Ottomania: Part 1, Timur Vs Bayezid.
Bayezid the first, 1399, Diary during the 7-day assembly:
The war against the empire of Timur, is one our glorious empire is destined to lose. Timur has in over the last years expanded his empire to a great vast blob in between Arabia and India. The Ottoman state and culture is superior to everybody else, so why can’t our economy sustain an army like that of Timur.. And if that isn’t enough Timur is a ferocious general. There are rumors of him eating the rottening hearts of his slain enemies. Nay, a direct confrontation will not be in Ottoman favor. And already now Timur is marching in on the Ottoman territories of Sivas and Angorra with more than twenty thousand troops! The situation is getting grim. And this council of nobles has squandered time at this council for 7 days, doing nothing. If this continues I won’t have a throne my son, Murad, can inherit.
Something must be done. Those pesky nobles won’t be allowed to stand between me and greatness. Neither will that useless barbarian.
Bayezid the first, 1399, speech to the war council of the Ottoman Empire, after the 7-day assembly:
What shall we do, great men of the Empire? You have suggested we should cower behind our walls in despair! And pay of Timur with land and gold! Our land and our gold! How dare you even suggest that! From this day forth war taxes is taxed all over the empire. None are allowed to slip free, not the nobles nor the mosques. You will all assemble your best men at Angora at my disposal. Every livestock in the Regions of Sivas and Angorra must be taken away or burned. We will raid into Persia and kill any who opposes us. Including those non-believers amongst us! I vow to defend our great empire against Timur. Are you cowards or are you Ottomans? Are you with me or against me?
Anyone who opposes this speak now.
**** Scriptors notes ****
And none spoke. Either the Kings plan was perfect, or the men assembled were frightened by the 2 full strength regiments present within the grand hall of Edirne. It could as well be the special outfit worn by the king, that day:
Only days later, as an direct consequence of the Kings speech, the landlords of Bithynia openly adopted the Shiite faith.. As an consequence thereof Bayezid enacted the denouncement of sect practices and the Sheik ul-Islam Office. The punishment of the sects had to wait, as the war was the most important issue at the moment.
Bayezid the first, early 1400, Diary entry:
Finally we have conquered the last treacherous Turkish tribes, who supported Timur. It has been to long sieging Mus. So much effort and blood, and only for the province of Mus and Kony. I would have had the sieges finish sooner, but we couldn’t afford any encounters with the main army of Timur. As a result we had to give up the sieges many times. Our new allies The Golden Horde and The Mamluks, wouldn’t allow us to take all the lands of Karaman and Dulkadir. I don’t know why, as I stopped listening at “they will have to be an OPM first”.
At least we are gaining some ground occupying Timurs fortless lands in Persia. This has proven a great distraction, as he have been forced to retreat out of Asia Minor. Asia Minor is once again in our hands, but we must be ever vigilant as that huge army is just at our border!
Bayezid the first, september 1403, Diary entry:
We had our first real battle against our enemies army. It wasn’t a fight we did at our good will, but we had to protect our infantry regiments from being overrun. In the end we lost the battle, Mira Shan was an formidable foe. At least we saved several thousand infantry from the certain dead. They will now be reassigned to guard duty as war exhaustion is rising.
Rumors has come of Timurs death. According to the rumors Timur died in February 1401 ! As expected his nation is falling apart in a succession crisis. We have been giving active support to Azerbaijani nationalists. In the coming time we will try to help Persian and other nationalists as well. The nobles are not pleased with the war results. They wishes to see our armies crush those of our enemies. Thankfully my son, Murad, is arguing for the continued policy of occupation and support for dissidents.
Bayezid the first, January 1405, Diary entry:
I can almost feel the victory! The two huge armies of the empire has both been pushed east, where they are fighting nationalist rebels! One day we might be able to defeat them. Rumors goes, that Bâbur the III can’t pay his armies. He surely isn’t as able as his grand uncle Timur.
But at home we have troubles with rebels as well.
Bayezid the first, March 1405, Diary entry:
For the first time the I ordered my army to charge against the demoralized army of Miran Shah:
The province of Edirne reversed their faith. The battle of Atak showed them, Islam isn’t a religion of cowards.
Bayezid the first, June 1405, Diary entry:
We have been chasing the army of Miran Shah for months. A series of winning battles, a lot of newly occupied land but no decisive victory yet.
Bayezid the first, July 1405, Diary entry:
I got an arrow through the leg in the battle for Bukhara. The doctor says the wound will easily heal. To be on the safe side I have ordered my servants in Edirne to prepare for Murads ascension to the throne. I myself have seen what can happen in a succession crisis:
*** Chronicles of the Grand Scriptor of the Ottoman Empires ***
November 1405 was a changing year for the empire. Bayezid completed his war against the so called Timurid Empire. The Province of Erserum, and its Turkish populace, was gained. Khiva was released and became an Ottoman ally. Persia had proclaimed itself an independent state, and continued to war the remnants of the Timurid Empire. Bayezid had so far insured the Empire from the Eastern threat.
In the same month Bayezid the Warrior died from his wounds. His son Murad II took the throne, and none opposed the son of the glorious Bayezid. His father had spent most of his reign looking east. Murad II had his eyes focused in another direction!
The Empire at the 15 November 1405
After the peace in 1406:
Bayezids deeds:
During the war it hadn't been necessary to take any loans. Instead the treasury had been forced to mint a bit. Inflation stood around ~1 - It was clear for anyone, that more money had to be extracted from the economy to protect against the Empires enemies.