The Sun Never Sets In Spain - Chapter 215

While Alfonso formulates reform plans, the trial of the offending nobles is proceeding in an orderly manner.

Obviously, no one wants to die, let alone death by execution, which is even more embarrassing than falling to death on horseback.

But the official life-buying money for them is not cheap, and the higher the title, the greater the amount.

Now that the power of capital is rising, the income of the nobles has not dropped significantly, but they need to spend more money to deal with the new luxuries.

Even in a traditional country like Spain, there are not a few nobles who borrow money to survive.

Originally, this joint operation with the clergy was considered a speculation. Whether it was successful or not, the rich earls and archdukes would lend more money.

But the operation suffered a complete failure, and even if many people were lucky enough to save their lives, they would inevitably face deportation.

Losing the title and having to go to other countries is obviously worthless.

Normally, for the sake of their own honor and face, the earl and the archdukes would keep their promises.

But the fines of so many people add up, the gap is too large, and it is beyond their ability.

Not to mention that they can’t protect themselves now, how can they have the time to manage that much, and the previous promises are naturally beyond count.

In this case, at least half of the 5,000 nobles who face the most serious criminal law can’t collect enough fines. These guys have neither real estate nor manor, and only rely on one title.

Alfonso couldn’t help it either. He could only say that some people were dying in the midst of change.

In fact, the relationship between the nobles is intertwined, and if enough time is allowed, there may not be a chance to collect a fine.

But Alfonso’s goal is to punish the opposition, not to take advantage of the opportunity to make money. This matter cannot be delayed, and the taste will change once it is delayed.

On July 20, the first sentence of the death sentence came, and it was Father Clarett.

The rules of priests and nobles are not universal. In the church, only a few high-ranking priests have explicitly participated in the action against the royal family.

These high-ranking clergymen are all named, and there is no chance of redemption, so don’t even think about running away.

Since the public execution of a clergyman was too egregious, Clarett had been suspended from his priesthood by Bishop Andrew prior to his execution.

Even so, he was still the priest of the church, so Alfonso also sent a letter to Pius IX, hoping that the other party would expel these priests from the church.

This is of course impossible. Once it does, it means that the Roman Church has completely fallen under the control of Spain.

This means that Alfonso will excommunicate whoever he wants to excommunicate, and the entire world of God will set off a wave of opposition to Spain and the Church.

Therefore, Pius IX categorically rejected the proposal.

But watching the priest beheaded, the nature is also very bad.

So the Pope proposed to Alfonso that they could make a public statement recognizing the autonomy of the Spanish Church.

What Spain will do in the future has nothing to do with them.

In Pius IX’s tone, the specific content of this “no relation” is rather vague,

To put it simply, Bishop Andrew can expel Clarett from the church on his own, and Rome will not recognize this “excommunication” as legal, but it will not impose any punishment on Andrew.

In this way, Claret has a dual identity, but the left and right are just a name behind him, and it is not an important person. Everyone is dead. Does it matter what identity after death?

Of course, this method of handling is at best a fig leaf, barely able to maintain the sacred appearance of the church in front of the common people.

The prestige of the church will still suffer a great blow, and once it is launched, countries such as France and Austria-Hungary will inevitably pursue the same religious status, and Rome will be severely tested.

As compensation, Pius IX said that the Spanish clergy should give up the power to be designated as a cardinal, and that this period of time has far exceeded his original agreement with Alfonso, and Spain should provide more help to Rome.

Alfonso read the Pope’s reply carefully and smiled slightly. This kind of thing can’t be stopped once it starts.

A while ago, Pius IX personally held a consecration ceremony for Andrew, which had completely tied Rome and Spain to death.

If you can follow Spain unswervingly, maybe there will be a day.

But if it is capricious, it will offend everyone.

Therefore, the Pope is willing to assist in handling even the rather excessive request for expulsion.

It’s just that the other party obviously saw that he wanted to push Andrew to the top, so he suggested that Spanish priests could not serve as cardinals.

Understanding is understanding, but Alfonso cannot agree to this condition. If he cannot serve as a cardinal, he cannot serve as pope, which is extremely unfair to the Spaniards.

But he is not good at persecuting Pius IX too much. He has helped Rome so much recently, and he has to give some indication.

It just so happened that the Pope asked for benefits for Rome at the end of the letter, indicating that after the double blows from Italy and Spain, the church felt that theocracy was over, and was ready to focus more on the Papal State.

The Papal State now has a population of 3 million, and its potential should not be underestimated if it is built well.

With this in mind, Alfonso picked up the pen and began to write a reply. He decided to issue government bonds for him in Spain through the proposal of Pius IX many times.

And he also promised in the letter that he would inject 2.5 million pounds into the Roman Railway Company in a private name within a year to build the main railway line from Rome to Reggio Calabria.

At present, Alfonso does not have so much money, but new cigarettes are about to be released, and the low price is destined to wash the entire European market, and then there will be money.

Sure enough, the reply was delivered, and the Pope chose to make concessions again.

The Church has no bottom line for Spain.

Within two days, Pius IX publicly issued a declaration saying: “Considering that King Alfonso is a person blessed by the Lord, in order to implement the will of the Father in the first place, the Spanish Church is allowed to act cheaply to a certain extent.”

Not long after that, Bishop Andrew, who had been appointed as the new official, jumped out and announced that he would excommunicate Peregrina, Clarett, and others from the church and permanently expel them from the church.

Note that this does not include Bishop Antonio, because the other party did not intervene in the matter after he initially discouraged Alfonso from being scared away, and he showed absolute neutrality in subsequent actions.

Considering Antonio’s corruption, his decades of clergy, and his age, Alfonso decided to let him go.