The Hague (KAP) – Holland tensions not yet resolved

State of Emergency is ended

After about two weeks of State of Emergency in the County of Holland, the Count of Holland, Jean Crescenzi van Brabant, has officially declared it to an end. The announcement comes after extensive consultation with the Imperial Admiral Riccardo d'Altavilla di Salerno and Vice-Admiral Schikard von Hohenstein - Ödeburg and follows the successful Imperial mission to secure Holland’s coastal waters.

As part of this transition, all legal proceedings against foreign individuals who breached the restrictions during the emergency have been annulled. The Council of Holland, in an act of graciousness and benignity, extended clemency to all individuals who were still being prosecuted for violating the emergency provisions.

Imperial justice will be served

Central to the emergency measures had been the attack from the Gascogne pirate Coeur, captain of the battle carrack La Murène. The pirate has now been officially
blacklisted by the Holy Roman Empire, and a bounty of 5000 pounds has been placed by the Council of Holland on the sinking of her and the ship. Hollandic authorities stress that, although the immediate threat has passed, vigilance remains key. The bounty is valid until 17 July 1474 and can be collected in Holland by the first person who presents the proof of the double sinking.

Contested borders of Holland

Yet while Holland’s internal waters may have calmed, the political tides at its borders remain turbulent. The long-standing territorial dispute with Flanders continues to simmer, unresolved. At the coldest of winter, in December 1472, both Holland and Flanders deployed troops to their respective frontiers, each fearing invasion from the other.

Diplomatic scholars across the Empire urge restraint: "A peaceful solution is far more sustainable than militaristic escalation", was agreed upon by a group of statesmen. Count Jean of Holland is reported to have extended a hand in peace negotiations on four separate occasions, reaching out both to the Countess of Flanders, Aliénor:
“We have sent multiple letters to every official on the Flemish council and so far the response has been the same as always: ignorance and silence. We take note of their unwillingness to communicate and their refusal to engage in friendly and open negotiations. We will discuss in the council of Holland what next steps to undertake”

The backdrop to these tensions is the current peace treaty between the Empire and the Kingdom of France, which controversially placed large swathes of Hollandic territory under Flemish jurisdiction. Holland continues to contest these allocations, claiming them as historically and administratively belonging to Holland. Furthermore, rumors swirl that the Hollandic Council is quietly reviewing claims regarding domains now held by the Duchy of Brabant, sparking speculation about a broader regional reassertion.

Whether these moves signal a campaign of rightful reclamation or ambitions of expansion, only time will tell. But one thing is certain: Holland’s path forward will be one to closely watch.

For KAP Holland
Jean Crescenzi van Brabant

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