(May 16, 2016 at 7:15 pm)abaris Wrote:(May 16, 2016 at 6:55 pm)BrianSoddingBoru4 Wrote: The Papacy became 'hot shit' as soon as the Pope was able to raise armies.
Oh, it became hot shit as soon as there was a comfy place between the Roman emperors ass cheeks. The pope's armies are overrated in any case. The only one doing his own conquest was Alex VI through his son. The other ones let others do the fighting for them. Until Charles V somehow forgot to pay his mercenaries right at the gates of Rome, that is.
There's more than one way to raise an army, mate.
But your mercenaries comment puts me in mind of that delightful scene from 'Becket'. Henry II is meeting with his bishops and demanding money. The Archbishop whines, 'My Lord, these exemption were granted to the Church by your noble grandfather. Surely you intend to honour his good intentions?'
Henry fires back, 'I have sent for 10 000 Swiss mercenaries to help me fight the French, and NO ONE has ever paid the Swiss with good intentions.'
Boru
‘I can’t be having with this.’ - Esmeralda Weatherwax
