Kriegsritter Johannes Braun – Imperial Knight
Copyright© 2026 by Vonalt
Chapter 10: At Court
Reichsritter Johannes stood straight and stepped back, looking at Emperor Frederick Barbarossa in anticipation of what Frederick would command. Although he still considered Frederick his friend and mentor, he sensed that the nature of their relationship had changed. He was no longer the Emperor’s right hand, but merely one individual among many at court. Johannes remembered his father’s warning: trust no one. He wondered whether that warning included the Emperor.
“Welcome to court, Reichsritter Johannes,” the Emperor said with a welcoming smile. “It pleases me to see you at court, Reichsritter.”
“You sent word, my Emperor, and I came to do your bidding,” Johannes responded in a calm, assured manner. He wasn’t going to show weakness. The jackals among those present would seize upon any weakness and prey upon it.
“For those who have never heard of Reichsritter Johannes Braun, he is the son of Ritter Wilhelm Braun. Reichsritter Braun has proven his bravery, integrity, and compassion to his Emperor on multiple occasions. He thwarted two attempts on my life not long after being raised from the rank of squire. He has demonstrated ingenuity, sound judgment in negotiation, and the wisdom to stand firm in his principles. It was through his abilities that I was crowned Holy Roman Emperor in Rome.
“To those who are jealous of his accomplishments in so short a time, I caution you: do not challenge him, for you will lose. He is aligned not only with me, your Emperor, but also with His Holiness, Pope Adrian IV. Reichsritter Braun enjoys both the confidence and the protection of the Holy See as well,” Emperor Frederick announced to those in attendance.
After the Emperor had introduced Johannes, he had him stand at his right side. Johannes would later learn that this was the Emperor’s way of making it known to those at court that he was once again his right hand. Whatever the members of the court inferred from the gesture was left to their own interpretation.
One after another, the members of Emperor Frederick’s circle of advisors came forward at the Emperor’s bidding to introduce themselves to the Reichsritter. Most were already known to Johannes by name and reputation. They had served in the Emperor’s court for years and were among his closest supporters and most trusted advisors.
The first to be introduced to Johannes was Imperial Chancellor Reinald of Dassel. He was an older man who had the Emperor’s ear and served as his principal advisor on political and religious matters. Johannes hoped to learn much from the Chancellor and made it known that he would welcome Reinald’s guidance. In response, the Chancellor complimented Johannes on his negotiating skills, particularly his role in helping the Emperor and the Pope come to an agreement.
The next of the Emperor’s advisors to be introduced was Abbot Wibald of Stavelot. A Benedictine abbot, he was responsible for overseeing abbeys and monasteries throughout the Empire. The last time Johannes had dealings with a Benedictine abbey, matters had not ended well for a certain monk whose hatred of the nobility and those who served the Emperor had ultimately been his undoing. The memory left Johannes visibly uneasy. Realizing the expression that had crossed his face, he felt a flush of embarrassment.
Noticing Johannes’s obvious discomfort upon being introduced, the abbot said, “Reichsritter, why do I sense unease in you at our meeting? Is it because of the unfortunate events that led to your first meeting with King Frederick? Let me assure you that you were right to refuse the monk’s orders. Your lessons of compassion and forgiveness were the correct ones, and that monk could have learned much from you that day had he not allowed his own arrogance and hatred to guide his actions.”
“Thank you, Abbot. I find comfort in your words, and I hope to learn much from your guidance,” Johannes replied.
“It is good to see you on better terms, Reichsritter Johannes,” said Archbishop Hillin of Falmagne. “I hope we can move beyond the unfortunate events of the past. You have proven yourself exemplary in your service to the Emperor and Pope Adrian IV. I am told it is because of your diligence that the Holy Father can continue to guide the Church and the Holy City of Rome. I look forward to serving our Emperor at your side.”
Not sure how to respond to the Archbishop of Trier’s words, Johannes said, “I am grateful to you for celebrating our wedding Mass. Few noblemen have had a pope, an archbishop, and an abbot preside over such a ceremony, one that united the Imperial Crown with the powerful families of Rome in support of the Holy See. I look forward to continuing the alliance between Crown and Church.”
Johannes had just begun to relax when a man about his age, dressed in royal garments, approached Frederick’s throne without announcing himself or bowing to the Emperor. His arrogant demeanor immediately put Johannes on alert. He was clearly one of the courtiers his father had warned him about. Johannes watched him carefully, ready to react if the need arose.
“Cousin, who is this who dares stand at your right hand—the place reserved for your most trusted advisers?”the unknown man said, fixing Johannes with a challenging stare.
Johannes said nothing but returned the stare, ready to defend himself if the need arose.
“Cousin, I would be careful what you say. The man standing beside me as my adviser and protector is Reichsritter Johannes Braun—a man who has protected his Emperor on at least two occasions and whose actions in Rome were crucial to my coronation as Holy Roman Emperor. He has proven his worth to me time and again. Tell me, can you say the same?”
“If I were you, Henry, I would befriend the young Reichsritter and learn from him. With him at your side, you would not be led astray,” the Emperor said, admonishing his young cousin.
Recognizing the man he had been watching, Johannes realized he was Emperor Frederick’s younger cousin, Henry, who had helped Frederick secure the crown using his influence. He was Duke Henry of Saxony, better known as Henry the Lion. Unsure what game the Emperor was playing, Johannes decided to bow to Henry out of respect and in acknowledgment of his rank.
“Duke Henry, should you call upon me, I will gladly assist you wherever I am needed,” Johannes replied, his head still bowed.
Henry smiled and said, “Perhaps one day we shall campaign together in service to my cousin, and we may learn from each other.”
Johannes sensed the tension between Henry and himself beginning to ease, but he would still follow his father’s advice. Henry would remain one of those he watched from a distance, someone he would be slow to call a friend.
Duke Henry spotted several members of the court with whom he was friendly and went off to exchange pleasantries and catch up on the latest court gossip.
Emperor Frederick laughed and said to Johannes, “Young Henry may be known as the Lion, but he still has much to learn. One day he may be fit to rule, but until then he will strut through the corridors of the court with his companions. Johannes, be wary of him. He has considerable support here at court; never turn your back on him.”
“Have there been any difficulties in my absence from Aachen?” the Emperor inquired. “Have the Roman citizens continued to follow the laws established by the alliance between the Crown and the Papacy?”
“There are no major disturbances to report, my Emperor. The citizens have remained loyal to the alliance between the Crown and the Papacy, and that loyalty continues to strengthen. Since I established an advisory council composed of representatives from Rome’s most influential families, tensions have eased considerably. Even the Pierleoni now take part in the council’s deliberations.”
“By giving the leading families a voice in the city’s governance, the council has encouraged them to become invested in preserving the peace rather than disturbing it. Their influence has encouraged the people to support the laws of the alliance instead of resisting them. The council has also proven valuable in identifying the city’s needs before they become sources of unrest. As a result, the people are content, complaints have diminished, and Rome is more stable than when we arrived.”
“Where is your wife? I would have thought you would be eager to present her to the court. She is a beautiful woman, after all. If you are not careful, you will have half my court envying you—and my cousin Henry foremost among them.”
Johannes felt himself tense and took a measured breath before speaking.
“My Emperor, I sent her back to Rome once we reached Genoa. After our marriage, which sealed the alliance between the Imperial Crown, the Frangipani family, and, in turn, the Papacy, Apollonia underwent a profound change. Her conduct became increasingly difficult that even members of her own family were embarrassed by her behavior and demands.
“Almost immediately after the wedding, she began insisting that I provide her with servants and a residence befitting the wife of an imperial representative. She demanded a finer coach, complained about the lodgings and meals provided by our hosts during our journey, and even criticized the accommodations offered by convents, insisting they should provide comforts suitable for a lady of her rank. To preserve goodwill, I assured her I would raise her concerns with His Holiness, though I had no intention of burdening him with such trivial matters.”
“Her conduct worsened. She openly insulted the lords, abbots, and guild masters who had pledged their loyalty to the Crown and who had generously welcomed us. In Genoa, she quarreled with the wife of the Master of the Merchants’ Guild. At that point, I feared her behavior would jeopardize the alliance we had worked so hard to secure.
“After consulting with the guild master, a man for whom I have the deepest respect, we agreed that the wisest course was to arrange for her passage aboard one of his ships bound for Rome. Had I allowed her to continue with me, I fear the damage she might have caused here at court would have been far greater.”
“If my actions have displeased you or have reflected poorly upon your trust in me, I will relinquish my position and return to Rome in disgrace.”
The Emperor sat in silence as the Reichsritter recounted his wife’s behavior during the journey north from Rome. At first, his face revealed little emotion. But as Johannes continued describing Apollonia’s remarks and conduct, the Emperor’s expression gradually shifted from annoyance to anger and, finally, to sympathy.
Johannes fully expected to be seized, dragged away, and sent to the executioner’s axe. Instead, the Emperor remained seated, listening intently as Johannes finished his account of Apollonia’s behavior.
“What would you like to see happen, Reichsritter Johannes?” Emperor Frederick asked, speaking not only as Emperor but also as Johannes’s mentor. “A marriage can be dissolved, and you would no longer be bound to her. Or, if you preferred, I could have her banished to England.”
“I consulted one of Pope Adrian’s canon lawyers and biblical scholars,” Johannes replied. “He found no grounds upon which the marriage could be annulled. He also spoke with Apollonia, and she was insulting and discourteous even to him. His advice was that I devote more of my time to my official duties, spend as little time at home as possible, and seek strength through prayer.”
“You were wise not to bring her to court,” the Emperor said in a low voice so that those nearby could not overhear. “Had she behaved as you described, it would have had serious consequences for your position here. I would have had no choice but to remove you from court. As for her, she could have faced imprisonment or even a public whipping for showing such blatant disrespect.”
“My Emperor, I must see to the needs of my men. They have spent many long hours in the saddle, as have I, and are in need of food and rest. With your permission, I will return later so that we may continue my introduction to the members of your court. Perhaps then you can tell me why you recalled me to Aachen,” Johannes said respectfully.
“Yes, go, Reichsritter. See that your men are fed and properly quartered, and get some rest yourself. We shall continue your introduction to the court later, and then I will explain why I have summoned you,” the Emperor replied.
Johannes left the great hall and asked where his men had been taken. He was relieved to learn that someone had seen to their meal. He found them gathered around several tables, eating and trying, with little success, to find a comfortable place to sleep. Johannes joined them, sitting beside Marcus. A servant brought him a wooden trencher of beef, bread, and cheese, along with a small ceramic jug of weak ale. As he ate, weariness settled over him. His audience with the Emperor and the strain of facing the court had drained what little strength he had left. When he finished, he wondered whom he should ask about lodging for himself and his men.
Not wanting to wait any longer than necessary, Johannes stopped the servant clearing the table and asked whom he should speak to about lodging for himself and his men. The servant replied that he would speak to the imperial seneschal on Johannes’s behalf.
Johannes was talking with Marcus and several of the Frangipani men when the servant returned. He waited patiently for a pause in the conversation before approaching the table.
“Reichsritter,” the servant said, “the imperial seneschal has found lodging for you and your men. If you will follow me, I will show you to your quarters.”
Johannes stood and helped Marcus to his feet. The others followed, some groaning as stiff muscles protested the long day. The servant waited patiently until they were all standing before leading them to the guardroom that had been set aside for them. Fresh straw covered the sleeping shelves, providing a softer bed and some insulation against the cold dampness that seemed to haunt every castle.
It did not take long before the room filled with the sound of men snoring almost in unison. Within minutes, they were all asleep.
Johannes’s last conscious thought was of her. Had she reached Rome by now? How would Oddone react to her being sent home? There would be some humiliation for her, but Johannes hoped Oddone would understand and release him from their alliance. At his first opportunity, he would write to Oddone and explain why he had sent her back. Oddone was enough of a politician to understand his reasons.
Johannes woke to someone shaking him. It was the servant who had led them to their quarters earlier.
“Reichsritter, it is time for the evening meal, and the Emperor wants you to be there. I have brought you water to wash yourself and a fresh surcoat to put on.”
Johannes rose and used a clean rag to wash his face and upper body before pulling on a fresh surcoat. He then followed the servant to the dining hall. He could hear the din spilling from the hall long before they reached it.
Johannes was glad he had slipped his dagger beneath his surcoat. He had carried it since childhood. It had been one of the gifts his mother had given him when he became a page, and it had served him well over the years. He had drawn it only twice to defend himself, and both times it had found its mark.
The servant handed Johannes over to the imperial seneschal before returning to his duties. The seneschal bowed to him and said,
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