115 Papal Diplomacy

After the Boyars Homage was over, the King held a grand banquet at the Royal Castle to celebrate such an important event... Władysław walked proud as a peacock as if it were his merit. Success has many fathers, failure is an orphan.

I was walking in the royal garden in the company of Cardinal Barberini, certain conversations required privacy. We turned into one of the side alleys, the treetops shielded us from the sun, no one was in sight.

"Prince, the capture of Moscow is a great success and what a beautiful gesture to give gold to the townspeople..." (Cardinal Francesco Barberini)

"Let's not talk about it. I assume that the Cardinal, apart from the diplomatic mission, has other matters to do in Warsaw... let me guess the Habsburgs and Spain." (MC)

I wasn't sure about it... but spark of admiration and surprise appeared in the cardinal's eyes... it was only a moment, a second later, his eyes returned to normal... friendly cold calculation. I don't think he expected me to guess the hidden purpose of his visit so quickly... Which was not particularly difficult, given the pope's pro-French policy and the problems it caused.

"You're right. The Pope does not like the emperor and would like to weaken the Habsburgs in Austria and Spain, therefore he pursues a pro-French policy..." (Cardinal Francesco Barberini)

Bingo! You are as predictable as the Polish national football team at every championship... we always play three games, the opening match, the match for everything, the match for honor and we go home.

"I understand, the Holy Father does not want the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth to enter into closer alliances with Austria and Spain... But why not? The Kingdom of France supported Moscow. We are to give up our security only because the Pope does not like someone? Dear Cardinal, let's be serious ... manus manum lavat." (MC)

"Is the Pope's gratitude not enough?" (Cardinal Francesco Barberini)

"Gratitude costs nothing and is very often forgotten... I will say what I want and then we can negotiate." (MC)

"... Every church parish and order in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth is to open Sunday schools for everyone. The second case, despite the lack of priestly ordination, the king's brother, Karol Ferdynand Waza is the bishop of Wrocław and Płock. I think that he could use climate change, maybe send him as an ambassador to some distant country, or perhaps convert savages to Christianity." (MC)

Education was something I cared about very much, it was one of the reasons for the great economic and military success of Prussia. Unfortunately, the Polish nobility, despite having access to good education, was not interested in trade, industry or innovation of the country... Sow grain, harvest grain, sell grain, for most it was the only and best economic model... Every time I thought about it, I was reminded of a quote from "Wesele" z Wyspański... "You boor! You once possessed a horn of plenty, but now a rope is all you're left with." Perhaps it is true that no one is doing more harm to a country than its own citizens.

"It doesn't seem like much..." (Cardinal Francesco Barberini)

"I am not finished yet. Our new King has the same ambitions as his father, the war with the Ottoman Empire and the Swedish throne. I would like the Papal State to provide help, soldiers or money with the war with Turks... of course, if there is such a war." (MC)

This surprised the cardinal, Sunday schools or the removal of the king's brother were not difficult things to do, but a potential war.

"Prince, you are asking for a lot..." (Cardinal Francesco Barberini)

"Because I give a lot in return. There will be no military alliance with Spain and it gives the pope the opportunity to come out with honor in the conflict with Kingdom of Spain... as far as I know, Cardinal Gaspar de Borja Velasco accused the pope of betraying the Christian faith. If the Pope supports the war against the Turks, who are the enemy of Christianity, such accusations will lose their relevance." (MC)

"Clever, but Cardinal Gaspar de Borja Velasco will still be a problem, he is the ambassador of the Kingdom of Spain to the Holy See..." (Cardinal Francesco Barberini)

"First he is a cardinal, subordinate to the pope. The Holy Father may issue a Papal bull, ordering cardinals who perform the function of diocesan bishops to return to their diocese..." (MC)

"... and Gaspar de Borja Velasco will have to return to his church in Seville... Very clever. Prince, many would like to trade heads with you." (Cardinal Francesco Barberini)

There was nothing clever about it, it was a solution that Urban VIII himself came up with, or rather would come up with it next year ... there was something immoral about it that I wanted to get papal help using the Pope's idea... After the cardinal left for Spain, the confrontation weakened a bit, but for the next two or three years the relations between the Pope and Spain were not the best... but in the end the Kingdom of Spain succumbed to the Papal State.

"Dear Cardinal, do you still believe that I am asking for a lot? The pope will gain a reputation as a defender of Christianity, get rid of a cardinal who is unfavorable to him... and what if I make the Kingdom of Spain and the Ottoman Empire fight each other?" (MC)

Barberini ignored my question, maybe he didn't believe my words or didn't know what to answer... I decided to attack from a different side... more private.

"I have heard that Prince Odoardo Farnese has a son, and the Duchy of Castro succession is secured..." (MC)

"The prince knows a lot... but knowledge can also be dangerous." (Cardinal Francesco Barberini)

"So the Cardinal is not interested in the information that the Duke is negotiating an alliance with the French against Spain. As far as I know your family wants to seize the Principality of Castro for themselves... Sorry, I'm silent already and please forgive me but it is late and I still have to speak to the Spain ambassador." (MC)

Without waiting for his reply, I turned and walked towards the palace.