the way he has seized destiny. But back to our envoy; why has he refused our offer of alliance.”
“His refusal is not at all surprising, unfortunately. William is not concerned with continental affairs at the moment. His attention is entirely preoccupied with securing his hold on the British Isle. My sources tell me there is possibility of a Saxon revolt.”
“Hmm, something that can perhaps be used to our advantage later. Keep an eye on the situation, Friedrich.”
“Of course, your majesty.”
Heinrich IV, the Boy King of Germany
Frederick von Bikkenbach, former Regent and advisor to the King
Part I: The Boy King
January 4, 1067
Nassau
“Forgive the intrusion, my King, but you have a visitor.”
Heinrich von Franken, King of Germany, would-be-Emperor, and boy of sixteen, looked up from the parchment he was reading.
“Who is it?”
“Regent von Bikkenbach, m’lord. Shall I send him in?”
“Yes, very well.” The servant bowed and left the room. A moment later a man walked through the door.
“You wished to see me, Regent?” Heinrich asked dryly.
“Yes, your majesty. I have something to tell you.”
“And what might that be?”
“I have come to tell you that you are Heinrich IV, King of Germany, Burgundy and Italy, Duke of Franconia. Now that you are of age my regency is at an end and I relinquish control of the realm to you.”
A broad smile broke out across Heinrich’s face. “I’ve waited a long time for this day. Ten years spent with a crown on my head but no power to go along with it. Ten long years where others have governed for me, in my name. But no longer.”
Heinrich fixed a hard gaze at the former regent.
“And now that I have assumed my birthright, do you know what I’m going to do with you, old man?”
“You may do whatever your majesty pleases,” the regent replied, his face betraying nothing. A moment passed as the two men stared at each other. Then they both broke out in laughter.
“I’ll tell you what I’m going to do,” said the King, a smile once again on his face. “I’m going to heap gold and titles upon you, you implacable old fool! Tell me, did I have you even the slightest bit concerned?”
“To be honest,” von Bikkenbach said with a slight grin, “I know your majesty far too well to be taken in by such a charade, however convincing you may appear.”
“Yes, you do know me too well for that, I suppose,” the king conceded. He stood and walked over to the other man and placed his hand on his shoulder. “I owe you much, old friend. If not for you I may not have even survived my childhood.”
Heinrich’s face grew serious again. “I may jest, Friedrich, but never think that your service will be forgotten. These past years you’ve been a friend and mentor. More than that, you’ve been like a father to me. May God strike me down if I ever raise my hand against you.”
Friedrich looked up at Heinrich, a mixture of gratitude and affection on his face.
“And you, sire, need never question my loyalty. I swore to serve and protect you and so I shall. But come, enough of these soft sentiments and on to business. I did not spend all these years instructing you to waste time when there are serious matters at hand.”
Heinrich nodded and moved to sit down again. “You are right, of course. Report, then; tell me of your mission to the Frankish court.”
“I am happy to report success, sire. The Capetian king has been persuaded to enter into an alliance with your august personage. He was skeptical, at first, of one so young as yourself, but I was able to persuade him. He is not so old himself, after all.”
“Not so old? That boy is younger than I am! Imagine, that he would doubts about my age!" Heinrich, grumbled unhappily. "It does not matter, our border to the west is secured, at least for the time. What of our envoys to the Norman court in England?”
“Alas, the news is not so good, I’m afraid,” said Friedrich, shaking his head. “Duke William has refused our entreaties, though I suppose he should more properly be called ‘King’ William now. He has had himself crowned in London as the King of England.”
“King?” Heinrich asked incredulously. “William the Bastard has made himself a king?”
Friedrich chuckled. “He has changed that title as well, m’lord. He prefers to go by ‘the Conqueror’ these days.”
This elicited a snort from the King. “The conqueror indeed! He could call himself the second coming for all I care. Still, there is something to be admired in him, the way he has seized destiny. But back to our envoy; why has he refused our offer of alliance.”
“His refusal is not at all surprising, unfortunately. William is not concerned with continental affairs at the moment. His attention is entirely preoccupied with securing his hold on the British Isle. My sources tell me there is possibility of a Saxon revolt.”
“Hmm, something that can perhaps be used to our advantage later. Keep an eye on the situation, Friedrich.”
“Of course, your majesty.”
Heinrich IV, the Boy King of Germany
Frederick von Bikkenbach, former Regent and advisor to the King
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