Chapter 889 Preparing to marry my sister
Seeing that the French prince was still looking at the teacup, Pius VI's voice trembled a little:
"The most, plus Ravenna."
His hands spread out: "This is the bottom line of the Holy See, Your Highness."
Ferrara, Bologna and Ravenna are almost 70% of the territory of the Papal State north of the Apennines.
Adding to 1.2 million Ducat, or 11 million francs, is no less as a "war reparation".
"This tea is not tasted enough." Joseph suddenly shook his tea cup, "Eman, please help me exchange for the black tea given by Archbishop Muzarelli."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Joseph looked at the Pope again: "Do you want to change a cup too?
"Well, although this tea is very expensive, it is not irreplaceable."
Pius VI only felt that every word the young man said was like a mountain that made him unable to straighten his waist.
After a while, he suddenly clenched his fists, raised his head and said loudly:
"No one will support that traitor, the conspirator!
"I represent the orthodox of the Holy See!
"If you force me like this, France will be hostile to hundreds of millions of Christians in Europe!"
Joseph smiled.
He leaned forward and said calmly: "Dear Holy Father, how many teachers do you have?"
"What, what?"
"Infantry, cavalry, artillery," said Joseph. "Including the Holy See's own guards, or foreign troops willing to respond to your call, how many divisions are there?"
Pius VI was stunned by this overly straightforward question, and then he clenched his fists even harder, but was shocked to find that even a teacher in the Holy See could not attract...
Among the three pillars of the tradition of the Holy See, Spain and France are alliances, and they just announced not long ago that they will never interfere in the affairs of Northern Italy.
Austria is about to see that even Mantua can't hold on, so how can he have the energy to reinforce Rome?
France...the French army was aiming at the Holy See with cannons.
Joseph picked up the newly replaced black tea on the table and continued:
"You probably forgot that the premise that the Holy See can call on Christians across Europe is that the Holy See can influence the balance of power among Catholic countries.
"And now, there is no such balance at all.
"France is the heaviest weight on the scale of Catholicism!
"Only France has the power to influence the Catholic world!
"You just said that no one supports Archbishop Muzarelli?
"In fact, if there were 10 divisions behind him, all the cardinals would support him."
The fist that Pius VI clenched slowly loosened, and his waist bent down again, and he sighed: "What conditions did he give you?"
Joseph took a sip of black tea and said casually: "1.5 million Ducat. And, the Holy See only the provinces of Rome and Perugia."
Pius VI's face turned pale, his lips closed several times before making a sound: "1.5 million... OK, only 1.5 million Ducart. But at least, the Holy See must preserve the 'St. Peter's legacy'."
The "legacy of St. Peter" he mentioned refers to the land claimed by the Holy See to inherit from the Roman Empire, mainly the three provinces of Rome, Perugia and Terracina.
The area is about two-thirds of the territory of the Pope's territory on the southern side of the Apennines.
Joseph thought he was still too polite. When Napoleon directly pushed the army all the way, he left a Roman city for the Pope. Didn’t the Holy See accept it honestly?
But the Pope is now having to bargain with him.
He glanced at Pius VI: "Article Muzarelli shouldn't have gone far, so he can be exchanged for the palace banquet."
"Don't...I agree." In fact, Joseph could have forced the Holy See to move to Avignon, France now, but doing so may force Pius VI to kill him.
The rice must be eaten at a bite.
Everything Joseph does at present is weakening the prestige of the Roman Catholic Church.
After the Italian state is distributed to the Pope and the Pope is extremely weak, the next plan can be implemented to make the Holy See willingly move to Avignon.
Soon, the French king and his wife, the prince and a large group of nobles surrounded the pope and came to the banquet hall.
Everyone had a pious smile on their faces, a solemn and sacred scene.
Since what should be discussed is done, then the basic decency should be given to the Pope.
At the banquet, Pius VI announced in public that the Holy See decided to award Louis XVI the title of "the greatest Catholic king."
The Pope seemed to be worried when he came to Paris this time, and hurried back to Rome the next afternoon.
However, when he went back, he changed into a golden luxury car, and the Paris police no longer followed closely.
The vast majority of Parisian citizens did not know that the Pope had come until a few days later, and the scene of the Pope's embarrassment in the square of Versailles yesterday became a lasting joke among the nobles.
Two days later.
The Palace of Versailles held a grand ceremony to celebrate His Majesty’s title of “The Greatest Catholic King”.
The whole of Paris was in a carnival.
Citizens sang and danced and set off fireworks, and the tension and anxiety caused by the war had disappeared.
In the evening, at the dance party at the Palace of Versailles.
The gas lights reflect the mirror hall as bright as day.
The court musicians played cheerful dance music with all their might, and as the nobles kept spinning, the gems and gold threads on their clothes turned into flowing galaxies, dazzling the viewers.
However, the royal members and diplomats of Northern Italy did not have the slightest interest in dancing, but surrounded the French prince with hope, waiting for a little good news to be heard.
Yes, they have been staying in Paris since the Mediterranean Security Organization Agreement, and it has been nearly two months since then.
For these countries, maintaining good relations with France is the most important government affairs.
At the end of the song, Prince Ludovico of Parma mustered up the courage to come to the French prince, raised his wine glass, and bowed, "Thank you to us 'great Catholic king'."
Joseph picked up a glass of wine and touched him lightly: "To my dearest father."
He took a small sip of wine, compared Princess Therese not far away, surrounded by noble ladies, and blinked at Ludovico: "It seems that you haven't invited my sister to dance yet, she will be sad."
Ludovico was stunned for a moment, then his eyes were filled with ecstasy: "Your Highness, don't you object to my pursuit of Princess Therese?"
"Of course." Joseph smiled, "I will bless you."
Ludovico is a handsome and gentle young man, and Joseph has a good impression of him.
Most importantly, sister Teres liked him. Well, every time the little girl saw him, the smile from the bottom of her heart could not be covered up.
Joseph knew that the choice of a French princess' marriage partner was extremely narrow and she had to be the heir of a country. At present, there are no more than 3 people in Europe who meet this condition and are of the right age.
There are also countries that cannot marry France for political reasons.
So Ludovico is almost the best choice for Teres.
(This chapter ends)