- ARCHIVE - Sublime Porte of the Ottoman Empire

[Bagricula]

A scroll arrives by rider from Cairo bearing the official seal of the Gardens of Bliss on the clasp:

"The Devout Yakub I, Sovereign of The Osman Family, Sultan es Selatin, Khakhan, Servant of the Cities of Mecca, Medina and Kouds, and Padishah of the Ottoman Empire,

With the mean words of a slave of Allah the All-knowing, I his humble slave send you the greetings of my temporal master the Sublime Sultan of Egypt, Servant of the Cities of Mecca, Medina, and Kouds, Emirate Pasha of the Mameluks, and Padishah of Upper and Lower Egypt, Ulgulekh I, from whom I appeal to spare my life each day for my own unworthiness in his eyes and the eyes of his master.

When the Great and Final Prophet Muhammed(Peace Be Upon Him) espoused the Koran to all the people, making manifest the will of Allah, he did so indiscriminate of blood or race. The Koran spread on the tongues of everyman whether Arab, Berber, Mongol, Turk, or Kurd, fulfilling Kismet. It is then also by Kismet that the destiny of all Islam should be tied together in a great typhoon struggle with the blood-lust and hatred of the mad King-Priest of Rum and his ravenous hounds. With the protection of Allah and the guidance of Muhammed(Peace Be Upon Him) and his rightful spiritual and temporal successors, Caliph Majid Hassam and Sultan es Selatin Yakub Osmanli respectively, we are assured eventual victory, ushering in a new age of peace under the reign of Allah.

To formulate and expediate this new world that will inevitably follow, the Servant of the Cities of Mecca, Medina, Kouds, Sublime and Merciful Sultan Ulgulukh I invites your devoutness to come holiday in the cosmopolitan metropolis of Cairo where a conference of the great powers of Islam will be conducted in the Gardens of Bliss for the purposes of setting the course of our new world.

Reverently and Obsequiously,
The Humble Muhammed Abdul-Jalil, Grand Vizier of Upper and Lower Egypt"

 

[Auspend]

Yakub looks at the three letters on the arm of his throne. He scowls and opens one. Scanning over it his scowl deepens and he sets it to the side. He then takes the next letter and looks over it. His face contorts further and he sets this one aside and grabs the final scroll, the letter from Egypt. He crushes it in disgust and throws it across the throne room just as the vizier enters. Ismail Pasha bends down, brushes some dust off his black and red robes, and picks up the letter. After reading it he speaks to Yakub

"Now now your Excellency, what have I told you about your temper? This letter is hardly something to get annoyed about. It appears your general Ulgulekh is now the ruler of Egypt. It appears that he has succeded far more I... we had expected."

"Then why did whoever have to write so much? I don't want to have to waste my time reading all of that worthless junk on the page. Read these and tell me what they say."

Ismail Pasha takes the other two letters and browses through them. As he does so he decides to teach the sultan a little lesson.

"It is all about diplomacy. Take this letter from my Egyptian counterpart. The first sentence is all flattery to you, a listing of your various titles. He is trying to impress you. Next he has even more grand titles for his own lord, for he is certain that Ulgulekh is going to review the letter. Much of the rest is praise of the prophet so that we think he is a good, devout Muslim. Finally he gets to the point you so desire. Please read the last paragraph my lord. It invites you to go to Cairo to meet with the other leaders of Islam and discuss our future. Perhaps Ulgulekh would be willing to donate some nice Egyptian girls to your harem."

The sultan nods and thinks. He is obviously intrigued by something Ismail Pasha has said, though one can only guess what in particular.

"Perhaps we will go to Cairo. Aisha has been insisting on going there anyway. Perhaps it will shut her up. What about the other letters?"

"They are from Rhodes and Venice. Both are asking for peace. Perhaps making peace with Rhodes would be wise in light of the agreement your most sublime majesty made with the English. As for the Venetians we are not yet without fangs. Let us see what our new fleet has accomplished before we respond."

 

[unmerged(7849)]

A letter comes in very fast somewhere in the desert,

"Bastard Sultan of the Ottoman Empire,

How dare you go behind my back and demand territory that was won by the blood of the Timurid Empire. How dare you demand territory from the Portuguese that you had no part in taking. And how dare you think that you have any right to do so, especially after you condemned us for our war on Judea and would not help us.

You are nothing but a traitor to Islam and are only out for your own greed. Whatever cooperation we had between us has been destroyed as you have now stabbed the Timurid Empire, your former ally, in the back. Shame upon your house and your Empire. Aleppo will not be yours.

written by his own hand,
Ulugh Beg, Khan of the Timurid Empire"

 

[Auspend]

The sultan's grand vizier, one Seyyid Mehmed Ismail Pasha, looks at the letter sent to Yakub from the Timurid Khan. *There's no need for him to see this.* Ismail Pasha crumples up the letter and tosses it to one of the servants.

"Dispose of that."

 

[Auspend]

Off the Damatian Coast

A large galley rests in the waters. Atop it's high mast flies the Ottoman naval standard. It is the Yuva Bir, the flagship of the Ottoman fleet. Its crew, in a state of battle readiness, is preparing for any potential conflict with the Venetian navy. At the prow of the ship stands a tall Arabic man wearing clothes similar to those of the other sailors. The only noticable difference is the jacket, that of an admiral of the Ottoman Empire. His name is Akbar, and with the sinking of the Ottoman 1st fleet, and its commander, he has found himself in charge of the entire Turkish fleet. As he looks over the fleet he begins to think about the war.

*They fear an attack by the Turk, but they don't realise that there are no Turks in power. His Most Sublime Majesty and General Ulgulekh are Turkoman tribesmen, almost Mongolian. That snake of a Grand Vizier is one of those troublesome Kurds. The Imams are all Arabic, and the local leaders of the other religions are either Greek or Armenian. His elite soldiers are the children of the once-conquered populations. And I, Akbar, Admiral of the Osmanli navy, am an Omani. The situation would be funny if so many lives were not in danger. But lives are on the line, and without the presence of either the child-Sultan or General Ulgulekh it rests on my shoulders to keep as many people alive as I can.*

Turning around, Akbar summons one of his kethüda. "Signal the Demir Yumruk. Order aða Pantelas to return to Crete to retrieve what troops aren't involved in maintaining the garrison. But I must still decide what to do after that..."

Translations:
Yuva Bir - Home One
Kethüda - Lieutenant
Demir Yumruk - Iron Fist
Aða - Commander

 

[Wulfram]

A short note arrives

"Sultan Yakub,

When I recieve a credible offer, I will give you an answer.

Antonio Mocenigo, Doge of Venice"

 

[Innocent]

An Italian cleric, given this unenvious task, has hired a small merchant carrack and set sail for Asia Minor. The Papal banner is clearly displayed, in an attempt to prevent the vessel from being attacked by pirates, but opening the vessel for attack by the enemies of the Papacy. Either through luck or the earnest prayers of the Cleric the ship barely makes it's way safely to port in Smyrna, where the diplomatic nature of the voyage allows it to safely dock. The cleric rushes to the Sublime Porte, delivering the letter bearing the Papal Seal.

He prepares to wait for a day or two for a reply to be penned, but he is more worried about the treacherous return voyage.

 

[Wulfram]

A sealed letter arrives from Venice

 

[Wulfram]

A letter arrives from Venice

"Sayyid Mehmet Ismail Pasha, Vizier to the Ottoman Sultan,

The treaty specifies that the exemption from silk tariffs applies only to lands under the Ottoman Sultan's rule. If the Emir will not obey the Sultan, then I would not define them as under his rule, and so would not expect it to apply. It does not matter excessively anyway, for our main interest is in your recently acquired port of Trebizond, your capital of Bursa and to a lesser extent the city of Smyrna, which have for a long time been important centers of trade on the Silk Road and where I trust the Sultan's authority is still strong.

I hope we can begin to return our relations to normality. Might I have your permission to send an ambassador to the Sultan's court?

Antonio Mocenigo, Dei Gratia Dux Venetiarum etc"

 

[unmerged(7849)]

A message arrives from Moscow,

"Sultan of the Ottoman Empire,

Russia and your Empire have never formally opened up relations. I hope we can rectify this fact, and I hope that possibly we can cooperate in the future. I am sending my most trusted advisor, Koba, to meet you if you will accept him.

written by his own hand in Moscow,
Vasily II, Czar of Russia, Emperor of all Russians"

 

[Longinus]

ANNUAL TRADE
EVENTS​

MAJOR TRADE EVENT TABLE​

The leaders of certain trade organizations reap the rewards of their hard work. Some merchants are more active and some are less. Certain states and organizations signed profitable deals and agreements. Trade is flourishing in their realms.


1. Thriving trade routes bring in hitherto unseen revenue for the realm, this year. (+1 econ, +1Tech and +1 Morale for 1 year )

2. Astronomically prosperous trade raises the morale of the entire populous... (+1 Morale +1Tech for 1 year )

3. Excellent trade aids commerce at every level... +1 eco for one year)

4. Trade is flourishing, huge incomes. (+1 Tech for 1 year )

5. Trade is flourishing

6. Trade is average this year.

7. Trade is average this year.

8. Traders break even.

9. Pirates and Bandits took all the profit ( -1 Morale for 1 year 1 in 2 chance of effect)

10. Crippling losses by traders. ( -1 Morale, - 1 eco for 1 year)


NOTE: Good RP will regularly affect these rolls.



MAJOR trade events:


* Bremen: consistent and good trade RP, lots of good agreements, prime chairman of Hansa, Imperial Trade Commissioner, good and persistent RP, end of war with Denmark, good terms (-2 to the roll) A 3. is rolled 1. Thriving trade routes bring in hitherto unseen revenue for the realm, this year. (+1 econ, +1Tech and +1 Morale for 1 year )

* Portugal: most excellent and brilliant RP, very skillful play etc. what can I say more? (-4 to the roll) A 6. is rolled 2. Astronomically prosperous trade raises the morale of the entire populous... (+1 Morale +1Tech for 1 year )

* Venice: careful and consistent “never to loose anything” RP, good agreements etc. (-1 to the roll) A 7. is rolled 6. Trade is average this year.

note to BzAl: all Eco bonuses and loses are semi-permanent, it means that max nation eco rises/drops by one for one year.

MINOR TRADE EVENT TABLE

Some nations are not as active as others but still their merchants are quite active or those countries simply occupy important spots. They may have also signed some good agreements or are part of certain trade organizations.


1. Good trade raises the morale of the
populous......... (+1Tech and +1eco for 1 year )

2. Good trade aids the artisans........... (+1eco for 1 year )

3. Trade is flourishing, huge incomes (+1 Tech for 1 year )

4. Trade is flourishing.

5. Trade is average this year

6. Trade is average this year

7. Traders break even.

8. Pirates and Bandits took all the profit ( -1 Morale for 1 year 1 in 4 chance of effect )

9. Bad losses by traders. ( -1 Morale for 1 year 1 in 2 chance of effect - 1 econ for one year)

10. Bad losses by traders. Your nations incompetance seems to blame ( -1 Morale, 1 in 4 chance of effect, -1 tech 1 in 2 chance of effect, - 1 eco for one year )


NOTE: Good RP will regularly affect these rolls.


Minor trade events:


* Gelre: member of Hansa, active and finally RPs trade, end of war with Denmark, good terms (-2 to the roll) A 2. is rolled 1. Good trade raises the morale of the populous......... (+1Tech and +1eco for 1 year )

* Pommern: leader of WHU, end of war with Denmark with good terms, RL pushed me back from Rping at all, I promise I will improve (-1 to the roll) A 4. is rolled 3. Trade is flourishing, huge incomes (+1 Tech for 1 year )

* Bavaria : some trade RP, keep it up Bocaj (-1 to the roll) A 3. is rolled 2. Good trade aids the artisans........... (+1eco for 1 year )

* Siberia: as usual nice RP and interaction with others but less active? (-1 to the roll) A 2. is rolled 1. Good trade raises the morale of the populous......... (+1Tech and +1eco for 1 year )

* Golden Horde: little trade RP, good spots etc. (straight roll) A 2. is rolled 2. Good trade aids the artisans...........
(+1eco for 1 year )

* England: ahhh that is only a beginning I suppose, an excellent one, pact with Hansa being ratified in favor of England (-2 to the roll) A 4. is rolled 2. Good trade aids the artisans........... (+1eco for 1 year )

* Hessen: agreements with Hansa, overall little trade RP but (straight roll) justified. A 2. is rolled 2. Good trade aids the artisans........... (+1eco for 1 year )

* Eastern Roman Empire: very good work, although a bit chaotic I feel ERE merchants are less active huh? (straight roll) A 10. is rolled 10. Bad losses by traders. Your nations incompetance seems to blame (no morale loss (3 rolled), -1 tech (rolled 1), - 1 eco for one year )

* Ottomans: Turks are not as active as Wurtmbergians huh? Still their hub is so precious and Auspend know it quite well. (-1 to the roll) A 6. is rolled 5. Trade is average this year

* Mameluks: Buck in good form and shape, as well as Mam’s traders . (-2 to the roll) A 5. is rolled 3. Trade is flourishing, huge incomes (+1 Tech for 1 year )

* Hungary: Generally I like it, good job Hungary, it is nice to have Venice as friend huh? (-2 to the roll)
A 1. is rolled 1. Good trade raises the morale of the populous......... (+1Tech and +1eco for 1 year )

* Castile: Good, very good, carry on mate (-2 to the roll) A 8. is rolled 6. Trade is average this year

* Aragon: Good start in the Iberia KW please continue. (-2 to the roll) A 5. is rolled 3. Trade is flourishing, huge incomes (+1 Tech for 1 year )

note to BzAli all Eco bonuses/looses are semi-permanent, it means that max nation eco rises/falls by one for one year


All rolls were done by Ladislav



NOTES:

If there is no RP in the setting up and continued use of the
agreement there will be penalties to the roll. With excellent or good play, the opposite will be the case.

If an alliance, trade agreement or anything else springs from nowhere, there will quite probably be a bad event (or simply bad modifier) if I notice.

Any complaints or comments and suggestions on these events send to my (Longinus') PM inbox, please.

If you decide to play the trade aspect of the game, RP it. Otherwise, there will be negative modifiers upon the rolls (Trade is collapsing, merchants are being pushed back etc.) or simply there will be no roll for them.

Massive production of trade agreements is okay but will often lead nowhere.

Thank you for attention

Longinus, Your friendly trading auto-bot

Ps. I can’t wait for the struggle in the Med, hehehe, we have excellent players there, Genua, Venice, Mams, Aragon, Portugal, Castile, Ottomans… who will garb most? Mwahahahaha

PPs. What do you think about Lad’s rolls? I think they rocks! Only one negative effect this turn.

 

[Bagricula]

A scroll arrives by rider from Cairo bearing the official seal of the Gardens of Bliss on the clasp:

"The Devout Sayyid Mehmet Ismail Pasha, Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire,

Long now have the twin cities of Bursa and Alexandria stood opposite each other on the Mediterranean Sea, while at the same time holding the keys to trade from the rising of the sun to its setting. Just as the Sultanate of Egypt and the Sublime Porte grow closer though such pacts and agreements as the Conclave of Devout Nations, so too are our lands and peoples bound by commerce of goods and ideas.

Further with the acquisition of Judea and the hinterland surrounding Kouds, Egypt expects many of the devout of Islam to travel to the Holy City. My fearsome and majestic lord Ulgulekh the Sublime, naturally will offer his brethen in Turkey free passage to the Holy City, and welcomes theologians to Cairo, where he hopes to revive the ancient citadel of learning there.

Now I come to the purpose of my correspondence. I believe that with continued cooperation between the Sublime Porte and the Sultanate of Egypt, we may control all trade from east to west. I request your thoughts on a formal agreement to guide the integration of our commercial policies.

Humbly and Reverently,
Muhammed Abdul-Jalil, Grand Vizier of Upper and Lower Egypt"

 

[unmerged(7347)]

A letter arrives from Cairo

"Sultan of the Ottomans,

I write to you in order to inform you about the power change that have taken place in Cairo. I do not know your feelings towards the former Sultan of Egypt, but I am aware of that the relations between Turkey and Egypt have changed quikly in the past, from tension and hostility to friendship and respect, and sometimes back again. I also wish to be reassured about, that the military acces that Turkey has been given to my troops still is valid. Many times before, it have proven to be of great value for both of us.

signed by

Yusuf al-Zahiri, Sultan of Egypt"

 

[unmerged(9945)]

Letter from The Golden Horde

A serious letter arrives for The Sultan of The Ottomans

Sultan,

I have important words to exchange with you Sultan, but first let me inform you of recent events. I, Baraq Khan, have been elected Great Khan of The Golden Horde following the death of Damdinsuryn. This makes me The Great Khan of both Siberia and The Golden Horde. I have also saved my nation from Russia, but for a price as I am sure you have heard. Now onto the important issue at hand.

I am not sure what to think of you, Sultan. One moment you are a courageous defender of Islam, the next you betray your Muslim allies by striking an agreement with Christianity, denying my predeccesor Khan Damdinsuryn the oppurtunity to reclaim his lost lands in The Balkans. In this agreement you revoked the right of other Islamic states to pass through your territory, a most serious offense. I demand an explanation for such actions.

I am giving you such an oppurtunity because you were most kind to my people while I ruled solely in Siberia. You are also an Altaic people, though a sedentary civilization, like The Mongols of my lands. I await your reply.

Remember that The Golden Horde of present is now stronger than The Golden Horde of Damdinsuryn. This makes us a great ally, but also a most dangerous and potent foe.

Baraq Khan, Great Khan of The Golden Hode and Siberia

 

[unmerged(7400)]

A caravan arrives in the turkish lands. Asking for the gates to open, they wait in silence. When they are granted an entry to the Sultan's palace, a small man, an Asian face but an arabic skin color, get out of one and start to speak.

Most favourable greetings to the Sultan. My name is Salak Al-Mirimshak, and I come from a small Mongolian Khanate to the east. The Il-Khanate. You probably know it as the Kaliphate. But as the Caliph is no more present in Baghdad, my Khan, Hulegu Il-Khan, decided to change the name for us to be recognize as we really are: fearsome Mongolians. With your permission, I have been sent here to establish strong diplomatic relition between our to arabic realms, and will act as an ambassador for my Khanate. Hulegu would greatly like the fact of having a Turkish diplomat in Baghdad, also.

 

[unmerged(10239)]

Dioskouroi Dirke, the former ambassador to the Ottoman Empire from Athens remained in the court to speak to the Grand Vizier.

"Vizier, I am sorry to trouble you, but I must ask for aid. My nation is in a terrible and meaningless war with the Roman scum in Constantinople and Morea and we need all the aid we can muster. Would it be possible for the Empire to loan or donate some spare funds to an old friend?"

 

[unmerged(9313)]

A letter arrives from Genoa

 

[unmerged(7347)]

A letter with the seal of the Caliph arrives to the head Imam of Bursa.

"Noble Imam,

As you must have already heard, I, Maalik Ar Rasheed, is the new Caliph, by the grace of Allah. It would bring joy to my heart if you could persuade your Sultan, to send an Ulama to Cairo, to be avalible when matters of faith will be discussed. The darkness has covered our earthly dimension long enough and the Ottomans is the strongest nation, who still is loyal and havent lost their faith in the true words and intensions of Allah. There fore I feel that an Ulama from your realm must be part of all discussions that may take place about the faith.

signed by

Caliph Maalik Ar Rasheed"

 

[unmerged(3236)]

It's an early morning, the sun have just rose above the hill
The warming sunrays have purged the air of the damp nights chill
The rider storms to the gates of the ottoman Capital with his important cargo from the lands of the Al-Agta khanate.
The two well armed guards open up and let him into the magnicifent city, where he imidiatly makes his way to the court, to deliver his cargo to the sultan himself.

"Good Grand Vizer, I am Majid ibn Sia and i will work as ambassador, or Elci as the Great Khan calls mefor the Al-Agta Khanate. I have also been asigned to hand over this message from my master, Great Khan Hyytshtej."

The Isfahan Cuncil​

The Ottoman Empire are hereby invited to the newly started cuncil of Isfahan. A cuncil with the goals of strengething both the moslem faith and states. The Cuncil aim to promote trade and understanding betveen the many mighty states which Allah looks over.

It is of outmost importance for our shared future that the ottomans will atleast send a representative to this Cuncil. Your highness should also note that there are no obligations withing this cuncil, his highness will still be the supreme ruler of his lands.

Signed by Agha Bugu

 

[Auspend]

In Alexandria

A boy, or perhaps a young man, walks along the dusty streets of the great city on the Mediterranian. He wears a dull tan robe, common garb in the deserts of Egypt. Heading toward the port he hardly catches anyone's eye. Who would look twice at such a plain person on a busy city street. Eventually he makes his way to the docks and approaches the captain of a large merchant vessel. "How much for passage on your boat?"

"We aren't a passenger ship boy. We only take cargo." In response the boy takes out a few gold coins from his purse. They are printed with the face of the Ottoman sultan Murad II. "On second thought you can come. But we won't change our destination just for you."

"You think I care? You are leaving this infernal land. That is all that matters."