1453: Revival of Byzantium

Chapter 140: A New Call

However, if one studies the map on the current situation of Anatolia between the Sultan Bayezid II, the Prince Orhan, and the various Beys and war lords, one will realise something strange. The map indicating the situation looks relatively messy, with an enclave over here and an exclave over here, the entire map looks like a pixelated art instead of a proper solid colour map.

This is the direct result of Orhan expanding way too fast leaving some cities and towns which are not in the strategically important geographical locations uncaptured, while there are also cities, castles, and cities and castles that refused to submit to the rule of Orhan.

The most iconic figure of them being Ibrahim Pasha, the local war lord of Kacaeli, now garrisoned himself in the port city of Izmit, waiting for aid to come from the other side of the Marmara, grabbing hold of probably one of the last few ships able to be put into combat in the entire Sultanate. It is because of the presence of Izmit which is still resisting against the ravaging invasion of Orhan, that the Prince had to place five thousand men encircling the city from three sides laying siege days and night. Not only because the city of Izmit is in a vital location for taxation, natural well defended port, flourishing sea trade destination which in turn provides lots of taxation, but also because Orhan agreed to Constantine to exchange this city for his continuous support.

No one cares whether Ibrahim Pasha is truly faithful towards the child Sultan now, because Candarli Halil Pasha, who has lots of 'eyes' inside the city of Constantinople, delivered a letter to Ibrahim Pasha immediately after the emperor of Rumelia and Traitor of the Ottomans Orhan has reached an agreement together, with it a rough plan of how Orhan is going to hand over his hand and his city to the Rumelian. Thus he has to be extraordinarily loyal towards the child Sultan even if he is not at all.

However, no aids or reinforcement Ibrahim Pasha has anticipated arrived for a week, the only thing that arrived is an appointment certificate and a messenger congratulating Ibrahim Pasha that he has been given the title of kdemli agha (Senior general), Kazasker (Chief Official), Ghazi (Brave warrior), Mushir (field marshal), and Emir of all Beyliks of Anatolia in charge of all military activities in Anatolia. With it came a long poignant heartening letter supposedly written by the still not so matured Sultan Beyezid II, as seen from the insignia.

"They played us like a damn fiddle!" This letter straight away sent Ibrahim Pasha, known for his calmness and self restraint, jumped up from his bed throwing the letter onto the ground leaving a shiver down the spines of the guards around. Like, seriously, can these words come from a six year old child? Even a man with no brain can figure out that it is pretty impossible for the Sultan to think of a letter like this. And he asked for reinforcements, resources, ships, weapons, not a letter giving him a title that looks lavish on the outside but blank on the inside.

However, after extinguishing the fumes in his body Ibrahim Pasha still stepped forward quickly bending down his knees taking up the paper from the ground worried that it might attract any stains of dust. This piece of silken lined paper is invaluable to him and his family, it means that he has achieved a noble statues and title that no one in his ancestry has ever achieved, the nomination paper from the Sultan made him the ruler of all Anatolia, by name of course, a governor of Anatolia that only controls one city, Izmit.

Sounds very familiar to his neighbour a strait away.

Though this piece of 'award' never changed a thing for the messed up situation, he is still encircled in a city, with a pathetic amount of soldiers guarding him and his family's well being. Each days passes increases his chance of being dragged out of the castle paraded through the streets by the angry citizens and beheaded facing North, or Orhan's thugs bashing into his doors capturing him as the gift to that traitor.

Ibrahim Pasha anxiously awaits his fate.

One only needs one simple phrase to fully describe the current situation in the vast mountainous lands of Anatolia; it is screwed up.

There are no order in this vast mountainous land, different beys, pashas, emirs fighting each other none stop for loot, land and peasants.

But what is Candarli Halil Pasha and the Sultan doing? Have they really abandoned Anatolia? What is their purpose?"

Moving back to Europe, on the seventh of May, a letter that is destined to be remembered by history is sent to the Pope by Constantine, marking the beginning of another round of crusade.

The letter briefly addressed Constantine's good wishes to the pope and all Catholics, re-emphasising the fact that all Catholics and Orthodoxies, despite all difference, have the need to stand together against the Infidel barbarians.

". Under the blessings of Saint Michael, Saint Justinian, Saint George and Saint Andrew, we manipulated and curbed the sinister unjustified assail by the non believers led by their Khan Mehmed, who has now paid the price for his imprudent thoughts of conquering the formidable capital of the Roman empire, he has been slain by the thunders of vengeance sent directly by the God"

" With the new Khan with only the age of six on the throne of Adrianopolis, I predict with the fore sight blessed by Christ that, the Ottomans shall be plunged into a series of internal strives.

" Thus, I, Constantine XI Dragases Palaiologos, the Autocrat, protector and Imperator of all Romans and the Icons of Christ, plead to draw some of your holiness' precious attention east wards, look at us! Look at us! With the sacrifice by the valorous Christians of the East, the Ottomans are now like a tree without roots, lion without tooth, viper without fane"

" With all sincerity and dignity, I urge your holiness to unleash the capabilities of the Christians of the west, save the true Christians enslaved by the non believers, bless thee with the light of Christ"

" We shall split the lands equally and fairly with the Papacy"

" And the Crusaders.."