CHAPTER EIGHTEEN - OTTOMAN UNTERGANG (DOWNFALL)
23/08/1520
- Your majesty?
-- Yes? Wait, who are you? Who let you in?
- My name is Wolfgang Spiller, your majesty.
-- That should ring a bell..?
- I'm your new chancellor. Your Military Council unanimously appointed me as your new chancellor.
-- Oh yes, I remember now. Have a seat.
- Thank you, your majesty.
-- You see Wolfgang, it's nice to talk to someone about my job after all those years.
- You say you didn't had chancellor for years?
-- Yes, I tried to work single handed after I kil.. lost my last chancellor. But it becomes boring over the time, you know.
- I see. And what happened to my predecessor?
-- He was a lunatic, he killed himself, I swear.
- O-okay. Well, he saved you from blood on your hands, right?
-- What? What are you saying?
- I mean, If he was so lousy, you should killed him.
-- What kind of man are you, Spiller?
- Cold blooded, sir.
-- I like you, Spiller. Now tell me that you know what we should do and I might even respect you.
- You are von Habsburg, right?
-- Are you questioning my roots? How dare you!
- You got it wrong, your majesty. I just wanted to say, since you're from Habsburg dynasty, you should strengthen your relations with other Habsburg-ruling countries.
-- Good point. We will send gifts to my cousins, rulers of Austria and Spain.
-- Do you have any more ideas or I should fire you?
- We could gather all of your political opponents on grand meeting to discus increases of their land and crown possessions.
-- What? Are you insane? I won't give them a meter of my lands!
- Exactly. We will close them in your barn and burn them all.
-- That's.. little bit radical Wolfgang, khm, umm, any other ideas?
- Oh sure. We can plunder and burn infidel villages of heretical beliefs, your majesty.
-- Umm.. any ideas on diplomatic plan, Spiller?
- You don't like my previous ideas, sir?
-- It's not I don't like them, it's just.. too radical for me, you know.
- Oh, I see. Umm, well, your majesty, isn't our Army Grand?
-- You bet it is.
- Our recent victory over the Ottomans granted us a Grand Army. This is officially confirmed by all military critics in Europe.
-- Well that's great news. Do you have some more news or can I go to my deserved vacation?
- That would be all, your majesty.
-- Good. Now listen, Spiller. I will spend my vacation on sunny beaches of Tunisia, and I don't, I repeat don't want to be disturbed. You can disturb just in the case of a new war with the Ottomans, the rest of my jobs will be done by you and my Military Council. Now, bereitwillig.
02/05/1524
- Your majesty, is that you?
-- What is it Spiller, you don't recognize me naked, unshaved and covered with sand?
- Well, I can't, your majesty.
-- Anyway, what is it? Why are you here?
- Your majesty, as you said three.. no, four years ago, I can disturb your vacation only if we engage in war with Turkey.
-- Yes, and?
- You see your majesty, Turkey declared us war on 4th March of 1524.
-- Uhmm.. and today is?
- 2nd May, 1524.
-- What?! You waited TWO months to tell me this?!
- Actually no, your majesty. I arrived in Tunisia on 7th March, but no one actually knew where you are.
-- Oh.
- You forgot to tell me where you will be..
-- Sorry, Wolfgang.
- No problem, your majesty.
-- Anyway.. how's the war going?
- First Turkish Armies arrived at our borders few days ago. They are gathering their troops and probably preparing to attack us near the fortress of Skoplje. Other news are that our faithful allies from Russia joined our cause in this war, and also your cousin from Austria, who guaranteed our independence, joined the war on our side..
-- Wait, wait. Austria guaranteed our independence? When?
- Have no clue, your majesty.
-- Okay, okay, we will continue this conversation when we arrive at my court. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll go get dressed.
23/10/1524
-- Any news from the front?
- After few smaller victories over Turkish forces, I ordered to advance further, towards Constantinople. But unfortunately, our counter-offensive was stopped near Adrianople, and I had to give orders for retreat.
- We succeeded to stop their attacks on our borders, and now this war is becoming a stalemate war.
-- Is Turkish Sultan willing to sign White Peace?
- Unfortunately not. Both of our Armies went defensive in last few months and I think Turkey will try once again to break our defense lines on our border.
-- God damn those stubborn Eastern war machine. How are doing are allies?
- Our Russian allies did not had any conflicts with Turkey. They do not share a common border, and after all, there's a great rebellion going on in Russia. On the other hand, our northern protector, Austria, is putting up a fair fight against the Ottomans. Unfortunately, their war with the Ottomans is same as ours, in the range of Austro-Turkish border.
-- Try to keep our borders safe until next autumn. Then, we will strike again. If we fail in new counter-offensive, we will try to settle with white peace.
- Ten-four, your majesty!
08/10/1525
- Your majesty.
-- Yes, Spiller?
- I have news from the front.
-- What is it?
- We have managed to defend our borders in past year with minimal losses. I believe our Army is ready for one, final push towards low-morale and tired forces of Ottoman Empire.
-- Strike!
21/11/1525
- Your majesty, I have bad news.
-- My cat died?
- No, your majesty. I have horrifying news.
-- What, my adorable little tiger Rex died?!
- No, your majesty. Our autumn offensive. It was disastrous.
-- Oh, that. Well.. was it really, really disastrous?
- Kind of. 80,000 of your best man died. To make things worst, great Sunni rebellion started in Africa.
- Unfortunately, I was forced to gave orders for retreat.
-- Okay, I'm getting worried now.
- Finally!
-- What?
- Oh, nothing, I said, nice weather today.
-- Oh yes, isn't it great? Uhm.. where was I?
- You were worried, sir.
-- Why? I didn't fed my dog this morning?
- No sir, the war. Retreat, and all that.
-- Oh, right. Well, is really all lost?
- Army, manpower, resources, money. But Ottomans are offering white peace.
-- What? And you are telling me that now, when I'm worried?!
- I am sorry, your majesty. I thought..
-- You thought?! You thought?! Look at me now, I'm now so worried. How do you think I'll play badminton today? How?
- I am terribly sorry.
You piece of sh*t.
-- What was that?
- I said you should.. get a peace.. of sheet, you know, to have somewhere to sit while resting after badminton.
-- Ohh, yes, well ofcourse. Now. Accept that white peace, raise more troops in next five years. When the truce expires, we will strike.
- Yes, your majesty.
17/05/1531
- Your majesty. As you ordered, our brand new three Homeland Armies were raised. Soldiers are trained, generals are awating for your orders.
-- Before we do that.. don't you think it's time to move our capital back to the Homeland?
- Well, since the great threat of Ottoman Annexation is gone, our Empire is gaining new lands over the years, it would be good to bring our capital back to the Homeland.
-- I thought about this for a long time. And I have chosen. Our new capital will be Dubrovnik, as the economical and population center of Adriatic Sea.
- A fine choice, your majesty.
-- Now, about the war. I have informations that Turkish are fighting with their eastern neighbor, Jalayirids. Order our generals to start the offensive. We need to capture Constantinople until January 1532. Anything later will make our war a disaster.
- Yes, sir.
05/11/1531
- Your majesty, great news!
-- Constantinople fell?
- Not yet, but it soon will! Open your finest champagne, our troops reached the outskirts of Constantinople.
-- You made my day, Spiller!
- Soon Constantinople will fall. Our troops, as we speak are crossing Dunabe river and attacking Turkish forts in Romania. Just hope for the good morale of our soldiers, and we might occupy all Turkish possessions in Europe before their armies even reach Dardanelli crossing.