The Empire has now defeated every major Christian power in recent years, and has finally become the wealthiest state in the world. However, this prolonged conflict has taken it’s toll on our forces, with manpower reserves depleted and our reputation tarnished, so Musa I aims to bring stability to the empire. Although our income has increased, our trade remains poor, being largely concentrated in our own centres of trade. Konstantiniyye is valued at over 1000 ducats, but Dubrovnik has barely increased its value since we took ownership of the city, and is worth just 221 ducats.
We move our land focus to Raska in Bosnia, allowing us to reform the land ownership system in the region and improve our tax and manpower. On the first of February 1441 our land technology increases, and we are able to use the stronger Timariot cavalry. Domestic problems simmer away in Asia minor, and we face peasant revolts due to our war exhaustion, while in Europe our forces are regularly fighting nationalist uprisings. On the 7th June a particularly bloody uprising occurs in Konstantiniyye as nobles demand the repayment of loan taken by the state to fund the war, as well as compensation for their service. The Royal entourage is caught up in the violence, and in the confusion Musa is gravely wounded. Even worse, our promising heir Abdulhamid is killed in a blotched kidnap attempt. Musa’s brother Murad becomes the new heir, despite being implicated in the kidnap attempt.
We receive a gift of 300 ducats through an event, and are able to repay a loan of 939 on he 1st November. Now that we do not have any interest repayments, we have significantly more money for buildings in the empire. Work continues on the road network, as well as the building of market places, armouries and training fields. However, on the 11th November Musa finally succumbs to the injuries he sustained in June, and Murad accedes to the throne. He is a 3/9/9 ruler, so we see a significant drop in our income but are losing infamy far quicker than under Musa. The Empire do not welcome Murad II, and his legitimacy is only 48 and 6,000 nobles loyal to Musa rise in open revolt in Konstantiniyye, although the army declares its loyalty to the new Khalifah and puts down the revolt.
Murad II was however a skilful diplomat, and in addition to reducing our reputation with the wider world. He is also able to persuade the previously independent ruler in Karaman to relinquish their estate in exchange for a wealthy and prestigious post in the capital. However, Eretna are less than impressed by this development, and our relations suffer. Murad II is too proud to allow this to go unchecked, and a diplomatic row occurs which has a sever effect on our relations with the remaining vassal. Eretna refuse to continue to send their soldiers into our service, and begin to operate as an almost independent state.
On the 21st February 1442 Murad II commissions a new national epic to celebrate Musa‘s victory over the crusader princes. This gesture helps to repair relations between those who claim Murad should not have inherited the throne, and the legitimacy begins to rise. Throughout 1442 relations continue to deteriorate with Eretna, and finally in January 1443 Murad accepts the inevitable and relinquishes his claim to be overlord of Eretna. We declare war in February when our envoy reaches them, but what should have been a purely internal affair escalates as Dulkadir and Yemen support Eretna in their attempt to thwart our progress. On the border we have 12,000 men, while Dulkadir and Eretna have a combined 17,000. On the 16th April, Croatia attempt to capitalise while we are distracted and launch a new crusade – they are joined by Portugal, Genoa and Theodosia. On the 25th August, Bulgaria launches another attempt to recover their territory from us, but are not joined by any allies.
We focus on engaging the smaller forces of Croatia and Dulkadir, and score several victories. However, as we divide our forces to lay siege to the country we lose 5,000 men when 12,000 men from Eretna attack. We gather our forces and rout them at Kayseri, effectively ending the conflict in the East. On the 7th November Portugal agree a white peace with us, and we are able to annex Eretna following the fall of their provinces on the 19th May. We also force Croatia to pay 175 ducats for peace the following month.
On the 25th Feb 1445 we annex Bulgaria for 2 infamy, but due to Murad II’s abilities our infamy has finally fallen enough to no longer be in the red. However, we are not allowed to capitalise on this, as on the 26th March Bosnia, Austria, Poland and Tyrol declare a new crusade against us. We quickly defeat the Bosnians by April and lay siege to their capital, while we secure a white peace with Poland who are distracted by a conflict on the Baltic coast, and in any case do not share a border with us. On the 20th June 1446 we annex Bosnia, meaning only Croatia remain of the small border states who attack us at every opportunity. After a long occupation, we sign a peace with Dulkadir for just 25 ducats, but two of their three provinces have defected to us during the occupation.
Murad II then institutes a new system of provincial government, which proves hugely effective in raising taxes but this increased tax take comes at a cost of instability throughout the empire. Murad II unfortunately dies at this point, and his son and heir Murad is too young to reign, and so we enter our first Regency council the wealthy nobles of Konstantiniyye agree to govern the Empire until Murad reaches his majority. The rule of Murad II has brought significant improvements to our reputation, although infamy has been gained through war. We have finally dealt with Bulgaria and Bosnia, and apart from a single Genoese province control most of the Balkans. Our rule in Asia minor has been solidified, and the Jalayirids have taken Tao-Klarjeti from Georgia, meaning we no longer share a border with them either. By taking cores, as well as gaining some cores from our first wars in Europe, we have an improved income which has allowed an expansion of the army and navy.
We move our land focus to Raska in Bosnia, allowing us to reform the land ownership system in the region and improve our tax and manpower. On the first of February 1441 our land technology increases, and we are able to use the stronger Timariot cavalry. Domestic problems simmer away in Asia minor, and we face peasant revolts due to our war exhaustion, while in Europe our forces are regularly fighting nationalist uprisings. On the 7th June a particularly bloody uprising occurs in Konstantiniyye as nobles demand the repayment of loan taken by the state to fund the war, as well as compensation for their service. The Royal entourage is caught up in the violence, and in the confusion Musa is gravely wounded. Even worse, our promising heir Abdulhamid is killed in a blotched kidnap attempt. Musa’s brother Murad becomes the new heir, despite being implicated in the kidnap attempt.
We receive a gift of 300 ducats through an event, and are able to repay a loan of 939 on he 1st November. Now that we do not have any interest repayments, we have significantly more money for buildings in the empire. Work continues on the road network, as well as the building of market places, armouries and training fields. However, on the 11th November Musa finally succumbs to the injuries he sustained in June, and Murad accedes to the throne. He is a 3/9/9 ruler, so we see a significant drop in our income but are losing infamy far quicker than under Musa. The Empire do not welcome Murad II, and his legitimacy is only 48 and 6,000 nobles loyal to Musa rise in open revolt in Konstantiniyye, although the army declares its loyalty to the new Khalifah and puts down the revolt.
Murad II was however a skilful diplomat, and in addition to reducing our reputation with the wider world. He is also able to persuade the previously independent ruler in Karaman to relinquish their estate in exchange for a wealthy and prestigious post in the capital. However, Eretna are less than impressed by this development, and our relations suffer. Murad II is too proud to allow this to go unchecked, and a diplomatic row occurs which has a sever effect on our relations with the remaining vassal. Eretna refuse to continue to send their soldiers into our service, and begin to operate as an almost independent state.
On the 21st February 1442 Murad II commissions a new national epic to celebrate Musa‘s victory over the crusader princes. This gesture helps to repair relations between those who claim Murad should not have inherited the throne, and the legitimacy begins to rise. Throughout 1442 relations continue to deteriorate with Eretna, and finally in January 1443 Murad accepts the inevitable and relinquishes his claim to be overlord of Eretna. We declare war in February when our envoy reaches them, but what should have been a purely internal affair escalates as Dulkadir and Yemen support Eretna in their attempt to thwart our progress. On the border we have 12,000 men, while Dulkadir and Eretna have a combined 17,000. On the 16th April, Croatia attempt to capitalise while we are distracted and launch a new crusade – they are joined by Portugal, Genoa and Theodosia. On the 25th August, Bulgaria launches another attempt to recover their territory from us, but are not joined by any allies.
We focus on engaging the smaller forces of Croatia and Dulkadir, and score several victories. However, as we divide our forces to lay siege to the country we lose 5,000 men when 12,000 men from Eretna attack. We gather our forces and rout them at Kayseri, effectively ending the conflict in the East. On the 7th November Portugal agree a white peace with us, and we are able to annex Eretna following the fall of their provinces on the 19th May. We also force Croatia to pay 175 ducats for peace the following month.
On the 25th Feb 1445 we annex Bulgaria for 2 infamy, but due to Murad II’s abilities our infamy has finally fallen enough to no longer be in the red. However, we are not allowed to capitalise on this, as on the 26th March Bosnia, Austria, Poland and Tyrol declare a new crusade against us. We quickly defeat the Bosnians by April and lay siege to their capital, while we secure a white peace with Poland who are distracted by a conflict on the Baltic coast, and in any case do not share a border with us. On the 20th June 1446 we annex Bosnia, meaning only Croatia remain of the small border states who attack us at every opportunity. After a long occupation, we sign a peace with Dulkadir for just 25 ducats, but two of their three provinces have defected to us during the occupation.
Murad II then institutes a new system of provincial government, which proves hugely effective in raising taxes but this increased tax take comes at a cost of instability throughout the empire. Murad II unfortunately dies at this point, and his son and heir Murad is too young to reign, and so we enter our first Regency council the wealthy nobles of Konstantiniyye agree to govern the Empire until Murad reaches his majority. The rule of Murad II has brought significant improvements to our reputation, although infamy has been gained through war. We have finally dealt with Bulgaria and Bosnia, and apart from a single Genoese province control most of the Balkans. Our rule in Asia minor has been solidified, and the Jalayirids have taken Tao-Klarjeti from Georgia, meaning we no longer share a border with them either. By taking cores, as well as gaining some cores from our first wars in Europe, we have an improved income which has allowed an expansion of the army and navy.
