Crisis Director Letter & Character Lists

Home , Albert of Brandenburg, Elector of Mainz, Girolamo Aleandro, Johann Tetzel, Thomas Cajetan

UPDATED: September 17th, 2019

CRISIS DIRECTOR LETTER & CHARACTER LISTS TRITONMUN XX – OCTOBER 26TH, 2019

MODEL UNITED NATIONS AT UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO

BACKGROUND GUIDE TABLE OF CONTENTS

Crisis Director Letter……………………………………………………………………… 2

Character List: Holy Roman Imperial Diet…………..……………………………………. 3

Character List: The Lutheran Movement …………………………………………………... 7

Character List: Roman Catholic Church Ecumenical Council …………………………….. 12

CRISIS DIRECTOR LETTER

Hello all! My name is Tabitha Molstre and I am very happy to be your Crisis Director. This year’s Triple JCC is going to be packed with twists, and hopefully, a lot of delegate driven material. In my experience, nothing is more satisfying than seeing something you’ve done in your crisis notes show up in a Crisis Update, so I look forward to incorporating delegate achievements, while (of course) keeping identities confidential. I encourage you all to be as creative as possible and to utilize every ounce of your power to achieve your ends, the Machiavellian way. Trouble is brewing in the Empire and the Papacy, and it will be vital for each committee to work together amongst themselves in order to solve each new problem and to push themselves to the top. Now for a little about me: I am a third-year student here at UCSD, majoring in Political Science: Public Law and minoring in Writing. I have traveled to several collegiate MUN competitions in places like Sacramento and LA, and staffed a few previous TritonMUNs as well, though my experience in MUN is largely Crisis Committee driven rather than GA. If any of you have any questions about anything prior to committee, feel free to shoot me an email, and if any questions pop up during committee, we can talk as well. If the question isn’t about this specific committee or Model UN, but rather college life at UCSD, writing, or anything else, feel free to ask anyway! I admire all creative outpourings, and am excited to see what you will all come up with for solutions and even new problems to throw into others’ way. As such, to maximize the possible ways that committee can go, I highly encourage each of you to do some independent research, and once in committee, to speak up and participate as much as possible, while keeping your backroom game strong. I look forward to a fun and eventful committee! Sincerely, Tabitha Molstre [email protected] TritonMUN XX Crisis Director

CHARACTER LIST: HOLY ROMAN IMPERIAL DIET

Degenhart Schlosskirche (fictional): Degenhart is young, at 23, but highly intelligent, having earned his position as treasurer to Frederick the Wise from a long-time family friend of the elector after challenging the former treasurer’s actions regarding the Saxon economy. Degenhart comes from a mercantile family, and used this connection to help pull Saxony from the brink of economic collapse thereby earning him not only the respect of Frederick, but gratitude from the people as well. Frederick has sent him to the Diet as his eyes and ears, as well as to protect himself from the ire of the pro-Catholic Electors. He hopes that Degenhart can provide a sense of reason within the committee.

Albert of Prussia: At 31, Albert is Duke of Prussia and 37th Grandmaster of the Teutonic Knights, a religious order dedicated to helping Christians on their pilgrimages, though mainly in a mercenary capacity. His sympathies, however, with the Lutheran movement have led to rocky relationships within the movement he is at the head of, and he will have to move carefully in order to retain his position in the order. His uncle is King Sigismund I of Poland, and Albert’s lands remain relatively wealthy, despite his harsh rule of the peasantry.

Philip I, Landgrave of Hesse: Philip took control of his lands, the Estates of Hesse, at only 14, ending the struggles for authority that surrounded his mother’s regency, as his father had died when Philip was only five years old. Despite little education for his station, he rapidly adapted to his role, and regained much of the power lost by his mother in her regency, proving himself a capable statesman. He was present at the Diet of Worms, witnessing Luther’s testimony, and found himself admiring the revolutionary.

John, Elector of Saxony: John is of the House of Wettin, a long-standing dynasty that produced Kings, Prince-electors, and many other impressive titles. His brother is Frederick the Wise, who is infamous for his protection of Martin Luther after the events of the Diet of Worms. While Frederick is currently the true Elector of Saxony, he has sent his brother to act in his stead, and John’s actions therefore will carry the authority of an elector of the Holy Roman Empire. John not only has Lutheran sympathies, but has fully converted to Lutheranism, and is a big supporter of Luther himself. As such, the two remain in close contact.

George, Duke of Saxony: Contrary to the Elector of Saxony, George has been reluctant to convert to Lutheranism, seeing it as a betrayal of the Church. In his past, he has sold much of his lands to the Emperor Charles V, but recently took new lands of het Bildt, where his ability as a ruler has been affirmed. He rules with order, stomping down crime, but at the cost of freedom, and at times ignores the rights of certain cities’ sovereignty. In his Duchy, George expels those with anti- catholic beliefs, a light punishment when compared to the actions of other rulers and the punishment of those who took things a step further and identified as Protestant. He is a known member of the Order of the Golden Fleece.

Joachim I Nestor, Elector of Brandenburg: Joachim is married to King John of Denmark’s daughter Elizabeth, and enjoys a close relationship with the leader. Unlike Frederick the Wise, Joachim embraced the sale of indulgences within his territory, and condemns Luther and the Protestants. However, despite his opposition to the Protestants, his relationship with Emperor Charles V is rocky at best, him having been a swing vote in the election of 1519. He is good friends with the King of France, however, who he met during the same election.

Albert of Brandenburg, Elector of Mainz: Albert of Brandenburg is a Cardinal, Archbishop, and Elector of Mainz. He was prominent in the sale of indulgences and was one of the main motivators that caused Luther to post his 95 Theses. He is very close with Johann Tetzel and, strangely, Ulrich von Hutten, a Luther

supporter. He helped to assure Charles V’s rise to emperorship in the 1519 election, and is a staunch supporter of Catholicism, unsurprising considering his position within the Papacy.

Margaret of Münsterberg: Margaret is Duchess of Anhault, the wife of Prince Ernest I, rules the duchy as regent in place of her underage sons. A deeply religious supporter of the Church, she is against the Reformation, and has formed the League of Dessau to fight their spread in the Holy Roman Empire. However, her sons remain sympathetic to the Lutheran cause.

Eric I, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg: Eric rules over half of his father’s lands (the Principalities of Calenberg and Gottingen), the other half having been given to his brother Henry. An experienced campaigner, Eric’s skills as a general will be sorely needed if armed conflict breaks out. In fact, during the Bavarian- Landhut war, Eric personally saved Emperor Maximilian I’s life, endearing him to the man and granting him a knighthood. However, Eric’s attention is divided, as he currently has feuds going on that limit his ability to act with as much force as he could if the Hildesheim Diocesan Feud were resolved.

Albrecht Dürer: A famous artist and influencer of the German Renaissance, Albrecht was the patron of the Holy Roman Emperor for many years. While other members of this committee have power over territories, Albrecht has power over the hearts and minds of the people, as the lack of literacy increases the value of his art. While he has sympathies towards Protestants, the violence that has begun to break out around the Reformation has caused him to distance himself from the movement, and he remains dear to Charles V’s court. Not only does he have influence within the educated peoples of Germany, but he also has a heavy presence among other painters, as many flock to the Empire to learn from him.

Isabel Rembrandt (fictional): Rembrandt has been sent as the representative of Ferdinand I, the younger brother of Emperor Charles V, who is currently at the head of the Austrian government and is much

more involved in the lives of the German people and ruling class than his brother. Rembrandt acts as the liaison to the emperor’s brother, and has been entrusted with her own power as well. Born to a relatively poor family, Rembrandt often would wander the streets of Alcala de Henares, Spain, where she picked up many skills and connections useful when dealing with the criminal underworld. She uses those connections to better assist her childhood friend, Ferdinand, as well as herself.

CHARACTER LIST: THE LUTHERAN MOVEMENT

Andreas Karlstadt: Karlstadt is a close friend of Martin Luther, but often comes into conflict with him, disagreeing on certain theological principles and leaning more towards the Anabaptists than the Lutherans. Karlstadt takes a very balanced point of view and has been reluctant to define himself as any one denomination of Protestant, but remains firm in his allegiance to the cause. Due to his travels, Karlstadt is fluent in many languages, including German, French, and Italian. He has a prestigious college education, having studied at the Universities of Erfurt, Cologne, and Wittenburg, obtaining a PhD in Theology. He also studied in Italy where he earned degrees in canon (church) law and civil law. It was this period of time where Karlstadt became aware of the corruption of the Church and was forced to write against them, publishing his own series of irate theses. The leader of the Protestant movement in Wittenburg

Philip Melanchthon: Born to a Count’s (Philip, Count Palatine of the Rhine) armorer in Bretten in Baden- Wurttemberg, Germany, Philip went on to study Latin and Greek philosophers (consequently learning both languages) in a nearby city. Philip quickly moved through his studies, earning the equivalent of a Master’s education at the University of Heidelberg by the age of 15. He learned philosophy, math, medicine, and the basics of astrology before moving to theology after becoming old enough to be granted his Master’s degree. Luther’s attention allowed him to become a professor at the University of Wittenberg by the age of 21. Philip has recently married Wittemberg’s mayor’s daughter, bringing him political as well as scholastic connections. He is known to be a public speaker, skilled in debate for the Protestant cause, but recent violent disturbances have marred public perception of the reformers, putting Philip’s public defense at odds with incoming news.

Huldrych Zwingli: Leader of the Reformation in Switzerland. His first ecclesiastical position was in Glarus, Switzerland, where several groups of mercenaries call their home. Zwingli himself has seen

battle in the defense of the pope, including in the Battle of Novara as a chaplain, providing spiritual support for the soldiers. However, these experiences placed him at odds with how mercenaries were used and the way his people were treated by the French, the HRE, and the Papacy. Thus, in order to provide an effective fight against the counter reformers using the mercenary forces, unity of the Swiss provinces is necessary. One of the few with military experience, as he served as an advisor to several generals. Very popular within Zurich, he was recently elected as the People’s priest and is well-liked in politics.

Louise of Alsace (fictional, envoy of Francis I): Francis I, the King of France, is a bitter enemy of the Emperor Charles V and thus, despite his Catholic background, has secretly sent an envoy to potentially aid in any fight that would weaken the HRE. Louise is a competent military commander who, despite having no French forces to aid her, has amassed a large following, with many whispering that she is the reincarnation of Joan d’Arc. She personally supports the Reformation, though Francis is reluctant to follow with any substance. She is fluent in several languages, and portrays herself as a child of mixed descent to mask French influence.

Thomas Cromwell: Born in England in 1485, Cromwell went on to become a mercenary for the French army during the Battle of Garigliano against the Spanish. However, he left the mercenaries in the street of Florentine, where he was picked up after briefly living on the streets by the banker Francesco Frescobaldi. Here, he became familiar with the Papal Church, and worked briefly for the Archbishop of York before leaving for England once again and becoming a part of the Royal household. He has had dealings on King Henry’s behalf with Pope Leo X, and is a trained lawyer with a seat in the House of Commons. He also serves Lord Chancellor Thomas Cardinal Wolsey, in addition to his duties on behalf of the king. He has Protestant sympathies, and has come to this meeting to lend his services.

Thomas Cranmer: Born 1489 to a wealthy family in Nottinghamshire, Cranmer became a theologian and lawyer. While Cranmer’s brother inherited the family estate, he remains on good terms with

him, even after he went on to clerical school. His career and education, while initially promising and though he achieved a Masters in humanism, were cut off once he broke clerical rules and married, but his position was reinstated once his wife died. He serves as a legal advisor to the English king and holds Protestant tendencies, being one of the growing population who studies the bible without the use of a Catholic translator. Thus, despite the King’s support for the Catholic Church, Cranmer has come to the committee in secret, determined to help jumpstart this Reformation.

Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni: Michelangelo, the Renaissance painter behind the Sistine Chapel and many other famous works of art, was known for his hatred of several Popes who often commissioned him for grand works. Pope Leo X was no different. Michelangelo has fled the wrath of the Pope after a misunderstanding with a commissioned sculpture and refusals of payment, to come to Saxony, where he may speak with like minds against the tyranny of the Church. The Medici’s and Michelangelo have bad blood that have led him to fear for his life, and thus the Medici’s principal enemies seem a good place as any to lend his skills and noble connections. While Michelangelo holds to the Catholic faith, the corruption he has seen first-hand also drives him to do whatever he can to help his home city of Rome.

Johannes Bugenhagen: Leader of the Protestant movement in Denmark, also has ties to the reformation movements throughout Scandinavia. He is a translator of German, Greek, and Hebrew as well as a parish pastor, making him a qualified confessor whose confesses include Martin Luther himself among their number. In his past, he has serviced Duke Bogislav X of Pomerania in biblical translations, and is now the head of several schools in West Pomerania, Poland. He is one of the few to not quickly subscribe to Luther’s teachings, instead studying it until he decided he could not fault its argument.

Johannes Oecolampadius: One of the founders of the Protestant religion, his works were largely adopted by John Calvin against those of Luther. As such, he is very good friends with Calvin and often comes into

dispute with the other Protestant leaders. When offered a career in the high offices of the Church, he instead, after reflecting on his defense of Luther, became a monk. He, however, has discovered that the life of a monk does not suit him well, and thus has left the Abbey and taken up companionship with the knight Franz von Sickingen and several others. He rides to the committee under the guise of a humble monk.

Peter Schoeffer the Younger: The son of a father of the same name, Schoeffer is the inheritor of his father’s printing company, and has been hired by Luther to print much of the committee’s pamphlets. However, due to the illiteracy of the period, the largest audience Schoeffer is able to target at this point in time remains the educated elite. However, he remains the only official printer currently employed by the Reformation in the areas of Mainz and Worms. His father was the principal workman of Gutenberg himself, and he taught Schoeffer everything he knew, including the basics of medicine. His company supplies the universities and abbeys in the area, as well as personal orders from interested parties.

Lucas Cranach the Elder: A famous Protestant artist, Cranach has painted the portraits of nearly every Protestant leader, and his other work that the Church has deemed acceptable hangs in many German churches. Cranach is respected by the German populace as a talented painter, especially since he, unlike many other artists of the time, chose to remain based in Wittenberg, rather than live in Italy and seek patronage there. Cranach, in fact, has grown so popular, Duke Frederick III (Frederick the Wise) himself has instated Cranach as the official court painter. Thus, Cranach is one of the few in committee who has access to court life without running the risk of arrest.

Giovanni Francesco Pico della Mirandola: Mirandola is a nobleman who sympathizes with the Protestant cause, and is the nephew of the man who wrote the first book to be universally banned by the Catholic Church. He is the Lord of Mirandola, and has lived a life devoted to philosophy and its relationship to the bible, where he places it below the scripture, subscribing to Lutheran beliefs of the

12 supremacy of the book. His father, a former condottieri (mercenary captain) trained Giovanni to follow in his footsteps, and Giovanni spent time learning the basics of command as well as rulership. Giovanni is familiar with the, quite literally, cutthroat politics of Italy, and has fled north under the guise of a holiday in order to join this meeting and avoid certain assassination attempts.

CHARACTER LIST: ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH ECUMENICAL

COUNCIL

Thomas Cajetan: Cardinal of San Sisto in Rome, Bishop of Palermo, and one of the chief spokesman against Martin Luther, Cajetan also distinguished himself by studying not only the basic theology and philosophy, but also metaphysics. He was sent to the Diet of Augsburg to analyze Luther’s arguments, and subsequently helped to write the bill that excommunicated Luther. As a member of the cardinal college and a very close friend of the pope, Cajetan treasures his position, one that every other cardinal is sure to envy.

Girolamo Aleandro: Having served in the past for the prince-Bishop of Liege, Aleandro was taken in by Pope Leo X, achieving the office of librarian to the Vatican. He was present at the Diet of Worms, where he was the head advocate of the opposition to Luther, and was the main person who wrote the edict that resulted from the Diet. For this service, the pope has recently granted Aleandro the position of Archbishop of Brindisi, in addition to being a diplomat to the King of France from the Vatican.

Augustine of Alfeld: Alfeld is the Bishop of Merseburg and a local fighter of the Reformation in Germany. Thus, he has been granted Custody over friaries within the areas of Halle, Leipzig, and Hildesheim. To assist the fight, Leo X has also made sure that Augustine has the position of Minister Provincial in the Franciscan order throughout Saxony.

Sir Thomas More: Famous author of Utopia, More was a close advisor of King Henry VIII and a strong supporter of the Catholic church. Henry has sent More to be his representative and to show his support for a Catholic victory over the Protestant Rebellion. More is a trained lawyer, and has studied at the respected Oxford. He spent some time with the monks in England, though

ultimately decided to remain outside their ranks. He has served in Parliament for many years now, and is a respected voice within their ranks. A close friend to Cardinal Wolsey, another advisor to the king, More enjoys a close relationship to the Catholic church.

Ignatius of Loyola: Ignatius joined the Spanish army at a young age, and was known to duel men who upset him, winning them all. At 18, however, his diplomatic skills became known, as he served the Duke of Najera and won him many battles. However, he later became injured in one of these battles, ending his military career at the age of 30. Thus, Ignatius devotes his life to the church, where he is known to experience visions of the saints and demons. His preachings have begun to affect people in physical ways, and is known as a prophet in accordance with his visions.

Johann Tetzel: The man behind the indulgence debate, Tetzel is the Grand Commissioner for indulgences in Germany, as well as the Inquisitor of Saxony and Poland. Tetzel is known to exaggerate the power and practices of the Catholic Church in order to maximize profits, but has recently become wary of trying his tricks on noblemen, as some have sought vengeance. While public perception of Tetzel is negative, within the church he is owed for wiping away the debts of many prominent figures and helping them fund their own projects, and thus retains his power despite Luther’s accusations.

Johann Eck: Eck is both a theologian and a political economist, and after successful arguments in Germany, obtained the patronage of the German Fugger banking family. He is often hired by the church to provide oral arguments to the people to sway public opinion. Eck met Luther a few years prior, and was initially on friendly terms with the man. However, after a publicly held debate, the two faced off and were both forced to concede ground. After this, Eck was turned against him and published writings against Luther that failed to convince the elector of Saxony to move against him. He is a speaker for the Pope, and has amassed quite a following, despite not holding any official position within their ranks other than diplomat.

Ippolito de' Medici: Nephew to Pope Leo X, Ippolito is the current Lord of Florence. He was raised mainly by his uncle and cousin, who also has his sights set on papacy. While his cousin, Giulio de’ Medici is the official Lord of Florence, Ippolito was chosen to lead in his absence, with affairs of state taking Giulio out of action as he secures his interests. Ippolito has had many dealings with Italian politics, a notoriously fatal game, and always manages to survive, lending him an air of mystery, as many do not see what allows him to escape the many attempts on his life.

Piero Soderini: Soderini comes from a family steeped in medicine, but he and his brothers chose different paths, moving towards serving the state and the church. One of his brothers is Francesco Soderini, a member of the College of Cardinals. Piero himself became close with Piero di Lorenzo de’ Medici, who appointed him as the Ambassador to the Kingdom of France, and was elected gonfaloniere by the people of Florence. His rule includes the change of relying upon a national militia instead of mercenaries. Although popular among the people, tensions often rise between him and the Medicis over the extent of French influence on Italy, with Soderini siding with France.

Sebastiano del Piombo: A skilled painter, Sebastiano has been inducted as piombatore, where he attends the pope, travels with him, and becomes a friar in all but name. He began his career initially as a musician, though he never truly became a professional and later found his calling as an artist. While a friend of Michelangelo, Sebastiano disagreed with him in matters of the church, where Sebastiano received the majority of his business. After the recent death of Raphael, Sebastiano is now the leading painter in Rome, and enjoys the equivalent of court life in the Vatican. His interest lie with that of his patrons, and has been contracted by the Catholic Church to assist them in their fight.

Andrea Torresani d’Asola: Andrea has the rare position of being a female Venetian at the head of a printing press company. She took over the Aldus printing company after her husband’s death, and despite being a commoner, was of the middle class and owned much property and had business connections with several universities around the area. Her company is one of the most successful in the area, and enjoys largely exclusive contracts with its customers. She herself is a faithful Catholic, and has come to lend her services.

Domenico Grimani: Grimani is a cardinal of San Marco and Albano, and the son of the current Doge of Venice. His position was largely rumored to have been paid for by his father, but Grimani overcame these rumors and proved himself a capable administrator of Church lands. In addition to his religious responsibilities, Grimani was also elected by the people of Venice to become a senator, and has been recently involved in efforts to remain with the Papal states at the outbreak of the Four Years War.