Chapter Seventy-three

 

 

Odo Attacks Rome

 

 

Pope Urban managed to negotiate a truce between the half-brother princes, Borsa and Bohemud of Lower Italy, and with limited assistance from these Norman allies made his first entry into Rome in November of 1088, eight months after his election as Pope. This entry was inauspicious since Pope Urban was not afforded adequate troops to dislodge anti-pope Clement who continued to control most of the city. Consequently, Urban was forced to take refuge on the Island of Saint Bartholomew. Clement, likewise, was unable to rout Urban from the island since he also lacked an adequate troop force.

From his heavily fortified position on the island, Urban immediately launched a fiery verbal attack on the enemies of Gregorian Catholics throughout Europe.

“Know that I excommunicate Archbishop Guibert of Ravenna, known to us as the anti-pope Clement III and declare him a beast sprung out from earth to wage war against the Saints of God! I also excommunicate Heinrich of Germany who professes to be the Holy Roman Emperor, as did once my predecessor and dear friend, Pope Victor III, and as did twice his predecessor, Pope Gregory VII!”

Clement retorted by calling for a synod within Saint Peter’s Basilica before which he demanded that Pope Urban appear to answer for crimes against God and humanity. This war of words eventually culminated in a vicious and desperate three day battle in which Clement was driven from the city and Pope Urban finally took possession of Saint Peter’s.

“Praise God, Odo!” Tristan cried as he and Pope Urban marched in triumph through the Vatican gates into the Lateran Palace surrounded by Norman troops. “Final victory at last!”

“Nay, far from it,” Odo replied, keeping a careful eye to the crowd that had amassed. “Victory for the moment, yes, but the city population remains split and could turn on us at any moment. You were here yourself and witnessed how they turned on Gregory and Desiderius both, and never forget that they have also twice turned on the antipope. Rome has been embroiled in this war for over five years now and has learned that survival depends on bending with the wind, between us and Heinrich, whoever possesses momentum possesses Rome, but only until the pendulum swings again.”

“Ah, you are more flexible than was Pope Gregory, stronger than Desiderius, and unlike Clement you are the legitimate Pope. You will know how to manage the population and still the discontent.”

“Perhaps. Never forget that the shadow of King Heinrich looms large to the north in Germany. When he finds out about Clement’s defeat he will double his efforts against Mathilda, which is why we must hasten this marriage between Mathilda and Welf the Younger in order to fortify her position and solidify our alliances. Should Heinrich ever gain the upper hand against Mathilda, then he will surely march south against us again. And if these fickle Romans feel the threat of Heinrich’s hammer, they will quickly switch sides again in order to avoid destruction of the city.”

“Then we will be vigilant,” Tristan replied, “and continue with the building of bridges to keep Heinrich in check. We are beginning to make inroads in Lombardy within the communes of Milan, Cremona, Lodi, and Piacenza by turning some of Heinrich’s former allies against him. As you said, this marriage between Mathilda and young Welf will be yet another check against Heinrich, and the Normans to the south will never abandon us. I believe we can hold Rome.”

Once settled into the Vatican, Odo immediately set about the task of doubling diplomacy efforts in order to consolidate support against King Heinrich. Tristan was instrumental in carrying out these efforts, and soon found himself shuttling month after month to Saxony, Bavaria, Tuscany, Lombardy, and Lower Italy. He became so buried in these diplomatic missions that he found himself thinking of Mala only during the rare moments of inactivity that Odo’s missions now afforded. Yet, when these occasions arose, they managed to send him plummeting into periods of introspection and regret as he relived memories of being with Mala in the Loire Valley and Marseilles. This in turn, oddly, made him miss the anonymity of his earlier work within the Benedictine underground, for he had become an extremely public figure recognized within the important political circles of France, Italy, and Germany.

He enjoyed this work and felt that he was making a more significant impact in the restoration of Gregorian Catholicism than he had during his days with the Benedictine underground. His earlier work with the underground served him well in this new capacity; much of the diplomacy he became involved in dealt with secrecy and intrigue. Because of this, he continued to work closely with Muehler within the tunnels of Monte Cassino and also continued to encounter Handel throughout Italy and Germany.