The Zeno Brothers

Venice, Spring 1398, Cà Zeno. 

“Antonio “”

                                                 Antonio Zeno

“In here.”

His brother sat at his desk, quill in hand. From the open window the cries of boatmen on the Grand Canale could be clearly heard.

“We have a contract!”

                                                  Niccolò Zeno                 

“We do?”

Things had been a little slack recently. The Muslims had been pushing back steadily, the impetus for Crusades was petering out and with it the demand for ships and military equipment had dwindled.

“Doge Antonio Venier has asked for us.”

“When?” said Antonio putting down his pen.

“Tonight. Some very important people,” he hinted.

“Then, brother Niccolò, we had better be there.”

The Doge’s Palace that evening.

Night had fallen as they crossed the piazzetta of San Marco. It was a spring evening and the stones of the square gave back little warmth. The palace before them was intermittently lit by flickering torches. They identified themselves to the guards then ascended to the great rooms above.

In one of the sumptuous council chambers were assembled four men; one the Doge, richly attired with a fur collared cloak and his cap of office, a priest in the robes of a cardinal, a man of military bearing and attire, and another that Niccolò recognised, in the white tabard bearing the insignia of the Croix Pattee the black footed cross of the Teutonic Knights.

Grand Master Sigfried Von Feuchtwangen of the Teutonic Knights and Grand Master Phillip de Thame of the Knights Templar

“Gentlemen,” said Doge Venier, “these are the Zeno brothers, Niccolò and Antonio. They, I think, will have what you need. Please all sit.

The Doge turned and with his hand indicated in turn,

“This is Cardinal Massini… Grand Master Phillip de Thame of the Knights Templar… and Grand Master Sigfried Von Feuchtwangen of the Teutonic Knights.”

Cardinal Massini began.

“You no doubt will be aware that things have not gone well for us in the Holy Land since Acre fell to the Muslims.

Now this defeat at Nicopolis, with many Christians executed. The Pope has been reconsidering the mission of Christianity. In France the king, egged on by the antipope Boniface XIII has chosen to persecute the Knights Templar, and to that end has confiscated property land and goods and executed some of their leaders. The Pope feels the Catholic faith must expand and prevail; therefore Pope Boniface IX is keen to pursue against the heathen in Poland, Livonia and the other Baltic states; in other words reinvigorate the Northern Crusade. He therefore gives his blessing to the enterprises in the Baltic of these two gentlemen here.”

Grand Master Siegfried Von Feuchtwangen spoke,

“There are still many heathen in the German and Baltic lands. The order of Teutonic Knights is spreading the faith in those lands. The Knights Templar as you have heard were under attack in France under King Phillip the IV and this persecution under their present king, Charles the IV; we have offered the Templars succour with us in the Baltic. To that end they are moving their base with us from here in Venice, to Marienburg on the Noga River, on the coast of Poland.”

There was a short silence. Niccolo was taking this in. The Templars and the Teutonic Knights leaving! This would mean a substantial drop in trade. The eastern crusades had been a money spinner for centuries. Venice had supplied ships crews, munitions, armour.

“You have vessels I believe?” said De Thame.

“We do,” said Niccolò, “the Zeno family have a large fleet of 30 ships.

We also build ships and equip them. We supply arms, canon and powder.”

De Thame nodded.

“We want you to transport us, act as navigators and take us to Marienburg, in Pomerania.

“Why not overland?”

“Too slow and too many countries asking questions.”

“How long would the sea voyage take?” Continued De Thame.

“Perhaps a month, maybe six weeks,” replied Antonio.

“How many men?” Said Niccolò.

“Two thousand, plus horses.”

“May I consult with my brother?”

The Doge waved his hand indicating an alcove.

Business had been slack recently. This job seemed straight forward.

“What do you think Antonio? And what do we charge? This may be a dangerous mission.”

“Why?”

“The French are on the hunt for Templar Knights.”

“Then we stand out from their coast,” said Antonio.

“So, what shall we charge?”

“4,000 ducats?”

“We are risking our men and our ships.”

“Well then, 5,000 ducats.”

They returned to the table,

“6,000 ducats; half now and half when we arrive. And we supply the crew and provisions,” said Niccolò.

“6000 ducats then. Agreed.”

The Doge produced a contract, entered the amount and some detailed

Impressum

Verlag: BookRix GmbH & Co. KG

Texte: alastair macleod
Bildmaterialien: alastair macleod: photo of puppet theatre Italy ; other photos purchased from Dreamstime royalty free photos.
Lektorat: alastair macleod
Übersetzung: cover typeset in classical
Tag der Veröffentlichung: 24.05.2015
ISBN: 978-3-7368-9657-4

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Widmung:
Where there is smoke there is fire. ......................................................................................................................... disclaimer: All characters appearing in this work existed at the time of the action and are recorded in historical documents, with the exception of Grand Master Phillip de Thame, who existed, but was in fact a Grand Master of the Knights Hospitaller. Fra Luigi Tamburelli, the priest, is fictional but on such an important mission, the transfer of the knights to Marienburg, it is likely a priest would have been assigned.