1444, Byzantium Resurrects

Chapter 116: Marry Dad?
The eastern edge of the Obari Desert, Sabha Oasis, and Sabha City.

Located on the northern edge of the Sahara Desert, it has little rainfall throughout the year and a hot and dry climate. Residents mainly live near oases, growing dates, palms and olives, and also raising camels and fine-wool sheep.

The city of Sabha was once the capital of the Fezzan Kingdom and an important trading post and cargo distribution center. During the peak season every year, a large number of camel caravans would cross the Sahara Desert to the north to trade. Gold and salt, slaves and dates were all important goods.

The Sahara Desert is endless and is an absolute forbidden zone for most life, but it is not impassable.

Since the 7th century, Arabs came to North Africa and began to gradually control the Sub-Saharan trade routes, acting as middlemen between Sub-Saharan Africa and Europe and making a fortune.

Twelve centuries after the incarnation of the Lord, trans-Sahara trade experienced a great development, with countless caravans driving camels across this uninhabited area every year.

The 14th century was the heyday of the Saharan trade, during which time nearly two-thirds of Europe's gold came from sub-Saharan Africa.

This trade route has a very important position in history. The Mediterranean region has more salt but less gold, while sub-Saharan Africa has more gold but less salt. The Trans-Saharan trade connects these two regions and conducts the extremely lucrative gold and salt trade.

The Sahara trade route can be divided into three sections based on its starting and ending points.

The western section of the route runs from Morocco to the Niger River Bay. It is a moderate distance and has direct access to areas rich in gold and slaves. It has been the most prosperous route since the Middle Ages.

The middle section of the route starts from Tunis, passes through Tripoli and Sabha, and ends at Lake Chad in north-central Africa. It is the closest route and has become increasingly prosperous with the rise of the Bornu Empire. It is also one of the only two routes still in use.

The eastern section of the route starts from the Nile River Basin, goes south to the Sudan region, then crosses the Salah grasslands in Central Africa, and finally reaches the Niger River Bay. However, the distance is too far and it was gradually abandoned by merchants and is no longer what it used to be.

As one of the hubs of the central route, the city of Sabha naturally made a lot of gold from the trans-Sahara trade. The lords here used the benefits of the trade routes to subdue the various tribes and established the Fezzan Kingdom.

After the Fezzan Kingdom suffered a crushing defeat in the Battle of Saint Josselin, the northern coastal area was occupied by the Grand Duchy of Soult, and the south was divided into three parts, which fought endlessly against each other for pastures and oases.

Starting from 1451, Count Adnan, who occupied the city of Ugu, joined forces with the Slaves Legion to launch four consecutive attacks on King Abdullah who was entrenched in the city of Sabha. They finally defeated him completely in early 1453 and entered the city of Sabha.

After completely wiping out the last of the warlord forces, Count Adnan moved his ruling center to the city of Sabha, converted the mosque into an Orthodox church, and in the name of jihad, incorporated the nearby lands into his control and granted them to local tribal sheikhs who were willing to convert to Orthodoxy.

At this time, a fierce quarrel was taking place in the Sabha City Lord's Mansion.

"My Lord, in my opinion, Caliph Yahya's suggestion is worth considering."

"It has been nearly two years since the Emperor left Bilinchi. He is currently embroiled in the war in Constantinople. Under the strong attack of the Ottoman army of 200,000, even if Your Majesty is a genius, I am afraid it will be difficult for him to escape unscathed."

"The Slaves Corps is currently confronting the Hafsid army outside of Misrata. The remaining corps of the Guards are in the Tobruk Fortress. Jufra and Surt are both extremely empty."

"We can take this opportunity to march north and make great achievements."

"Caliph Yahya promised that as long as we return to our faith in Allah, he would immediately appoint you as the Emir of Surt, and you..."

A newly surrendered tribal sheikh bent over and tried his best to persuade him, while secretly looking up at Adnan's face.

"enough!"

Another voice came, it was a merchant from Wugu City.

In recent years, he has made a fortune in the Cyrenaica trade system by mining iron ore, and was recently elected executive member of the Cyrenaica United Chamber of Commerce.

"We have converted to Christianity a long time ago and have humiliated Allah in public. How can the Ulema tolerate us?"

"Ugu City has converted to Orthodox Christianity for six years. The lower-class people have long been accustomed to mass and prayer. The priests own a lot of real estate and religious orders. If they convert to Allah now, it will definitely cause unrest!"

"Besides, our military strength is not enough to capture any large city with a garrison. You are asking the Earl to gamble with his hard-earned fortune and make wedding clothes for others!"

"We are quite dependent on the Cyrenaica United Chamber of Commerce for our food and weapons supplies. If we rebel now, how will we solve these two problems?"

The businessman's words left everyone present speechless for a moment.

After a while, the whispers began to spread again.

"Must we always be subject to a foreign emperor?"

"Don't forget, he once beat you to a pulp!"

"but……"

"Humph! I don't think he will be so lucky this time!"

"You are plotting treason!"

Count Adnan listened to the endless arguments and quarrels, and watched these nobles and gentry using all kinds of high-sounding words to cover up their greed. He suddenly felt a little irritated and closed his eyes.

Ever since His Majesty Isaac left Bilinci and Prince Justinian and Queen Leonor began to oversee the country, tribal sheikhs from all over Surt would come to him from time to time to test his attitude.

This situation reached its peak after the siege of Constantinople, when there was no news from the emperor, as various interest groups tried to pull him to their side, and quarrels and debates became the norm in territorial meetings.

Some people asked to repent to God, convert back to Sunni Islam, and march north to occupy the Jufra region, which was becoming increasingly prosperous in the trade system.

Some people suggested adhering to the Christian faith, but striving for the independence of the territory and establishing their own principality.

Some people firmly stood on the side of Emperor Isaac and demanded that troops be sent to assist Queen Leonor who was fighting hard in Misrata.

More people believe that they should sit back and watch the fight, strengthen their own strength, and wait for the situation to change.

In response to these voices, Count Adnan has always adopted a policy of non-recognition, non-opposition and non-interference, and has never expressed his opinions in public.

Over the years, he had indeed benefited greatly from the trade network throughout Surt and Cyrenaica. The post station system and three-class road system connected the entire territory and connected it to the Mediterranean trade. Talent, goods and gold would flow along the trade network.

However, as a ruler, he certainly had ambitions. The expansion of territory, the increase in population, and the strengthening of power were enough to make people intoxicated.

However, compared to other barbaric and clumsy tribal shaikhs, he, who had gone to Baghdad to study, was more cautious and careful. He would repeatedly evaluate a matter in his mind and make the most correct decision, and would not be easily dazzled by illusory interests.

This time, Adnan was indeed a little hesitant.

Almost no one believed that Constantinople could be defended. The mere imagination of the Ottoman Empire's army of more than 200,000 was terrifying enough.

Under siege from multiple forces, the territories of Cyrenaica and Soult seemed shaky, like a lone boat that would be overturned in the storm if not carefully watched.

However, Count Adnan always had doubts about this.

Will the young emperor really fail?

Unlike some tribal shekhs in the south, Count Adnan had witnessed the emperor's glorious achievements many years ago - he was just a loser and served as a background figure.

He could never make up his mind.

When the queen summoned her vassal vassal, he thought about it and did not refuse. He fulfilled his promise and handed over 500 people to his son Murcha to participate in the battle of Misrata.

“What is the current situation in Cyrenaica?”

Adnan finally spoke, looking at the advisor beside him, signaling the rest of the group to remain quiet.

The emperor's North African territory was divided into two parts, the Principality of Soult and the Kingdom of Cyrenaica. There were more or less rebellious voices on both sides, but the situations were not exactly the same.

The remaining tribal shaikhs of Surte were headed by Count Adnan, while the local merchants and gentry in Cyrenaica followed the lead of Count Yargubai.

"Count Yergubai refused to meet any visitors and followed Prime Minister Isurt all day long."

"We have contacted some local businessmen, most of whom have vested interests and are not very rebellious."

"After Earl Yergubai clearly expressed his refusal to come forward, I'm afraid it will be difficult for Cyrenaica to cause any more trouble."

The consultant at the side answered.

"Humph! A bunch of cowards! Sooner or later..."

A tribal sheikh who supported the rebellion shouted curses.

Count Adnan rubbed his swollen eyes, his mind in a mess.

Just when he thought that today's meeting would end in vain as usual, hurried footsteps suddenly came from outside the meeting room. The door opened, and the servant walked in and hurriedly handed a letter to Count Adnan.

"On May 1453, 5, the year of the Lord's incarnation, the emperor defeated an Ottoman army of 29 in Constantinople, killing more than half of the enemy."

"The Hafsid army has achieved little success and is in retreat."

The letter was short and signed by his son, Mursa, who was in Misrata.

Adnan felt emotional for a moment, and suddenly felt a sense of hope.

He turned his head and looked at the people who were shouting the loudest in the audience, with a hint of pity in his eyes.

"Rebellion against superiors, collusion with rebels, is tantamount to treason."

"Drag him out and behead him."

……

In June 1453, the news of the victory in the Battle of Constantinople spread rapidly along the Mediterranean coast, causing an uproar.

No one had expected that an aging empire, an isolated city overseas, and an army of less than 10,000 people could actually defeat the arrogant Ottoman Empire and force 200,000 troops to flee.

The depressed religious atmosphere in the Christian world suddenly lifted, and everyone was vying to spread the praises of Constantinople's great victory, with pride and glory shining on their faces.

In contrast, the Muslim world was in despair. The extremely powerful Ottoman Empire was once again defeated at the gates of Constantinople. This city seemed to be the nightmare of the Islamic world that could not be broken.

After Baibars's recapture of Jerusalem, the Islamic world had never suffered such a severe blow in its fight against the Christian world.

The Hafsid dynasty under the city of Misrata immediately withdrew its troops back to the country without even having time to pack up its tents.

The Mamluk army had been attacking the Tobruk fortress for a long time but failed, and their morale was low. Upon hearing the news, they immediately withdrew.

Pope Nicholas V commended the outstanding contributions of Hunyadi and his son and Constantine and his son, and declared May 30 as a memorial day, arranging for priests to pray and bless them every year.

The Kings of Portugal and Aragon immediately sent congratulatory letters and gifts to Constantinople, stating that they would severely punish the "inappropriate behavior" that occurred during the siege.

Other Christian countries also sent gifts, and even the kings of England and France, who were caught up in the Hundred Years' War, sent formatted congratulatory letters.

"Father?"

"Ok?"

In the study, Constantine XI wrote rapidly with the quill pen in his hand without even raising his head.

"Put the reply aside for now. There is something I want to talk to you about."

"what's up?"

Constantine stopped writing and looked at his son.

"I wonder if you feel lonely?"

Isaac racked his brains, thinking carefully about how to express his meaning clearly.

"lonely?"

Constantine XI looked at Isaac's mysterious look and felt somewhat puzzled.

"Just tell me, for the future of the empire, can you sacrifice your personal feelings?"

"Ok?"

"I heard that Grand Duke Brankovich's daughter, Mara Brankovich, is beautiful and virtuous, and is perfect to be your new queen."

Constantine XI was stunned for a few seconds.

"You mean, Lady Mara, the concubine of Murad II?"

"Exactly!"

Isaac looked at his father's somewhat surprised face.

Mara Brankovic, the daughter of Durad Brankovic, was married to Ottoman Sultan Murad II as a condition for peace between the two countries.

Murad II used her completely as a tool for political marriage and did not touch her at all.

Until now, she is still a virgin.

Lady Mara suffered terribly in the court of Murad II and had no status or dignity.

However, it was in this cold court that Lady Mara met a lonely and naughty child.

Perhaps because of their similar experiences, Mrs. Mara quickly fell in love with the child and treated him as her own son. She taught him grammar and art and acted as a loving mother during his most lonely and helpless years.

The child also liked Mara very much, regarded her as his own mother, and always respected her very much.

That child is none other than the current Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, Mehmed II.

In the original time and space, after the death of Murad II, Lady Mara bid farewell to Mehmed II, returned to Serbia, and lived a secluded life from then on.

If God can rescue me from the court of Murad II, I will spend the rest of my life serving God.

Lady Mara said so.

However, it is clear that she did not completely abandon worldly affairs and played a very important role in the history of the Balkans.

Later, when Mehmed II was preparing to attack Serbia, a letter from Lady Mara caused tens of thousands of troops to withdraw.

In the original time and space, Constantine XI had no children, so he sent ministers to seek marriage everywhere, and one of the targets was Lady Mara.

But unfortunately, she refused.

Lady Mara had lived in the Ottoman court for more than ten years and knew the country's strength better than anyone else. Naturally, she was unwilling to board a sinking and rotten ship like Constantinople.

However, from this letter from Grand Duke Durand, Isaac read the meaning hidden between the lines.

Serbia was ready to move closer to the Eastern Roman Empire.

The situation in the Balkans after the Battle of Constantinople was quite strange. The Ottoman power declined and gradually lost control over its vassal states. Hungarian power increased greatly, and Wallachia and Moldavia were both moving closer to Hunyadi to counter a possible counterattack from the Ottoman Empire.

However, the hatred between Durankovich and Hunyadi was so deep that they obviously could not bow down like the other rulers.

Therefore, this cunning politician turned his attention to the Eastern Roman Empire, which seemed to be emerging.

"They need us to contain the power of the Ottomans and Hungarians, and we also need an ally with roots in the Balkans."

"Skanderbeg is a small and weak force after all, and Branković is the best choice."

"Besides, we have been friends with Serbia for generations. Your mother is Serbian."

"This is a letter from Brankovich. It's up to you to decide how to respond."

Isaac handed the letter to Constantine XI and walked out of the study.

In any way, the marriage with Serbia is a good choice and can provide great help to Isaac's Balkan strategy.

I believe Constantine XI would understand.

Second update, a little late, sorry
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(End of this chapter)