The Tuscan Gentlemen of Italy
Act 1 Scene 1
by NorseThing
The scene: A small select number of the Council of Nobles have assembled in the Doge's private residence in Genoa. The council is a mix of aristocrats and men of arms from both the Republic of Pisa and the Republic of Genoa. Many are present, but few dare to speak honestly.
Doge Martino, "Greetings, my dear friends. Today we must plan for the future. Should we dip into the treasury for a mission of conquest? Should we dip into the treasury to improve our lands? What must be kept for the poorer times that may be in our future? Florins are the key and also the reason for this meeting."
Cardinal Evio de Genova, "My Doge, the word of the Lord is clear on this. The florins in our treasury will not buy you an assurance in the hereafter, but the good Pope would be honored to say a prayer on your behalf if you gave some support to the church with some of the florins from the treasury."
General Spinola, "I may not be the greatest general of our lands, but our lands are small and that means the number of generals is small as well. Your son and my best friend, may know better than I about this situation. Expansion within our lands has less risk and the rewards to the people can be immediate. I suggest we lower the taxes a bit and proclaim a building program that will help the military to build strength for the future. We can proclaim some of the projects to benefit the merchants. You, my Doge, are better suited as an administrator than a warrior in the field. Your family has deep roots as one of the great merchant families of Genoa. Your reputation could convince the merchants we have their interests."
Councillor Ansoido, "My father, there is a great amount of truth in General Spinola's words, but.... There is also confusion in our goals and our intentions in what he suggests as well. The military and the aristocrats have always thought the other of lacking in the common interests. If we proclaim one goal and work toward another goal, both the military and the aristocrats will in the end will distrust you, for you are not speaking the truth. It is fine that our family has merchant roots, but the key to being a great merchant..."
Lorenzo di Medici now thought it wise to make himself known. "As a merchant, I realize speaking of truth is important. Just as in the art of a diplomat, deals require a great deal of trust by all parties and all families inolved. To close one deal and forgo future deals is not in the interest of any merchant in Genoa. After the first crusade was called by our dearly beloved Pope, Urban II, there was an increased demand for trade."
General Spinola sitting next to Councillor Ansoido, speaks softly into Councillor Ansoido's ear, "Lorenzo will no doubt continue with a bit of a history lesson. He is noted for finding the longest path to any answer and in this he does not disappoint his audience today. "
Lorenzo continues, "Since the French were such a large part of the effort despite their King being excommunicated, the Normans took up the banner on the king's behalf. Trade to and from points east improved the wealth of all Italian cities. Genoa gained more than some. We thus grew into the kingdom we know today. When the Holy Roman Empire grew weary of our needs for attention, we made the needed investments to secure the trade routes. With growth came the union of our beloved small city of Genoa with the trading town of Pisa. I cannot see any reason to upset this balance that we gain from trade. We gain by being a link between the rest of Europe with the regions to our east. These trade routes are now protected by our navy and not by the Holy Roman Empire's resources."
General Spinola, "I still maintain we must broaden our base beyond our small patch on the Mediterranean coast and a poor and undeveloped island just off our shores. The island of Corsica has too few people to develop the resources. The island's motte and bailey does little to protect the farming peasants and the sheep and the goats from the occasional pirates. That task is fulfilled by our navy. On this point Lorenzo and I are in agreement. We should look for a land more in keeping with our merchant skills. At the very least we should look for a land more suitable to more fully develop the military. So we must find projects that work towards the merchant interests. These projects must also work toward a stronger future military. To sell one half of an idea does not mean we are not speaking the truth."
Doge Martino, "We must be clear in our intentions. Half of truth is never the whole truth. So where can we look beyond our borders, if we were to decide to do so? The French Normans in Sicily have not been a bother after settling into the Muslim lands. They are no longer the pirates we once feared. They also have the support of the church. We even came to their aid in North Africa when they were settling into Sicily. With Papal support, we attacked a North African town in 1087. The Muslim Imam was the real source of the piracy. We did not have the people to take firm hold of a fully devout Islamic land. We attempted this and failed. Even with the fullest of cooperation between Genoa and Pisa, we did not have the strength to hold the town. A sacking raid did nothing but raise the ire of the local Imam."
General Spinola, "There are but three potential lands that do not violate the more established lands of our neighbors. It is against their interests for Genoa to gain in strength no matter how we achieve the gain. The three potentials are the minor city of Milan in Lombardy, the island town of Palma in the western Mediterranean that borders no power, and the town of Marseille in Provence."
Councillor Ansoido, "You forgot to mention the wooden castle settlement on the island of Sardinia to our south. If our one island does not have the resources, couldn't Sardinia serve as another military base to bolster our western Mediterranean interests? Two small settlements may be stronger than one larger settlement."
General Spinola, "It is not a town settlement. Neither Corsica nor Sardinia is large enough to justify port facilities for our merchants nor even docks for our naval squadrons. Also, the merchants would never agree to add another castle to our small kingdom. I believe the Sicilian Normans also have their eyes cast upon the island of Sardinia. The Doge also mentioned that the Pope has supported the Sicilians in the past and might view Sardinia as a reward to Sicily for past service. I also think that the garrison is tougher than Palma and perhaps even comparable to the equally challenging garrisons of Marseille and Milan. A challenging garrison. There are no quick rewards for our merchants. This does not pay back an investment to the treasury quickly."
Doge Martino: Thank you gentlemen. I am not certain we have settled a thing here today. There is much to think about before I make a decision. Now, the day is bright and full of cheer. Let's adjourn and think no more of this matter. I am certain that there are some young women in the courtyard of more interest to my friends of the Genoa nobility than speaking with an old man in a dark palace. Go out... into the sun! Enjoy the company and enjoy the day!