The Sword and the Cross
The French Wars of Religion
"The North is full of tangled things and texts and aching eyes
And dead is all the innocence of anger and surprise."
- G.K. Chesterton, Lepanto
The seeds of division and strife sowed long ago in France have now brought forth a bitter harvest. The old quarrels between the Monarchy and Nobility have taken on an entirely new dimension following the spread of Calvinism to France, which has been adopted by many nobles in the South and West of France, while the common people remain overwhelmingly Catholic. The Valois Dynasty, weakened after their defeats in the Italian Wars, and the death of King Henry II in a freak jousting accident, is now led the the Dowager Queen, Catherine D'Medici, called "The Black Queen". The Catholics have lost their two greatest champions; Francis of Guise, slain by a Calvinist assassin as he led the Siege of Orleans, and Anne de Montmorency, the Marshal of France, mortally wounded at his victory against the Huguenots at Saint-Denis. The Late Duke's son Henry has taken up the banner of the Catholic Cause, and along with his brothers and kin plots against the ever-growing power of the Huguenots, led by Jeanne d'Albret and Admiral Gaspard de Coligny. But the Huguenots themselves are not without troubles. Their own leader, the Prince of Conde, was slain at the Battle of Jarnac, and their forces shattered at Battle of Moncontour. Both the House of Valois and the Huguenots were eager to make peace, which was signed at Saint-Germain-en-Laye on August 8th, 1570. In order to bind the peace, Margaret, sister of King Charles IX, was betrothed to Henri of Navarre, who himself has a claim to the Crown of France, and is rapidly emerging as the leader of the Protestants. The Duke of Guise and his supporters were, however, disgusted by the treaty, the Duke of Guise having a personal stake as well; he was secretly in a relationship with Princess Margaret, and had sought to marry her. The Protestants are not entirely satisfied with the treaty either, having their own scores to settle, and ambitions yet unfulfilled. The common people, especially in and around Paris, have become restless, driven on by popular sentiment, and now murmur against the King for having compromised his Faith. All France is now a powder-keg, and fit to explode at the slightest spark, that shall no doubt come all too soon.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Hello, and welcome to The Sword and the Cross, a roleplay of the bitter struggles between Catholic and Protestant in 16th Century France. You will be playing as one of the various nobles, royals, or clergymen whose action shall shape the destiny of France for centuries to come. The Roleplay begins on September 1st, 1570, shortly after the signing of the Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye. Players may control up to two (2) characters. Major Characters must be generally historical, but some creative license is allowed. Fictional Minor Characters are allowed.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Rules
1. The word of the OP (Me) and Co-OP (Apostolic Hungary) is law.
2. No Powergaming, Metagaming, etc.
3. Be polite, rudeness is not appreciated. Be considerate and kind towards your fellow players
4. Be reasonable and retain historical accuracy and realism.
5. Please, post regularly. Inactivity is what kills RPs.
6. Don't be too fast. Rome wasn't built in a day, and major changes do not happen overnight.
7. Please, use proper grammar and spelling. Typos and other errors are tolerable from time to time, but consistent poor spelling/ grammar is not acceptable.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Banned Players
Cuprum
Greater Slavic Union
Arvenia
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Major Characters
Catherine D'Medici - Dowager Queen of France, and the true power behind the Throne. Catherine has created an elaborate network of spies, including her infamous "Flying Squadron". A masterful schemer and brilliant at statecraft, Catherine knows no loyalty, except to herself and her children.
King Charles IX - Unstable, unpredictable, and uncontrollable, King Charles IX has proven enigmatic to his court. His opinions are as changable as the winds, and no man can tell where these royal winds do blow.
Henri, Duke of Anjou - Ambitious, scheming and amoral, the younger brother of the King has long been his mother's favourite child. King Charles has grown to detest this, and the two brothers are on the path to becoming bitter rivals.
Hercule François, Duke of Alençon - The youngest son of Catherine D'Medici, the handsome Duke was unfortunately scarred by smallpox at age eight, and suffers from a deformity of the spine. Nevertheless, he is currently third in line for succession, and great things may yet come of him.
Margaret of Valois - The fiery daughter of Catherine D'Medici has recently been promised to Henri of Bourbon, the Protestant King of Navarre. Margot (as she is known to her friends), however, is disgusted by both Henri's personality and religion, and has instead carried on her secret romance with Henri of Guise. She is famed throughtout the Kingdom for both her beauty and for her independant personality. Played by: Western Pacific Territories
Jeanne d'Albret - The Calvinist Queen of Navarre has been at the forefront of the Huguenot cause for decades, and she nows promotes the claim of her son, Henri, to the throne of France.
Gaspard de Coligny - Following the death of the Prince of Conde, Coligny is the most influential Huguenot nobleman in France. Coligny is the Admiral of France, and a close friend and adviser to King Charles IX. However, his influence over the King has made him the bitter enemy of the Queen Mother, who is a dangerous enemy indeed.
Henri of Navarre - The Crown Prince of Navarre is also the heir to the throne of France, should the sons of Catherine D'Medici die without heirs. However, his ambitions may be thwarted by his Calvinist faith, as no doubt much of France would oppose his claims.
Henri, Duke of Guise - The adventurous and dashing young Duke of Guise has taken up the leadership of the Catholic faction since the death of his father, and is now whispered to have aspirations even to the throne of France. Played by: Austria and Bavaria
Charles, Duke of Lorraine - Ruler of one of the mightiest Duchies in France, and with claims to Jerusalem, Guelders, and Naples, Charles of Lorraine has the potential for greatness, but who can tell what shall come of the bitter deluge that is to come? Played by: Apostolic Hungary
Emmanuel Philibert, Duke of Savoy - Duke Emmanuel, through an alliance with the King of Spain, managed to win back his Duchy that had been lost to the French in the Italian Wars. Savoy is now once again independant, and from it's position of strength, could grow to be a mighty power indeed.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Factions
Politiques
The Politiques are the supporters of a strong French monarchy; irrespective of religious differences. They are staunch supporters of the House of Valois, and are despised by Catholic and Huguenot alike.
Catholics
The majority of both the French Nobility and the general population follow the Catholic Faith, but the "Catholic Party" is composed mainy of hard-liners and conservatives, who are determined to stop the growing power and influence of the Huguenots.
Huguenots
Protestantism came late to France, but has now gained many zealous and devoted followers throughout the Kingdom, especially in the West of the country. Under the leadership of Gaspard de Coligny and the Prince of Conde, they have gained much influence, even in the royal court.
The French Wars of Religion
"The North is full of tangled things and texts and aching eyes
And dead is all the innocence of anger and surprise."
- G.K. Chesterton, Lepanto
The seeds of division and strife sowed long ago in France have now brought forth a bitter harvest. The old quarrels between the Monarchy and Nobility have taken on an entirely new dimension following the spread of Calvinism to France, which has been adopted by many nobles in the South and West of France, while the common people remain overwhelmingly Catholic. The Valois Dynasty, weakened after their defeats in the Italian Wars, and the death of King Henry II in a freak jousting accident, is now led the the Dowager Queen, Catherine D'Medici, called "The Black Queen". The Catholics have lost their two greatest champions; Francis of Guise, slain by a Calvinist assassin as he led the Siege of Orleans, and Anne de Montmorency, the Marshal of France, mortally wounded at his victory against the Huguenots at Saint-Denis. The Late Duke's son Henry has taken up the banner of the Catholic Cause, and along with his brothers and kin plots against the ever-growing power of the Huguenots, led by Jeanne d'Albret and Admiral Gaspard de Coligny. But the Huguenots themselves are not without troubles. Their own leader, the Prince of Conde, was slain at the Battle of Jarnac, and their forces shattered at Battle of Moncontour. Both the House of Valois and the Huguenots were eager to make peace, which was signed at Saint-Germain-en-Laye on August 8th, 1570. In order to bind the peace, Margaret, sister of King Charles IX, was betrothed to Henri of Navarre, who himself has a claim to the Crown of France, and is rapidly emerging as the leader of the Protestants. The Duke of Guise and his supporters were, however, disgusted by the treaty, the Duke of Guise having a personal stake as well; he was secretly in a relationship with Princess Margaret, and had sought to marry her. The Protestants are not entirely satisfied with the treaty either, having their own scores to settle, and ambitions yet unfulfilled. The common people, especially in and around Paris, have become restless, driven on by popular sentiment, and now murmur against the King for having compromised his Faith. All France is now a powder-keg, and fit to explode at the slightest spark, that shall no doubt come all too soon.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Hello, and welcome to The Sword and the Cross, a roleplay of the bitter struggles between Catholic and Protestant in 16th Century France. You will be playing as one of the various nobles, royals, or clergymen whose action shall shape the destiny of France for centuries to come. The Roleplay begins on September 1st, 1570, shortly after the signing of the Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye. Players may control up to two (2) characters. Major Characters must be generally historical, but some creative license is allowed. Fictional Minor Characters are allowed.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Rules
1. The word of the OP (Me) and Co-OP (Apostolic Hungary) is law.
2. No Powergaming, Metagaming, etc.
3. Be polite, rudeness is not appreciated. Be considerate and kind towards your fellow players
4. Be reasonable and retain historical accuracy and realism.
5. Please, post regularly. Inactivity is what kills RPs.
6. Don't be too fast. Rome wasn't built in a day, and major changes do not happen overnight.
7. Please, use proper grammar and spelling. Typos and other errors are tolerable from time to time, but consistent poor spelling/ grammar is not acceptable.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Banned Players
Cuprum
Greater Slavic Union
Arvenia
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Major Characters
Catherine D'Medici - Dowager Queen of France, and the true power behind the Throne. Catherine has created an elaborate network of spies, including her infamous "Flying Squadron". A masterful schemer and brilliant at statecraft, Catherine knows no loyalty, except to herself and her children.
King Charles IX - Unstable, unpredictable, and uncontrollable, King Charles IX has proven enigmatic to his court. His opinions are as changable as the winds, and no man can tell where these royal winds do blow.
Henri, Duke of Anjou - Ambitious, scheming and amoral, the younger brother of the King has long been his mother's favourite child. King Charles has grown to detest this, and the two brothers are on the path to becoming bitter rivals.
Hercule François, Duke of Alençon - The youngest son of Catherine D'Medici, the handsome Duke was unfortunately scarred by smallpox at age eight, and suffers from a deformity of the spine. Nevertheless, he is currently third in line for succession, and great things may yet come of him.
Margaret of Valois - The fiery daughter of Catherine D'Medici has recently been promised to Henri of Bourbon, the Protestant King of Navarre. Margot (as she is known to her friends), however, is disgusted by both Henri's personality and religion, and has instead carried on her secret romance with Henri of Guise. She is famed throughtout the Kingdom for both her beauty and for her independant personality. Played by: Western Pacific Territories
Jeanne d'Albret - The Calvinist Queen of Navarre has been at the forefront of the Huguenot cause for decades, and she nows promotes the claim of her son, Henri, to the throne of France.
Gaspard de Coligny - Following the death of the Prince of Conde, Coligny is the most influential Huguenot nobleman in France. Coligny is the Admiral of France, and a close friend and adviser to King Charles IX. However, his influence over the King has made him the bitter enemy of the Queen Mother, who is a dangerous enemy indeed.
Henri of Navarre - The Crown Prince of Navarre is also the heir to the throne of France, should the sons of Catherine D'Medici die without heirs. However, his ambitions may be thwarted by his Calvinist faith, as no doubt much of France would oppose his claims.
Henri, Duke of Guise - The adventurous and dashing young Duke of Guise has taken up the leadership of the Catholic faction since the death of his father, and is now whispered to have aspirations even to the throne of France. Played by: Austria and Bavaria
Charles, Duke of Lorraine - Ruler of one of the mightiest Duchies in France, and with claims to Jerusalem, Guelders, and Naples, Charles of Lorraine has the potential for greatness, but who can tell what shall come of the bitter deluge that is to come? Played by: Apostolic Hungary
Emmanuel Philibert, Duke of Savoy - Duke Emmanuel, through an alliance with the King of Spain, managed to win back his Duchy that had been lost to the French in the Italian Wars. Savoy is now once again independant, and from it's position of strength, could grow to be a mighty power indeed.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Factions
Politiques
The Politiques are the supporters of a strong French monarchy; irrespective of religious differences. They are staunch supporters of the House of Valois, and are despised by Catholic and Huguenot alike.
Catholics
The majority of both the French Nobility and the general population follow the Catholic Faith, but the "Catholic Party" is composed mainy of hard-liners and conservatives, who are determined to stop the growing power and influence of the Huguenots.
Huguenots
Protestantism came late to France, but has now gained many zealous and devoted followers throughout the Kingdom, especially in the West of the country. Under the leadership of Gaspard de Coligny and the Prince of Conde, they have gained much influence, even in the royal court.
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