montpellier - Ars-Archange/ars-pbp GitHub Wiki
In the annals of history, the figure of Guilhem VIII, Lord of Montpellier, held a position of great import. His city, a nexus in the intricate web of commerce between the Iberian and Italian peninsulas, was famed for its scarlet textiles and exotic spices (most notably its spiced wines).
In the year 1174, destiny weaved an unexpected tapestry as Guilhem VIII entered into wedlock with Eudoxie Comnène, the radiant granddaughter of the Eastern Roman Emperor. Yet, the passage of fifteen years witnessed the unraveling of their union, for Eudoxie had bestowed upon him but a single daughter, Maria. This deficiency in male progeny led him to repudiate Eudoxie, his heart entwined with ambition for a male heir. In haste, he took Agnès de Castille as his new bride, and she bore him the coveted son who would inherit his legacy.
However, the ecclesiastical powers, veiled in the robes of the papacy, stood resolute against the annulment of his initial marriage, thereby rendering his union with Agnès de Castille illicit. This grim decree cast a shadow over the legitimacy of the six children born of this subsequent marriage, branding them as bastards in the unforgiving eyes of the Church.
The year 1181 found Guilhem VIII etching his name into the annals of enlightenment. In a bold proclamation, he enshrined the freedom to disseminate the teachings of medicine, regardless of one's origins or faith. Montpellier, a sanctuary of knowledge and refuge, had been a beacon for Jewish physicians fleeing the Almohades' grip in Spain since 1148.
Yet, the success of this endeavor knew no bounds, and Guilhem VIII ventured further into uncharted territory. With a stroke of his quill, he sanctioned the practice of law and magic within his domain. The persecuted mystics, both Christian and Jewish, who had sought refuge from the Almohades, thrived and formed flourishing communities in the region.
Ambroise de Guernicus, Chief Quaesitor of the Tribunal, bore witness to these perplexing developments. He would soon bring this disconcerting matter before the impending tribunal, the shadows of uncertainty lengthening as the next solstice approached.