Holy Roman Empire Question

**Kip** · November 04, 2006, 07:49 AM

Hey all,

On the Faction Preview on totalwar.com, (I think its there...) it says the HRE does not answer to the Pope, even though it is Catholic. Does this mean they don't have to worry about excommunication when attacking other Catholic factions?

But my main concern is, if they are independent of the Pope, does this mean they cannot join Crusades? I thought I finally decided the Faction I wanted to play as first, but if they can't join crusades, I may have to rethink...

**valero** · November 04, 2006, 07:53 AM

From a realistic point of view, it should be possible.

**Ritterlichvon86** · November 04, 2006, 08:01 AM

The Holy Roman Empire of German Nation was the "protector" of the pope. There was some fight going on between a certain german Kaiser and a pope, but except for this event I don't think it would've been often that the popes dared to demand something from the germans.

Let's wait for our history experts to find this thread

**Romanos** · November 04, 2006, 08:16 AM

The Emperors of the HRE where constantly fighting with the Pope so far as nominating the own anti-Pope and I'm pretty sure that he can get as ex-communicated like every other factions.

**Dave of the West** · November 04, 2006, 08:15 AM

No, they're Catholic, they abide by the same laws, that text is just a bit of historical context.

**Sitarus Originalus PM-30+** · November 04, 2006, 08:55 AM

when HRE was astablished... they want to make defender - a country to protect the Pope - they have created theirown biggest thread actually =)

**Soulghast** · November 04, 2006, 08:56 AM

I think that they should join crusades. Can you give us a link to this preview?

**Kip** · November 04, 2006, 09:18 AM

www.totalwar.com

Click on Game Info, then Factions, then Sicily. (My memory must be shot...I thought the factoid I read was in the HRE Preview, but its actually under Sicily.

Right below the screenshot of the Sicilian knights running through the gate is this statement:
"Hiding behind shields is however, not the way to establish an empire - nor is any defence without its weakness. The Holy Roman Empire shares borders with the Sicilians, and the armies of the Reich answer to the Kaiser - not the Pope"

If a theme of the Faction is that the HRE is independent from the Pope, then does that exclude them from joining Pope-decreed crusades?

**Dave of the West** · November 04, 2006, 09:20 AM

Originally Posted by KippyK

The Holy Roman Empire shares borders with the Sicilians, and the armies of the Reich answer to the Kaiser - not the Pope"

You're reading way too much into that. CA is simply saying you, the player, and not the Pope, controls what your faction does.

**Kip** · November 04, 2006, 09:22 AM

I guess I see your point...The preview details the Papacy's support of Sicily, so maybe the statement is just to show that support from the Papacy does not make you immune.

**The Mongol** · November 04, 2006, 09:23 AM

Originally Posted by Dave of the West

You're reading way too much into that. CA is simply saying you, the player, and not the Pope, controls what your faction does.

I think they'll act like the other Catholic factions as well. Dave of the West got it down.

**Yakov** · November 04, 2006, 10:01 AM

well the seem to get excommunicated alot

**Soulghast** · November 04, 2006, 09:33 AM

Originally Posted by KippyK

www.totalwar.com

Click on Game Info, then Factions, then Sicily. (My memory must be shot...I thought the factoid I read was in the HRE Preview, but its actually under Sicily.

Right below the screenshot of the Sicilian knights running through the gate is this statement:
"Hiding behind shields is however, not the way to establish an empire - nor is any defence without its weakness. The Holy Roman Empire shares borders with the Sicilians, and the armies of the Reich answer to the Kaiser - not the Pope"

If a theme of the Faction is that the HRE is independent from the Pope, then does that exclude them from joining Pope-decreed crusades?

Truly...

**Soulghast** · November 04, 2006, 11:34 AM

When excommunicated, you can't launch crusades?

**Lusted** · November 04, 2006, 11:34 AM

No, because Crusades require the Pope's blessings to go ahead.

**Soulghast** · November 04, 2006, 11:38 AM

And when excommunicated,the other catholic factions go to war with you?

**Inhuman One** · November 04, 2006, 11:41 AM

I am certain that they will get crusades, Barbarossa was from the Holy Roman Empire after all. All I know about him I learned from playing age of empires 2 but it was an interesting story and I am sure its rather accurate what is told there. I found it a rather impressive story. He had a victory (not sure what it was) and danced into a river with his armor on and drowned. Many of his men deserted or joined the enemies, but a group of his knights brought Barbarossa to Jerusalem as he had promised in life.