Laterna Accords

Laterna Accords

Front page of the Midrasian owned treaty
Type	bilateral treaty
Drafted	9 May, 1510
Signed	12 August, 1512
Location	Laterna, Pontifical Domain
Original signatories	Henry III of Midrasia Pontiff Ignatius V
Language	Fiorentine

The Laterna Accords refers to a series of documents and treaties governing Midrasia's relationship with the Pontifical Domain. The Accords, the main component of which is the Treaty of Laterna, signed in 1512 secured the establishment of an independent state for the Alydian Church and Pontiff within the city of Laterna. Although the Alydian church had already held land around the territory of modern day Firenze through the religious warfare that had gripped Asura within the Fifteenth and Sixteenth Centuries, the churches hold on the territory had declined, leading to Midrasian takeover of the region. With Midrasian influence within the region growing the Pontiff found his personal holdings increasingly isolated, surrounded by the more powerful Midrasian kingdom. The Accords were signed in an attempt to ease relations between the two states, whilst securing the Churches independence and continued control over religious sites throughout Midrasia.

The treaty itself remains in force today and acts as the official establishing document of the Pontifical Domain. Despite the original 1512 documents still being in forced, the treaties themselves have been amended on several occasions to account for changing circumstances between the two states. Most notably the accords were amended in 1632 and 1791.

Political and religious historians of Asuran history regularly point to the accords as a key development in the establishment of secularism; with the document specifically legislating for a formal separation between church law and state law. Although revisionist historians have disputed the notion that the treaty can specifically regarded as an early form of secularism, the treaty remains an integral piece of Asuran and worldwide history.

Background

The region of Riviera, which is today part of southern Midrasia had long been disputed between the cities of Ardaima and Midrasia throughout the early modern period. The territory owned by the Alydian Pontiff, including the towns of Laterna, Monza and Ferrero was located in the northern section of this region. Although Midrasia was able to capture Riviera from the Ardaiman in 1415 the region was soon reconquered. The onset of the religious reformation however considerably weakened Ardaiman control of the region, allowing Midrasia to recapture it in the 1480s. The religious upheaval also directly affected the Pontifical territories, with religious rebels from Monza seceding from the church and establishing an independent state. Despite considerable military victories, church authorities were unable to re-establish control of the region, requiring Midrasian authorities to stamp out the rebellion. In the aftermath of the event, Pontifical authorities had expected the Midrasian king to return the lands to the church, however the occupied lands were soon handed out to the nobility, ending any chance of a transfer of authority.

In the years that followed, Pontifical authority was generally isolated to the city of Laterna and its immediate territories. In an attempt to regain control over the territories, the Pontiff, Marius VI at the time, had invited Ardaiman advisers and soldiers to garrison and defend the city. Believing the Pontiff to be plotting with the Ardaiman to divide Lombardy between the church and Ardaima, the Midrasian king Louis VI used an Ardaimaencampment near Nissa as a pretext for invasion. The Midrasians quickly overwhelmed the city, effectively making the Pontiff a prisoner within his own palace. Whilst the resulting political and religious fallout was considerable, especially with Ardaima and Newrey, the chaos caused by the reformation ensured the other Alydian kingdoms had little money and soldiers to wage a prolonged war against Midrasia. Despite controlling the city, Midrasian forced did not attempt to encroach upon the Pontifical Palace and its surrounding grounds. Other religious sites within the city were also respected by the occupying forces.

This situation continued for several years until the death of Pontiff Marius VI in 1505, leading to a Pontifical election. Seeing the election as a chance to exert influence on the church, the new Midrasian king, Henry III spent considerable funds sponsoring Gondicari Moret di Benedormo as a candidate for the election. Following a tense two week period of deliberations, Moret was eventually elected, adopting the name Ignatius V. Using its influence over the new Pontiff, Henry III was able to persuade the church to negotiate with Midrasian authorities, laying the groundwork for the accords.

Signing and enforcement

The Pontifical Palace within Laterna

Negotiations on the treaty began in 1508. Midrasian officials made it clear from the outset that they would not allow foreign diplomats to work with the Pontifical delegation, eliminating any opportunities for foreign influence within the agreement. The initial drafts of the treaty heavily favoured the Midrasia, with Laterna and the Pontifical territories within effectively becoming an autonomous vassal within the Midrasian kingdom. Such an agreement greatly angered the Alydian cardinals as well as a large number of bishops across Asura. In a joint petition to the Pontiff the cardinals demanded that he take a firmer stance against the Midrasians. This was followed by a further petition to Henry III calling for more lenient terms. In the ensuing negotiations, it was agreed that Midrasia would not extend its political authority over the Pontifical territories, although it would retain control of Firenze and Laterna. However the churches territories would be extended to include the Pontifical Palace grounds, the religious quarter of the city and a number of other territories in and around the city itself. The Midrasian monarchy also ratified that the Pontiff would to continue to hold authority over appointments to bishoprics within the kingdom and that the Pontiff would also be entitled to all revenues from Midrasian churches. The Midrasian kingdom would also be legally bound to defend the Pontifical territories in the event of an attack. The treaty also stipulated a direct division between political and religious legislative authority within the Midrasian kingdom, with the former reserved for the Midrasian monarch and the latter for the Alydian Pontiff.

The treaty was officially signed on 12 August 1512, coming into effect immediately. Although the treaty was denounced by a number of other Alydian nations, the threat of the reformation and easing relations prevented the formation of any real coalitions to revoke the treaty. Furthermore, although considerable Midrasian influence within the church led to the signing of the treaty, its terms were retained by successive Pontiffs, although the level of Midrasian control over the church after 1520 is questionable. Although little effort was required to uphold the treaty in subsequent decades, immediately following the treaty's ratification there were considerable revolts and attempts to undermine its provisions. A number of Alydian bishops, specifically within the newly acquired territories in Firenze refused to accept the authority of the Midrasian king. Furthermore, in protest a number of other Midrasian bishops remained absent from their duties within their respective diocese. An official petition to the Pontificate from the monarchy eventually saw dissident bishops removed by the Pontiff. Individual protests across Midrasia also proved detrimental to the non-conformist movement, with locals either attending services in bordering churches or petitioning local nobles to complain to the Pontiff. Although much of the opposition to the treaty died down by the onset of the Seventeenth Century, small dissident groups remained, becoming a considerable underground sect after the Civil War, until the movement essentially died off by the mid Eighteenth Century.

Revisions

Despite several revisions, all monasteries within Midrasia remain under direct Pontifical control

The accords themselves were revised a number of times, most notably within 1632 and 1791.

The 1632 revision following the Midrasian Civil War and deposition of the monarchy generally dealt with the Pontiff's control over Midrasian churches, monasteries and religious orders. The treaty also formalised a continuation in policy between the Midrasian Kingdom and Republic. During the civil war in an attempt to assert political control as well as raise revenue for the war effort, troops loyal to the Protecteur looted a number of churches and monasteries across Midrasia. In the aftermath of these events the Protecteur, Jauffre Cournouallis made no attempt to return the lands to the church, instead passing legislation allowing the new government to collect tax revenues from all churches directly within Midrasian territory in contravention of the Laterna treaty. Although the Protecteur was supported by more reformist minded members of the government, he came under fire from the Pontiff, conservative nobles and foreign rulers. As a result of the tensions, Midrasia entered negotiations with the Alydian Pontiff to resolve the dispute. Despite attempts by the Protecteur to secure church revenues he was unable to secure a full settlement. As a result of the negotiations it was decided that the church would retain all revenues from church properties and control over monasteries, however that the Midrasian Protecteur would be empowered to appoint bishops to churches within Midrasia. Although in realty authority for church appointments was handed down to local authorities, the monarch retained key control over the appointment of the Bishop of Lotrič.

The 1791 revisions dealt with the churches ability to pass religious legislation that affected all of the Midrasian Republic. Prior to 1791 the Pontiff retained a monopoly over religious affairs for Midrasia, as was part of the concessions within the Laterna treaty. Following the adoption of the new constitution it was agreed that the new Midrasian state required legislative authority over religious matters. Although Midrasia was not a secular society, still recognising Orthodox Alydianism as its official state religion, a large number of the constitution's framers believed that religious matters should not be a motivation for legislation, or that the state should at least be the one in charge of such matters. As a result of negotiations it was agreed that the Pontificate would hand over religious legislative authority to the Midrasian Republic, in return for retaining all authority within their directly held territory and an annual dividend of Đ10 million from the Midrasian state as compensation.