In the long history of civilisations, Europe makes no exception. Just as many before her, she had a starting point, in the Middle Ages, out of the ruins of the Roman Empire, she grew, led by brave and valiant man, to the point of getting very close to world domination and then she started its decay. As it entered in decadence, men started forgetting about their roots, traditions and institutions and even their leaders started neglecting their own historical mission. In 1789, in France, a country that since long ago had seen both its King, nobles and peasants losing their roots and values and giving space for the subversion, the latter ceased to be a mere idea and amidst a bloody Revolution, marked the beginning of a new age for Europe.
While in France the Revolution was already raging, in a mid-summer night of 1789, nothing of this was still perceived at the Castle of Canossa, the ancient castle located in the Duchy of Modena and historical fief of the House of Galahad-Canossa, one of the most ancient noble families of Europe.
On the top of the main tower, the Noble Federico Galahad-Canossa was sitting and looking at the dark landscapes of the Appennino, smoking a pipe with his father, the old Marquis Ercole Galahad-Canossa.
"Are you sure you want to celebrate your birthday here, father?" Asked Federico to his father. "I still think that the Palazzo in Modena or the Villa in Concordia would be better places for the party."
His father shook his head: "Concordia in this season is just too hot and same for Modena. Plus I want to do it in a place that is meaningful for the family. Think also of the peasantry: they are always happy when we do celebrations here, don't forget that they have loyally served us for centuries."
"Well, maybe you're right."
"By the way, when is the girl coming back from France? She's been out already for a while." Observed Ercole.
"You mean C.C.? She should be arriving today, I wonder if she brings news about the revolts."
"Revolts? Which revolts?"
"I don't know well, but it seems that some peasants have revolted against the nobles."
"Ah, those French." Said Ercole. "They treat their peasants too kindly, then here's how they are thanked."
In that moment, a girl wearing a brown mantle and having the head covered by a hood reached them, uncovering herself. As she did so, she revealed long green hairs and golden eyes.
"Finally you arrived!" Exclaimed Federico kissing her face twice. This left his father slightly annoyed, as after all the girl was just a servant, who should not be treated with such intimacy.
"Lord Ercole, Lord Federico. I am bringing you the materials you have asked and news about France."
"What's going on there? Has the King finally decided to put an end in that absurdity of the Constituent Assembly?" Asked Federico
The girl shook her head: "It's even worse: there was a major uprising, the people has seized the Bastille and now they are talking even of abolishing the nobility and strip the Church of its traditional prerogatives."
"My God!" Exclaimed Federico.
"This is an insanity..." Murmured Ercole.
"Milords, now you have everything you need. I have good reasons to believe that what is going on in France will soon reflect on the rest of Europe, very soon. My suggestion is therefore that we act quickly, before it's too late."
Federico nodded. "You're right, the experiments must begin tomorrow. We don't have a single day to lose and now your help will be more crucial than ever, C.C."
1st of November, 1789
Ducal Palace, Modena, Duchy of Modena and Reggio
At the Ducal Palace of Modena, on that first cold day of November, the Court was gathered around the Duke Ercole III of Modena and Reggio, to hear the latest news arriving from the capital of the Holy Roman Empire: Vienna.
That day, at the Palace was also present the young Federico Galahad-Canossa, together with his father and his mother, Marquess Elisabetta.
"Your Highness, I would like to introduce you my son Federico." Said Ercole when could finally approach the Duke.
"Honoured to meet you." Said Federico bowing.
"My pleasure." Answered the Duke. "I have heard from other officers that you are a great promise for our Army." Replied the Duke.
"Well, Your Highness, I do my best."
In that moment entered a footman with the dispatch from Vienna and the Duke asked him to read. Everybody in the room turned silent.
"Vienna, 29th of November, A.D. 1789,
To H.S.H. Duke Hercules III of Modena and Reggio,
The Emperor is consternated to bring you the following news:
The Brabantian Rebels have defeated the Imperial Forces in the Austrian Netherlands and after declaring the abolition of the Imperial Rule, have proclaimed the Republic. In front of such an outrage and considering that it is not the first episode in the region, We have decided to mobilise the forces of the Empire to put an end to those rebellions.
Gott Erhalte, Gott Beschutze!"
"Does this mean that we might have to fight soon?" Asked a young noble.
"Not so quickly, Roncaglia." Replied the Duke thinking about what he had just heard. "Probably the Austrians will manage to take care of those rebels by themselves. Which doesn't mean that we won't have to fight soon anyway."
"My Liege, if I may, are the revolts in France what scares you?" Asked Marquis Ercole.
"Exactly, Lord Galahad." Replied the Duke, walking towards the window and turning his back to the others. "The masons, the supporters of that violation of the natural law that they call Enlightenment and those who care more about gold than blood are conspiring against the Throne and the Altar. I made a mistake: I have made them concessions, in good faith, but now I realise how treacherous they are and if they will try anything against Modena, we will defend the Duchy at any cost."
These words were to remain as an omen for four more years, until the fatidic 1792, when France would begin its expansionist campaign throughout Europe.
Wallonie, United Belgian States, April 1790
Although the Great European War had not yet started, Federico and some other young Modenian nobles could not resist the opportunity to have their Baptism of Fire in Flandres, as soon as what seemed to be just an uprising had turned into an open war, thanks to French support. Thus, with the permission of the Duke of Modena, they were allowed to join the Austrian Army as Military Observers.
The war was not going well for Austria. The rebel army, despite its apparent inferiority, was led by brilliant generals, which used newer and more dynamic tactics, than those used by the Austrian General, which allowed them to obtain some major victories on the Imperial Forces and to drive the Austrian Eastwards, towards Germany.
The Sun rose on a rainy day of April, projecting its light on the fields and the roofs of La-Roche-en-Ardennes and as soon as the trumpet was played, Federico woke up stretching himself. While he was getting up, C.C. entered the the tent, bringing on a course the breakfast.
"Good morning, Sir."
"Good morning, C.C." Replied Federico.
"I have brought you the breakfast. The commander told us to hurry up, because it looks like a Belgian force is advancing towards us."
"Amazing." Replied Federico taking some tea. "Any hopes for the arrival of reinforcements?"
"Fieldmarshal von Bender should be arriving in a couple of days, but it's not guaranteed."
Federico nodded. "Well, unless the Kaiser changes the commander-in-chief, here there will be a long time before we obtain something."
C.C. sat in front of him, also eating her breakfast. It would have been inadmissible for any other servant to do so, but C.C., needless to say, was far more than a regular servant, for the House of Galahad-Canossa.
After breakfast, Federico quickly shaved and went to reach the commander of their division, an arrogant Tyroler Baron, whose only success so far, was that of managing to put the blame for his defeats on his subordinates. He reached the Baron inside his tent, while he was explaining the plan to the other officers.
"Baron von Fugen, Lieutenant Galahad-Canossa presenting."
"Good morning, boy, come inside." Said the General, then continuing: "So well, as I was explaining to you, the enemy has gathered troops in Liége, preparing to strike at our forces in Aachen. Therefore, we will launch our offensive today South of Liége. The intention is not to take the city, but rather to let our forces gain time to reinforce Aachen and then come to our help."
"This man is completely crazy!" Whispered Pietro Molza, another Modenian attaché and Federico's friend. "With the losses we have already suffered and with the time we are taking to get ourselves organised the Belgians must be already waiting for us."
Federico shrugged his shoulders: "As I said earlier to my maid, let's hope the Kaiser sends one of his men soon."
The reinforcements, however, were still to come, together with Fieldmarshal von Bender, and for now, they wer in the hands of their incompetent general. His incompetence would have almost been fatal for the four Modenian officers sent by the Duke to follow the conduction of operations.
In fact, that afternoon, under the rain, the division started marching in the direction of Liége, through the forests of the Ardennes.
"Tell me if this man is normal, C.C.: we are marching in the middle of a forest, in enemy-controlled territory." Complained Federico to his maid.
"Well, you are the mortal one here, not me." She replied with indifference.
"Very funny."
At some point a shot was heard coming from the top of the column and the whole division stopped, followed immediately by a few more. From the middle of the column, Federico started asking what was happening.
From the top of the column came Roncaglia and Rangoni-Machiavelli, the other two Modenians attached to the division. They seemed very alarmed.
"The General has been killed! A rebel shot the General!"
"Guys, is it a joke?" Asked Federico under shock.
"Not at all, a man was standing in the street and..."
The reply of Francesco Roncaglia was interrupted by the fire coming from four small cannons hidden in the forest, immediately followed by that of guns.
Soon the whole column fell in disarray, with the officers trying to organise a resistance while the already demoralised soldiers were trying to flee.
"C.C., take this." Said Federico passing a pistol to his maid."
"We must act!" Exclaimed Molza. "Many of the officers have already been killed!"
Quickly, Federico managed to come up with a plan and gathered his friends.
"Guys, we must act! Francesco, go to the top of the formation, try to gather the infantry and order them to keep advancing. Giovanni, you will gather the cavalry and bring it under my command, Pietro, take care of the infantry in the back, make them form a square around the cannons."
While his friends executed the orders he gave, Federico and C.C. managed to call to the order what was left of two regiments of Hungarian Hussards. To reorganise the troops was not an easy task, especially under enemy fire and he had to pray that none of his friends would get killed in the attempt. Luckily, this did not happened and soon Giovanni Rangoni-Machiavelli came back with the remaining cavalry. There, while covered by the Dragons, Federico followed with his plan.
"Good job Giovanni!" Exclaimed Federico. "Now C.C., I need you to reach Francesco and tell him that as soon as he is out of reach he must scatter his formation and enter the forest on the right, coming back to chase the rebels."
"Yes, sir!" Replied C.C., taking her horse outside the formation and rushing towards the group.
"Now, someone must stay with the Dragons here, moving and keeping the enemy busy..." In that moment a cannon shot fell very close to them, killing some soldiers and spilling their blood on the group of officers.
"Shit!" Exclaimed Federico, dirty with their blood.
"I will do it... go on with the plan!" Said an Hungarian captain. Volunteering himself for the mission.
Federico and Giovanni then, led the Hussards northward as fast as they could, entering the forest where it was less dense and there were less soldiers.
Attacked at their flanks, the rebels had to reduce their pressure on the troops still in the road to attack those of were flanking them. As soon as this happened, however, the Hungarian captain gave a smile and after drinking some of his Tokaj decided to get into the fight.
"Soldiers, time to hunt the rebel scum, take your swords!" As the soldiers did it he gave the order: "Fur then Kaiser! Charge!" And the Dragons threw themselves inside the forest.
Seeing that, Pietro, who also wanted a participation in the action, ordered his infantry to fix the bayonets and ordered an infantry charge to the side opposite to that of the Dragons, going instead where Federico was.
The battle still lasted a couple of hours, before the rebels would be dispersed and fall back, leaving the wounded and their four cannons behind.
It was the first victory for the Austrians in that conflict, although it could be easily considered a Phyrric Victory, once that the division was decimated, most of the officers were killed and they could not even bring back most of the cannons they have saved.
"What should we do with the prisoners?" Asked Francesco Roncaglia approaching Federico. The battle, with the killing of all the high ranking officers, had upset the whole hierarchy of command.
"Execute them and also order to nail the cannons and destroy the ammunitions that we won't be able to bring with us."
"Wait, isn't unchivalrous to execute prisoners?" Protested Francesco.
"Just as it is to intentionally target the officers or wage a rebellion against the Roman Emperor."
"You are right sir, these are rebel scum, not legitimate soldiers, so no mercy towards them." Intervened the Hungarian officer.
"And if I may sir, you are?" Asked Federico.
"Captain Viktor Alstreim, from the Hungarian Hussards." Replied the young officer. Alstreim was in his 20s, therefore older than Federico and his peers, he had red hairs and his face had three deep dueling scars, plus one he just got in battle. Moreover, he seemed to be easily excited by fights and battles. Federico shook his hand, introducing himself and his fellow officers.
After most of the cannons were nailed and the prisoners executed and left on the side of the road, what was left of the division returned back to La-Roche-en-Ardennes to wait for the reinforcements. As they returned back, Federico wanted some of the soldiers to take the flags that the rebels had left on the battlefield and display them as they would pass through the towns.
The scene of the division retreating was in its way impressive. Those soldiers, many of them wounded, with theirs uniforms ruined and dirty, were still marching in perfect organisation, led by the four Modenians and Captain Alstreim, who were the four highest officers left. The drummers and pipers still left were playing the Prinz Eugen march. In every town the peasants would come out to look at that destroyed but still victorious division, whose soldiers, in spite of their wounds and pitiful state, would stilllook around themselves with superby. At the head of the column, Federico Galahad-Canossa, wounded at an arm and covered by blood, was proudly standing on his white horse. Some peasants were already whispering a nickname that he would have proudly carried for the following years: "Le Diable d'Autriche".
Author's note
Dear readers,
I'm back! And in spite of what I had promised, I am writing again about Code Geass.
This is a prequel to The Return of Sir Galahad and will take place during the French Revolution. But don't worry: I won't make someting that will be four times longer than my first story. I will narrate some major episodes concerning the rise and fall of Federico Galahad-Canossa, an ancestor of Giulio (main character of Sir Galahad), during the Napoleonic Wars. So... here we go again with another of my ultra-reactionary and monarchist stories!
I really hope you will enjoy it. As I am writing and publishing the chapters, it might take a bit long sometimes, since I also my own things to do, but I will promise I will do my best.
