The Conference of Thessaloniki was held to elect the new King of Greece by the Interregnum Hellenic Government in 1450. The countries of Europe are asked to nominate one candidate for the post of King per country.
Electors[]
OOC: I know that not all of the electors are under Greek rule, but, as they are Greek, with experience in ruling in the Aegean Sea and on the Greek mainland, they are the ones who have been chosen to rule Greece until a king has been elected.
As a Greek I can tell you that in Medieval it made no sense to have a vassal of another nation elect your King and rule your nation, they serve another nation, plus nationalities play no role until the era of nationalism. ~Bear
Louis de Luxembourg, Lord of Argos and Nauplia
Palamede Gattilusio, Lord of Ainos
Leonardo III Tocco, Count of Cephalonia and Zante, Duke of Leukas
John Asen Zaccaria, The Bastard of Achaea
Chiara Zorzi, Margravine of Bodonitsa
William II Crispo, Duke of Naxos
Crusino I Sommaripa, Lord of Paros and Andros
Thomas Palaiologos, Prince of the Byzantine Empire
Phillippe de Lusignan, The First Son of Cyprus
Candidates[]
All European countries are allowed to put up one candidate, along with reasons why to pick that candidate.
OOC: Naples brings up many good points, but also makes a great point without knowing: as this is a conference and not a treaty, debating will be allowed underneath each candidates nomination.
King Wladyslaw III, 26 year old King of Poland-Lithuania with a PU the long-term independence of Greece from aggressive powers will be secured. (Sorry i couldn't find many nobles and the ones i did find die ~5 years later from some hereditary disease so...)
- Naples: A newly independent nation deserves better than to be placed into a personal union with a nation comprised of two personal unions.
- Poland-Lithuania: As per Acts of Union of Lublin Poland-Lithuania is now unified into one nation that has little interest in Greece other than safeguard its independence, as its too far to puppet/sphere it. Our aim is to keep any expansionalist powers away and to safeguard the independence of Greece.
- Bohemia: Poland-Lithuania is too far away to give needed assistance to Greece, and it would be inadvisable to allow the Polish to force union on the new country of Greece.
Sweden: King Olaf IV proposes Eric Vasa, cousin of his kingship, married to a Gutnish merchant's daughter, with a son, Ludwig.
- Naples: A cousin of a distant realm does little to immediately guarantee the security of the Kingdom of Greece, and a faraway nation like Sweden doesn't provide much economic benefit.
- Bohemia: Sweden is too far away to give any needed benefit to the Kingdom of Greece.
The Gurkani propose Julius Megas Komnenos as the candidate to be the next King of Greece. Not only is Julius of Greek ancestery, but he also belongs to House Komnenos which is one of the major Byzantine noble houses. As such, he is no foreigner to the Byzantine Empire. His seat of power, Trebizond was one of the few areas that resisted any conquest or destruction during the period when Byzantium and other Byzantine areas fell to the Ottomans and later to the Papal forces. As such, his ascension to the throne will not only secure the reign of a true Greek King but will also secure the Gurkani Sultanate as an ally of the Greeks. If Julius Komnenos were to ascend the Greek throne, he would be simultaneously ruling over the Kingdom of Greece and the Khedivate of Trabzon, bringing the city of Trebizond under significant Byzantine influence. Julius's sister, Julia Komnenos is already married to Mahmud Mirza, the Amir of Bukhara who is the cousin of the current Gurkani Sultan, Zeeshan Beg Mirza. These family and strategic ties will surely bind together Persia and Greece.
- Naples: Subjugating oneself to the Gurkani Sultanate, while it may appear to yield great fruits, is extremely risky and also potentially loses the authority of the king as he'd be seen as a puppet of a Muslim sultanate.
- Bohemia: Why should the Kingdom of Greece submit to the Muslims, who they just became independent of, and who has oppressed the peoples of Greece for all those years?
Portugal proposes that Prince Henry the Navigator and his passion for the seas becomes the first King of Greece, he will marry someone of the lesser Greek nobility.
- Naples: Portugal is having a tough time diplomatically, with its current king still struggling to find a suitable marriage due to fear for the nation's future and overall well-being.
- Portugal actually isn't having trouble, in fact just got married to the heir of Bohemia.
- Bohemia: The marriage was to Eleanor, who is not the heir nor is she the ruler of Portugal. Portugal is also too far away to provide any help to Greece militarily if needed.
The Austrian Archduke Albert V & II proposes his son, Ferdinand von Habsburg-Wittelsbach, Count of Habsburg as king. Ferdinand has shown great statecraft in administering the county of Habsburg, and this future union with Austria will provide protection to the Greek and respect this long-term independence of the nation, as promises of an all-Greek ruling council with no German interference are made. It is also noted that by putting Greece in Personal Union with Austria, it is also putting it under the indirect protection of the Holy Roman Empire. On a side note, Ferdinand is yet unmarried, and as such has the ability to wed a member of an ancient Byzantine noble house to cement his connections in the region and ensure that the next king of Greece is of ancient noble Greek stock.
- Naples: Again, going into a personal union is risky business and Austria is hardly able to aid Greece without a wider crusader movement to back them. (It also isn't true that it'd be under protection of the HRE.)
- Austrian Retort: One of the Austrian Crown's oldest alliances is with the kingdom of Hungary, meaning that troops can be transported across those lands without any repercussions. AS an Attack on Greece would be considered an Attack on Austria, the Austrian Crown is fully capable of coming to the aid of the nation of Greece in times of need. Having a nation being further away comes with certain advantages, however, such as a strategic need to bolster defensive positions. This necessity will prove an advantage in the long run as it will aid the Greeks to become self-sufficient and contribute to Greek independence. Without direct access to enforce Austrian policy, Greece will be free to pursue its own future.
- Bohemia: We do not think Greece should enter into Union with Austria. Bohemia also controls Hungary, which means that Bohemia would be more readily available to assist in defense of Greece. The point about being in the HRE has no merit, as one nation state in the HRE can not provide the near amount of diplomatic or military power that the Emperor himself can.
Naples and Italy suggest Francesco Visconti, first cousin of the King of Italy, cousin-in-law of the Queen of Naples, and brother-in-law of William Crispo. Francesco is an experienced warrior, having fought alongside Naples and Italy for Greek independence and was also raised as one close to the line of succession of a major realm. Visconti speaks the Greek language, as well as Latin and Italian, as part of his studies involved time in Constantinople, and he's expansion-minded so would be eager to lead to the unification with that great city. He is also an eligible bachelor, who could marry a noblewoman of an ancient Greek house. Finally, the alliance he brings with the liberating state of Naples and its union state, Italy, is among the most valuable in Europe, able to field more men than even France and being extremely close in case war should break out.
- Poland-Lithuania: If Naples/Italy and Greece form a PU eventually Greece is gonna become a puppet with no free will due to the Italian proximity to this nation and the Italian interests in the area. Also your words apply better in your nation than mine since its now united into one nation. As you said: A newly independent nation deserves better than to be placed into a personal union with a nation comprised of two personal unions.
- Naples: We are not proposing a personal union, as your commentary would seem to suggest and as Poland-Lithuania suggests. As you can see above, a first cousin (whose heir isn't even the King of Italy) is being proposed to be selected as King of Greece. Italy has no intentions of subjugating Greece; if we did, we would've done something to that effect instead of granting Greece its independence.
Bohemia puts forth Grand Prince Adolf, who is the Grand Prince of both Bohemia and of Hungary and their respective realms. Grand Prince Adolf is of the House von Luxemburg, and is the younger son of Wenceslaus V, Holy Roman Emperor, and King of both Bohemia and Hungary. As the Greeks may know, Wenceslaus V was the King that came and initiated the liberation of the Balkans, which earned Greece its independence. Adolf is highly educated, having been in schooling since a very young age. He also is fluent in German, Hungarian, Czech, Latin, and is learning Greek. Adolf is also of the Kingdom of Bohemia/Hungary, which borders Greece directly, and therefore can come to Greece's aid quickly if necessary.
Adolf also grew up during the war, and as such, has knowledge of the region and of the people from his father and from his studies. He is also a devout Christian, and as he is not heir to the throne of the Kingdom, he has been trained to be a general for the Bohemian armies. He also has no wife, allowing for a marriage into the Greek houses if so wished. Adolf's connection as son of the Holy Roman Emperor himself will give Greece direct assistance from the Holy Roman Empire.
Adolf's connection to Bohemia will give Greece influence in the Balkans, as Bohemia dominates the area with their personal union of Hungary. Furthermore, Greece would benefit from trade with Bohemia/Hungary as they are a part of the Compact of Iskenderun, giving them exclusive trade to the east, as well as having trade policies with other nations in the area such as Croatia. Bohemia/Hungary is a powerful force in the region militarily, diplomatically, and economically. Bohemia was the liberator of Greece, and also send many thousands of men to ensure the independence of Greece from the Ottomans.
Alfonso V of Aragon proposes his Greek protege, Jacob of Naxos, to become the first King of a unified Greece. Prince Jacob has been personally trained by the King of Aragon in the ways of strategic warfare and diplomacy, making him an excellent choice for the man who would be supremely responsible for the defence of the Greek peninsula. Furthermore, as the son of a former Greek ruler himself, Prince Jacob would know first hand the issues facing Greece and her people, and his context would enable him to rule effectively, without the troubles faced by foreign rulers who have to first familiarise themselves with their adopted country.
As a thalassocracy, Aragon knows the waters of the Mediterranean well. Having been trained with the Aragonese Royal Armada, Prince Jacob as King of Greece would be more than capable of leading the country's marine forces in any conflict: Greece as a peninsular country would logically have to rely heavily on her navy for the defence of her lands and her sovereignty.
A young man, Prince Jacob of Naxos has many years ahead of him, and, God-willing, would be able to serve many years as the new King. A long reign is essential to a stable first government; a young, energetic King would be a perfect facilitator of such stability.
Thus, the Government of the Crown Union of Aragon proudly presents to the Conference Jacob Crispo, Prince of Naxos.
Election[]
Louis de Luxembourg, Lord of Argos and Nauplia, votes for Prince Henry the Navigator
Palamede Gattilusio, Lord of Ainos, votes for Prince Francesco Visconti
Leonardo III Tocco, Count of Cephalonia and Zante, Duke of Leukas, votes for Prince Francesco Visconti
John Asen Zaccaria, The Bastard of Achaea, votes for Prince Jacob Crispo
Chiara Zorzi, Margravine of Bodonitsa, votes for Prince Henry the Navigator
William II Crispo, Duke of Naxos, votes for Prince Jacob Crispo
Crusino I Sommaripa, Lord of Paros and Andros, votes for Prince Jacob Crispo
Thomas Palaiologos, Prince of the Byzantine Empire, votes for Prince Francesco Visconti
Phillippe de Lusignan, The First Son of Cyprus, votes for Prince Henry the Navigator
The vote is tied three ways, between Prince Henry the Navigator, Prince Francesco Visconti, and Prince Jacob Crispo. As the nine electors cannot come to another conclusion, all three men must be the Kings of Greece. Celebrate the First Triumvirate of Greece!