Papal Italian and Communal Italian seem to contradict each other when it comes to carroccios. *
The Papal Italian list notes say this about their compulsory Communal Italian allies:
[Communal Italian allies] need not include Bge (S)...
That language indicates to me that the Bge (S) is optional.
But the Communal Italian list itself says:
Carroccio standard (unless ally contingent) - Reg Bge (S) @ 6AP 1
The word "unless" to me reads as a prevention, meaning in this case that it's the opposite of compulsory, or in other words "not allowed".
Should I instead read "unless" to instead mean "not compulsory", or in other words "optional"?
* Yes, okay, not the greatest list in the books, but it has its charms as well as its historical fascination.