Mehmed the Eternal
Mehmed really wasn't much special as a Sultan. After the terrible defeat at the hands of the Timurids, his task was essentially to recover what was lost.
He did so well, but at a certain point something happened that turned well into great.
Something, or someone, began whispering in his ear, Mehmed began hearing a voice that noone could. This voice, aiding and guiding him, could be none but Allah, for he knew present, past, and future, and he was quite benevolent.
This voice warned him of another, a voice like his attempting to steer the world, yet in an entirely worse direction. This was, of course, the devil, and he resided in the east where the unbelievers dwell.
The voice itself was quite pleased with the story. Was it Allah, God, Satan? Few know, and fewer still live to tell it, so this tome, describing life and death of Mehmed the Eternal will not mention it. One should note, however, hat Mehmed had neither TV nor Radio, and he was thus quite convinced by this rather standard story.
And so, at the dawn of a new era, as Europe was fractured, one European set out to unite all of Asia. Following in the footsteps of Alexander the Macedonian, Mehmed the Ottoman would unite much of Asia before facing any serious opposition.
The Turks in 1419, Christian Calendar (CC)
With his newfound power, Mehmed set out to accomplish what none of his ancestors had: The destruction of Rum, the fall of the city of Men's Desire. To that effect, he gathered more of the nations power to his hands, and declared war on the decadent Romans.
Constantinople fell in a year, and the Morean lands had already been secured. The 'Emperor' accepted this reality, but aided by Venetian and Genoan spies, he retook his city, temporarily.
Mehmed was not very amused by this treachery, and immediately declared war on the Romans again. By 1422, as the Romans called it, it was all over. Rome was dead, except for the pitifull allmost-Empire in Francia. Mehmed immediately appointed a new Patriarch and moved his court to the great city.
At nearly the same time, the petty rulers of Anatolia had begun consolidating their power. Already, the prince of Dulkadir had surrendered to the 'sultan' of Karaman. This could not be allowed, a powerfull state forming in the path of Mehmed's great plan.
Thus, war was declared, a month before the final fall of Constantinople. Ottoman troops rapidly advanced on the territories of Karaman, and shockingly enough, Teke. These pitifull princes, banding together against the great Sultan?
The war swung back and forth, to not much avail, and so Mehmed decided he needed more sources of income. To gather these, he broke the agreements signed with Venetia and Genoa, and gathered the trade of the Bosporus into his hands. This attracted many Turks from Anatolia, and they were settled a few miles from the great city, turning Macedonia into a predominantly Sunni region.
However, in 1425 CC, the prince of Karaman surrendered most of his land to the Sultan, and the people of the Sultanate rejoiced. 200 ducats were gathered and presented as a gift to the Sultan, who in return acccepted to institute the Sheikh-Ul-Islam, while his general Murad marched on Teke.
The Chief of the Ak Koyunlu saw the growing power of the Sultan, and rather than being another blocking the path to the east, he joined Mehmed in his endeavors. To celebrate, Mehmeds heir married a woman from that tribe, rather than a decadent Roman. The chief proved to be wise, for only a few months later the prince of Teke was publically executed for opposing the Sultan, and also for calling the Sultanate an Empire. Mehmed would not be associated with Emperors, for he had heard his foe was an Emperor.
The christians were not quiet either, and although Mehmed preferred to head East only, he had to pay attention to the west. He had certain treaties with the Duke of Athens, and when the Albanians annexed them, he had to act. In a year, with ever swifter offensives, the former Duchy was a subject of the Sultan.
With the christians quiet and squabbling among themselves, the Sultan turned east and inward. His missionary efforts, although failing many times, managed to convert Dobrudja. Private initiative and additional Turks flocking to the Bosporus managed to convert the region of Rumelia.
He also, as mentioned, turned east, attempting to turn the chiefdom of the Ak Koyunlu into a vassal of the Sultanate. This failed time after time, and in despair, Mehmed called upon the voice.
What must I do? What can I do? I am a failure to you, please take my life and find one more worthy.
No, Mehmed. You are the chosen one. You will not die untill the threat has passed, and you have done admirably. Try again, eventually they will fold.
Not die? Ever? But I am already growing old, I see the people look.
Wrong again. They look, for you have not aged in 20 years. And you will not untill it is all over. Now, I have a task for you.
Can I redeem myself? What must I do?
Stop that! You have done well. You must destroy the Mamelukes, their religion is a blasphemy. Declare war on them now!
I understand, indeed they are blasphemers. Their death will be swift!
See, that wasn't too hard?
The Mameluke wars
And thus, for reasons that remain unknown, although it is claimed these words were transmitted by Mehmed to his scribes in 1550 CC, the Sultanate declared war on the Mamelukes.
In a swift and brutal campaign, where no Turkish soldier ever defended his position for he was already advancing again, the Mamelukes were defeated.
Alexandria, pearl of Egypt, aswell as the mediterranean coast of the Levant, were transferred to Mehmed.
A second war began only shortly after Mehmeds efforts finally bore fruit as Morea became mostly Sunni, as the chief of the Ak Koyunlu, feeling it would please the Sultan, declared war on the Mamelukes.
This war lasted for a year more than the last, as Mehmed occupied all of Egypt instead of only strategic ports, and it is said Ottoman offensives were so brutal now, they were on an entirely different level than those of others.
During this war, maps were also drawn of the entire Sultanate, as shown below. It is said a converted christian from Lebanon made it, to celebrate the fact a Sunni majority was reached when many fled the ravages of war in Syria and Egypt.
So you get... Ideas....
