With the Papal States recovering from manpower drain, Pope Clemens VIII dedicates his time to internal matters.
Things are being built, and money is spent on frivolous things, like a ball for the noblemen of the States.
The little island of Malta produces this superb statesman.
Now that our manpower is recovered, we don't need a Recruit Master.
Signor Benedictus Schio takes his place at our court!
It seems that the heresies are penetrating the protective fortifications of the States!
Pope Clemens VIII has decided to crack down on the heretics, as well as prepare attack on Switzerland.
Would you believe that Swiss re-reconverted back to Protestantism?
There was a worry at Clemens' court that Burgundy might protect their fellow Protestants.
They didn't, and our way to re-re-reconvert Switzerland to Catholicism is open!
There's only one notable battle of the war - Battle of Piedmont.
Together with Savoyards, we rout the Swiss, who are then destroyed at Wallis.
It's during the war that handguns become available to our armies.
Maurician Infantry, while one pip lower than Tercios, have that offensive advantage that we prefer.
We have them abandon their friends besides converting back to Catholicism.
Our newest mission is to build an university in Roma.
It is Clemens VIII's desire to build one, too; it will allow us to pass some civic edicts.
We will need to be frugal with spending before we can afford it, though - the amount of universities in Northern Italy that we have is bumping the cost of a new one to more than 1300 ducats.
An opportunity arises for us to gather said funds.
We join the war, and raise taxes for its duration.
It seems that our taxes will be cut short.
There goes one opportunity. Clemens VIII contemplates other possibilities - maybe a loan?
That's when we have already a sizeable chunk of required funds, though.
Thank God for the patricians!
The Pope eagerly accepts the offer, and so we're 1/3rd at required funds already.
A new year taxation brings up to almost half of needed cash. We're getting there!
The Netherlands help out by going to war once again!
'Taxes for the just war against heathen, taxes for the just war!' Cry out Papal tax collectors as they move through Italy, from Venice to Palermo.
NOT EVEN THREE YEARS YOU MOUNTAINOUS FU-oh well, we can always re-re-re-re-reconvert them.
And there goes the loan we need.
The construction of University of Roma begins few days later.
Uh oh, the Bohemians weren't in control of the Imperial throne for over 120 years.
Must've been Bavarians slipping in their reputation or something. Still, the King of Bohemia is merely 11 years old...
Smallpox must've gotten Zikmund I, and the throne passes to Lodewijk I!
This means that our ally is the Holy Roman Emperor himself! Nothing but prosperity and glory can come out of this relationship.
To stem the recent expansion of Austria, we excommunicate their ruler and go to war with them.
Both sides have lots of troop to send into this conflict, but of course God is on our side.
It seems that our warmongering is not accepted by the populace of Rome itself.
The peasant rebellion nearly captures the city gates before our main army arrives and destroys them completely.
University of Roma has opened its doors, just as we enter final stages of war against Austria.
Fun fact: Bavaria went to war against us on behalf of Austria... then declared war against Austria too.
The war goes about for several years, and we mostly do sieges.
There were few skirmishes of our forces with Austrians, but it was mostly Netherlands who did heavily fighting.
The war ends, and we seize Brescia - Aquileia, released from vassalization by Bavaria, becomes our newest vassal.
We hope that Netherlands did not bite more than they can chew.
Habemus Papam! If THAT's not a good omen, then I do not know what is!
Being a much better administrator than his predecessor, Clemens IX reforms our administration right away.
Not one but two edicts are passed through the Papal Council. Prestige and progress shall be ours!
As expected, Castille directs troops to our lands and our vassals.
They're a bit backwards in technology though, and their numbers are triumphed by our firearms.
And logistical prowess of Clemens IX, for he has 5 points of Movement and therefore can outpace most Castillian troops.
We retook our islands and then Castille got in a war with France, distracting them quite well.
Such presumptuous demands is all they do lately.
Our genius Pope falls sick not that much later.
Meanwhile, we simply concentrate on building up our infrastructure.
There's totally mafia or powerful noble family (families?) involved in the Conclaves. Never before I had successive Popes take the same name for more than two times in a row. Clementines had three - the Innocents had
four.
Habemus Papam! Clemens X isn't as good as Clemens IX, but we're still in high-number skills.
The rule of two of his predecessors took 20 years and 30 images already, so let's make a break here.
