1444, Byzantium Resurrects

Chapter 307: Tomb of King Mausolus

Time ticks by, and the Mediterranean coast enters the warm and humid late autumn. The arrival of the rainy season brings vitality to half of Anatolia, with plants growing and animals singing.

Winter has not yet arrived, and the coldest January is still far away. With the arrival of the Sporer Minimum, it often snows in winter on the northern coast of the Mediterranean. However, compared with the north and the mountains, the coastal areas are still relatively warm, and people's lives are still pretty good.

However, the impact of natural disasters is hard to compare with man-made disasters. For the farmers and herdsmen on the Anatolian Peninsula, they have already gone through the most difficult two years under the government's exploitation and the successive attacks of the two major powers. If nothing unexpected happens, these difficult days will continue.

More than a month ago, in order to break the strategic deadlock, the Eastern Roman Empire opened up a second battlefield in the southwest of the Ottoman Empire by attacking Menderes. The army in the north once again threatened the city of Bursa, leaving the Ottoman army in a dilemma and extremely embarrassed.

Because the Ottoman Empire's northern war involved too much manpower and material resources, the entire southwestern region was extremely empty. The already limited mobile forces were moved back and forth by endless rebellions and horse bandits. The defenders of various cities were also terrified and dared not step out of the city.

The Eastern Roman Empire spent more than two years, expended huge amounts of wealth and energy to launch an all-round attack on the society, economy and politics of the entire Ottoman Empire, and finally achieved results.

In more than a month, more than 20,000 troops of the Southwestern Front of the Eastern Roman Empire completed their landings. With the cooperation of the inland navy, they moved eastward along the Menderes River, cutting the southwestern provinces of the Ottoman Empire in half along the Menderes River, and gradually recovered large tracts of territory south of the Menderes River and west of the Taurus Mountains.

The battle situation on the north bank of the Mendres River was also going smoothly. The city of Secae, which was closest to the seaport, had been captured by the Eastern Roman Empire, and the city of Aydin east of Secae was also surrounded. The Ottoman defenders, who were short of food and clothing, had low morale and insufficient weapons. The city was about to be captured.

There was an uproar in the Ottoman capital of Bursa. Many high-ranking officials and nobles as well as lower-level soldiers from the southwestern provinces demanded to go south to fight the enemy, but their request was sternly rejected by the Grand Vizier, who asked them to stay in Bursa to defend the capital and His Majesty the Sultan.

He knew that with the loss of Nicomedia, the idea of ​​"keeping the enemy out of the country" had officially failed. At this time, the Ottoman people were in trouble and the soldiers were exhausted, and they were no match for the Eastern Roman Empire.

Faced with criticism in the court, the Grand Vizier argued that the "Aegean Wall" plan led by him had achieved the expected results, causing the Eastern Roman Empire to consume immeasurable manpower and material resources and greatly slowing down their military operations.

To be honest, the Grand Vizier was really unprepared for today's situation. The Aegean Barrier was planned many years ago. At that time, they certainly could not have anticipated the arrival of the Sporer Minimum, nor did they think that the White Sheep Dynasty would be able to kill the Black Sheep King Jahan Shah and Timurid Sultan Busayan in just two years and quickly grow into the overlord of Inner Asia.

The Grand Vizier always remembered that when the first phase of the Aegean Wall was completed, the engineers from Venice proudly told him that perhaps someone could uproot the fortress, but no one could withstand such high consumption and losses, not even France, the first power in Europe.

As for natural disasters? They are very common. Generally speaking, if a major disaster occurs, both the attacker and the defender will stop fighting to avoid wasting national strength.

However, their enemy was the world's first colonial empire spanning five continents. Brutal exploitation and oppression brought huge wealth to the Eastern Roman Empire. The vast territory also enabled the Eastern Roman Empire to requisition grain from different places to fill the deficit in its own country.

According to officials in Bursa, during the two years of war, the Eastern Roman Empire spent dozens of times more money on the war than the Ottoman Empire. This data did not make them feel fortunate, but on the contrary, they felt deeply frightened.

Most of the Ottoman Sultanate's troops were free, and most of the supplies were forcibly requisitioned from the people. The Sultan tried his best to squeeze the potential of western Anatolia, bringing millions of people to their doom.

The regular army of the Eastern Roman Empire was paid, and all supplies were purchased with money. The emperor plundered half the world, transported the hard work of the indigenous people to Europe, threw them into the battlefield, and then flowed them into the people through the supply chain and the market, which in turn promoted the prosperity of capitalism.

Under such circumstances, the most essential western part of Anatolia declined day by day, business stagnated, population plummeted, and handicrafts were like rootless duckweed, being dragged towards death by the high-ranking officials and nobles of the Ottoman Sultanate.

However, officials in Bursa still held out a glimmer of hope. In their view, everything would be fine as long as Uzung Hasan launched an attack.

In their hearts, the powerful regime coming from the east is always unstoppable, and the new White Aries Alliance will surely recreate the miracles of the Mongol Empire and the Timurid Empire and smash the army of the Eastern Roman Empire.

At this time, Isaac was in no mood to pay attention to the Ottomans' fantasies. As they had calculated, Isaac had spent an incalculable amount of money in the war. Every inch of land conquered by the Eastern Roman army in Anatolia was paved with gold.

After many years, Isaac once again felt the need for money, and the letters he sent to Cuba and New Thrace became more and more urgent.

Not long ago, the gold tribute from the city-state of Sofala in the Governorate of Mozambique arrived at the British Fortress, alleviating the urgent financial needs. The expeditionary force to the New World also achieved some results and brought in a large sum of funds.

The Aztec expedition led by Christopher Columbus and Jorge Celimbria had landed at the mouth of the Grijal River in the Yucatan Peninsula, and had subdued the local Tabasco people through war and missionary work, and had obtained a sum of gold and some vassal troops from them through a deceptive trade of coercion and inducement.

Isaac's plan to conquer Mexico was basically based on the Spanish conqueror Cortes, and Tabasco was his first stop on the American continent.

Tabasco is just the tip of the iceberg of Mesoamerican civilization. Even so, the wealth they hold has shocked many people, not to mention the even richer Aztecs.

With the financial support from afar, Isaac can carry out his expansion plan smoothly without hindering the development of the city and the population explosion.

In southwestern Anatolia, on a dirt road south of the Mendres River, a cavalry corps was slowly moving southward.

The destination was right in front of them. The cavalry had already put on full body armor and rode on tall war horses that were similarly armored. On the flag they held high, the cross of the Palaiologos family was fluttering in the wind.

Behind them, there was a group of riders following closely. Their equipment was much worse. In addition to the riding horses they were sitting on, they also took care of some pack horses, which were carrying the heavy lances and other supplies of the cavalrymen.

This was the only heavy cavalry regiment in the Eastern Roman Empire, the Armored Paladins, which included the Belisarius Regiment and the Narses Regiment, each with 300 heavy cavalrymen.

In addition to combat personnel, such a force cannot be without logistical personnel. Each armored paladin has a guard and two followers.

In peacetime, the guards were responsible for taking care of the war horses, weapons and armor, while the attendants were responsible for raising pack horses and mules, as well as doing laundry, cooking and setting up tents.

The guards have their own horses and weapons, and can follow their knights to fight the enemy during war. They are subordinates of the heavy cavalry and the reserve force of the armored paladins. They can be converted to regular soldiers after making meritorious services.

The followers can fight barely, but their fighting power and will to fight are much worse, and they basically have no chance to go to the battlefield.

The current armored cavalry of the Eastern Roman Empire is very different from the armored cavalry of the Macedonian Dynasty. It mainly uses the tactics of clamping gun charge, and at most uses spring-loaded pistols to provide some long-range firepower.

The original Armored Paladins did not use lances to charge, and they could also shoot on horseback. They were all-round heavy cavalry. During the reign of Manuel I of the Komnenos dynasty, the Armored Paladins switched to Western European tactics, and the previous training system had long been lost.

More than 20 years ago, Isaac gradually gathered some surviving Paladin officers and rebuilt this armored Paladin. Later, it underwent several reforms and referred to some organizational structures of the French Edict Knights, gradually forming its current appearance.

In the previous harassment and siege battles, the Armored Paladins did not play much of a role, and Isaac had never sent them to the battlefield. Now that the war was imminent, Isaac took them to the land of Anatolia to make full preparations for a possible decisive battle.

The flags are like forests, the spears are like torches, the iron armor is clanging, and the iron horses are roaring.

In the army, Isaac was dressed in military uniform, sitting upright on his horse. He wore a loose purple robe and cloak on the outside, and silver armor under the cloak.

"Your Majesty, it's almost time."

A middle-aged knight approached Isaac and whispered.

"okay, I get it."

Isaac nodded.

The middle-aged knight was named Galwin. His father was the instructor of the remaining Paladins whom Isaac had searched for more than 20 years ago. He later rebuilt the Armored Paladins and participated in the establishment of the Royal Knights Academy. He had a high prestige.

After his father's death, Galwin was transferred by Isaac to the Iron Knights. He performed well in several wars and was appointed as the new commander-in-chief.

"Tell them to speed up and run!"

The armored paladins trotted, their speed increasing, like a steel torrent, rushing towards the south, stirring up clouds of dust.

After climbing over a gentle hillside, a wasteland came into view. The wasteland was full of ruined remains of ancient buildings, with many traces of mining and transportation among the ruins.

There is a small town and a watchtower on the coast behind the ruins, with a bright crusade flag flying above the tower.

This is Halicarnassus in southwestern Anatolia, very close to the mouth of the Menderes River.

Here once stood an incomparable ancient building, which can be regarded as a great wonder of human civilization.

Mausoleum of King Mausolus.

"At Halicarnassus stands a vast mausoleum, the greatest in the world in size and magnificence."

Isaac looked at the ruins and couldn't help but recite the famous words of the ancient philosopher Lucian.

The Mausoleum of Mausolus is the tomb of Mausolus, the ancient ruler of Caria. He was a good monarch who loved Greek culture and advocated embracing civilization. After his death, his wife and sister Artemis was heartbroken. She spent a huge amount of money to invite the best architects, and it took several years to build. It is taller than the later statue of Christ the Savior and is a treasure of civilization for all mankind.

After the mausoleum was built, it was hit several times by natural disasters such as earthquakes. It was collapsed by an earthquake in the early 15th century, but its components are basically intact and it is possible to reassemble it.

The ones who actually destroyed the Mausoleum of King Mausolus were the Western Europeans who occupied the place, the Knights Hospitaller.

These religious fanatics did not care about the ancient pagan culture at all. In order to prevent the invasion of the Ottomans, they turned the collapsed Mausoleum of King Mausolus into a quarry at the end of the 15th century and built the Fortress of St. Peter on the nearby coast.

Later, the Ottomans invaded and not only captured the castles and fortresses built by the Knights Hospitaller on the Anatolian coast one by one, but also did not spare the Island of Rhodes, and directly drove them out of the eastern Mediterranean.

As of the 21st century in the original time and space, only a few remnants of the once magnificent Mausoleum of King Mausolus remain, and many valuable cultural relics are displayed in the exhibition halls of the British Museum.

At this time, the Mausoleum of King Mausolus had not yet been destroyed by the Knights Hospitaller. Through the collapsed building debris, Isaac could vaguely glimpse its former grandeur.

Of course, Isaac did not come here to recall the love story and humanistic atmosphere behind the Tomb of King Mausolus. As a Christian monarch, it was impossible for him to spend huge sums of money to rebuild the tomb. At most, he could protect the remaining remnants.

Isaac waved his hand, and the heavy cavalry bypassed the seaside town and rushed straight to the watchtower on the coast. They slowed down and stopped slowly beside the watchtower.

This is the watchtower built by the Knights Hospitaller on the coast of Anatolia, which, without their own intervention, would have been built into the Fortress of St. Peter in the future.

The Knights Hospitaller had been entrenched in Rhodes for many years and had built many defensive facilities on nearby islands and coasts. Some villages and towns along the coast were also under their protection.

Not long ago, an Eastern Roman army arrived here. Due to Isaac's restraint, there was no conflict with the Knights Hospitaller for the time being.

After receiving the news, Isaac sent someone to bring a letter to the Grand Master of the Knights Hospitaller, inviting him to a meeting under the tomb of King Mausolus.

This place is very close to the mouth of the Mendres River and Rhodes Island, and both sides soon arrived here.

Under the watchtower, an army was facing Isaac's heavy cavalry from a distance. They were small in number, only a hundred people, but were equally well-equipped.

They wore black monastic robes with octagonal cross emblems embroidered on their cassocks. The flag they held high in their hands was the regular flag of the Knights Hospitaller - a white cross on a red background.

Isaac saw their attire and flags and nodded slightly.

The dress code of the Knights Hospitaller was strictly regulated. The black tunic was a symbol of peacetime, and the regular flag with a white cross on a red background was mostly used in diplomatic occasions rather than on the battlefield.

If they were wearing red burqas and white cross capes, it would be downright hostile.

The white cross on a red background is a standard Latin cross, designated by Pope Alexander IV as the emblem of the Knights Hospitaller. The octagonal cross symbolizes the eight virtues. It originated from the emblem of the Amalfi Republic and was later adopted by the Knights Hospitaller and approved for use by Pope Innocent IV. It is not the "Maltese Cross" that was rumored to be used after the Knights Hospitaller retreated to Malta.

On the coast of the Mausoleum of King Mausolus, two heavy cavalry units stood in formation.

The members of the Knights Hospitaller looked at the elite heavy cavalry in front of them with complicated expressions. They were better equipped and more numerous.

The armored paladins wore visors, and their expressions could not be seen.

Isaac signaled with his eyes, and Galwin immediately rode forward.

"Here before you stands, by the grace of God, Emperor of Rome and of the Romans, King of the Kingdom of Brazil, Master of Constantinople and Carthage, Sovereign of the Maghreb, Africa, Egypt, the Levant, the Balkans and Anatolia, Lord of Guinea, New Thrace, Saint Constantine, Mozambique and Ceylon, Lord of the Trade of the Indian Ocean, Patron of the Most Noble Order of Saint Simon, Patron of the Most Noble Orders of Saint Andrew and Saint George, Emperor of Conquests and Navigations."

"Isaac Gattilucio Valleoliu!"

Galvin shouted in Latin.

The Knights Hospitaller looked strange, and after a long while, a middle-aged knight came out.

"I am Giovanni Battista Orsini."

The middle-aged man said slowly.

"Grand Master of the Military Hospitaller Order of Sovereign Saint John of Jerusalem and Rhodes."

"Hello, Your Majesty, the Great Crusader, the Emperor of the Eastern Empire."

Orsini looked at Isaac in the army.

Isaac lightly stepped on his horse's belly, walked slowly forward, and stood opposite Orsini.

"I have never seen you, but I have heard of your reputation, Monsignor Orsini."

Isaac studied the Italian knight.

"Your name is Orsini. Are you from the Orsini family in Rome?"

The Orsini family was a distinguished family in Rome, which had been distinguished from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance. Their ancestors had produced three popes and more than thirty cardinals. They claimed to be descendants of the Julius Claudius dynasty of the ancient Roman Empire, with the blood of Octavian flowing in their veins.

Compared to such arrogant upstarts as the Borgia family and the Rovere family, the Orsini family can be regarded as a true ancient aristocracy.

"Since I spend the rest of my life serving God, my family is meaningless."

Orsini said lightly.

“You brought quite a few people.”

Isaac looked past Orsini to the formation of knights behind him.

"One hundred people. As far as I remember, there are only about three hundred knights in the entire Rhodes Island."

"You are right. There are indeed only about 300 knights stationed in Rhodes Island."

Orsini nodded generously.

“But you seem to have brought more people.”

"This is my freedom, on my land."

Isaac stared at him.

"I'm glad you attended the meeting, and I'm glad you didn't act so hostile."

"If you have anything to say, just say it."

Orsini said calmly.

Isaac smiled.

"In the past twenty years, our two forces have cooperated happily. You gained the Karpathos Islands in the Venetian War and also have a branch and many castles in the Western Border Region. I did not interfere, and we maintained respect and friendship."

"But, as far as I know, you have repeatedly challenged the majesty of the Holy See in recent years, and have thrown the treaty signed between him and me behind your back. Not only have you disguised yourself as Saracen ships to attack my merchant ships, but you have also secretly smuggled supplies to the Ottomans in exchange for money."

Isaac said.

"I have reason to suspect that some knights of the Order have abandoned their original creed and joined forces with the Saracen devils."

"Sir Orsini, you are the Grand Master. Do you admit the accusations I have made?"

"Subjectively, there is no such thing, but objectively, there may be."

Orsini was silent for a moment.

"You know, in the past few decades, in order to better fight against the Saracens, we have recruited a group of civilian forces who are willing to join forces with the Knights. These people are often undisciplined."

"What you are talking about are just the unintentional actions of a few scums. They are not official knights and have nothing to do with the Knights Templar."

"These matters are under investigation, and we will inform you if anything is found out."

Orsini's words were watertight.

"Okay, I believe you."

Isaac nodded noncommittally.

"I wonder how much your Excellency knows about the holy war we are currently carrying out?"

"The Ottoman Empire has collapsed, and you are making great progress. It is only a matter of time before you recapture Bursa."

Orsini said.

"However, a large number of Aq Qoyunlu's troops are still active on the Anatolian Plateau. I don't know whether they have gathered, but they are still a scourge."

Orsini raised his head and looked at Isaac.

"I wonder how you plan to deal with them?"

"Whether we will have a decisive battle with the Aries Dynasty, I am not sure yet."

Isaac thought for a moment.

"I hope we can maintain a tacit peace where we cannot cross the plateau for the time being and they cannot effectively control the marginal territories."

"I have mobilized the East India Fleet in the Persian Gulf and several vassal forces in Georgia to try to persuade Uzung Hassan to return."

"Your hands are really long."

Orsini hadn't thought of this either and raised an eyebrow.

"If you send Uzung Hasan back to Tabriz, aren't you afraid that they will become stronger?" "Haha, I'm really not afraid."

Isaac smiled and shook his head.

"I have seen too many nomadic regimes like this. If they drag on for a few years, they will collapse on their own."

"Go ahead and expand. The larger the territory, the more conflicts there will be, and the more miserable you will be when you collapse."

Isaac stopped smiling.

"However, Uzon Hassan is a very proud man, and I can't figure out what he is thinking."

"But I'm not afraid."

"With your strength, there is really no need to be afraid."

Orsini thought for a long time and then sighed.

"You've been talking for a long time, but you still haven't gotten to the point. I'm afraid you came all the way here to meet us, not just to analyze the battle situation, right?"

Isaac pursed his lips and got to the point.

"Back then, in order to protect the pilgrims heading to the Holy Sepulchre, you rented the Eastern Empire's Rhodes Island for more than 160 years."

"Now that our holy war is about to be completed and Osman is no longer the enemy of Jesus Christ, should Rhodes Island be returned to its original owner?"

Isaac looked into Orsini's pale blue eyes.

In fact, Rhodes Island was not leased. It was forcibly occupied by the Knights Hospitaller through military means, and they forced the dying Eastern Roman Empire to sign a cession treaty.

Saying it is a lease is just to give everyone a way out.

"We have been here for more than a hundred years, and we have long been deeply rooted. We have built countless castles and fortresses, and the city was also built by us."

Orsini's eyes were much sharper.

"For more than a hundred years, we have caused huge losses to the Saracens here. We do not seek credit or praise, but you want us to lose our headquarters with just one sentence. I'm afraid that's not a good idea, right?"

"Our sovereignty over this island was decreed by the Holy See."

"My claim to this island was given to me by the people."

Isaac responded.

"I respect the Holy See and am willing to reconcile with the Western Church, but you also know that my people have been very excited recently and asked me to recover all the lost territories."

“If they rise up in rebellion and force me to attack Rhodes Island, I’m afraid I will have trouble controlling these arrogant soldiers under my command.

Orsini was stunned and curled his lips.

You built the army, you created the fleet, and you liberated the people. Who would believe that you can't control your subordinates with such prestige?

“We’ve actually had a few internal discussions and come up with some results.”

Orsini said.

"We hope to keep this Catholic territory and are willing to pay you the rent for Rhodes Island. Of course, you can also regard it as tribute."

"I am not satisfied."

Isaac shook his head.

This was their way of compromising with the Ottoman Sultan, which was acceptable in terms of face, but Isaac did not want it to happen.

"Then you are going to tear your face apart."

Orsini looked unhappy.

"We have been operating in Rhodes Island for many years, and our castle fortifications are impregnable. If you insist on taking Rhodes Island by military means, we will fight back!"

"I admit that your construction skills are remarkable."

Isaac said honestly.

"But as far as I know, you can't be self-sufficient in food, right?"

"If I use my absolute naval superiority to blockade Rhodes Island for a year or even several years, what will you do?"

In fact, Isaac did not want to attack Rhodes at all. As Orsini said, the Hospitaller Knights' fortifications on Rhodes were extremely complete, and they also used the ocean chains learned from Constantinople, which was a very tough nut to crack.

However, Rhodes Island could never be self-sufficient in food and had to rely on external supplies. Isaac was not the Ottoman Sultan in the original time and space. His naval strength far exceeded that of the Catholic world and he could completely blockade the entire island and force them to collapse without a fight.

Of course, this kind of greed was too ugly. The Council of La Spezia was held with great difficulty and a nominal unity of the church was achieved. Isaac did not want to destroy it easily.

"We have our own chapters in many places. They will provide funds, build ships, and break your blockade."

"In addition to us, Western countries will also launch countermeasures against you."

Orsini argued, but he knew that the hope was slim.

"In fact, I won't do that, and I don't want to destroy the friendship we built on the battlefield before."

Isaac smiled.

"I know your situation. I know you've had a hard time recently. The trade center has gradually shifted, and the Mamluk trade has declined. You have nothing to rob."

"Also, the Hussite Wars had a great impact on you. The Eastern European branch almost ceased to exist."

"Besides, you can no longer view the current situation with the same thinking as hundreds of years ago. The Teutonic Knights were beaten to pieces by the Poles. How many people helped them? How many people would be enemies of the Poles?"

"Everyone is very busy. I'm afraid even the Vatican won't support you in a protracted war."

Isaac analyzed it carefully.

"So what do you want to do?"

Orsini frowned.

"I hope to gain Rhodes and its Greek subjects through peaceful means. You can keep a branch of the Knights Templar here that uses Western rituals, just like the castles in the Western Border."

Isaac said.

"The headquarters needs to evacuate Rhodes Island, and most of the castles on the island must be handed over to us."

"Of course, I won't let you suffer for nothing. You can choose between redemption and exchange."

Orsini thought for a moment and looked up.

"What if it's a ransom? How much can you offer?"

"Ten thousand Venetian ducats."

Isaac said.

"The castle complex alone cost more than that."

Orsini shook his head.

"What about the exchange?"

"You can choose. There are three options."

Isaac smiled.

"First, I will give you some of the islands in the Saint Constantine Colony. There will be about ten islands in total, and their area will definitely be larger than Rhodes Island and the Dodecanese."

When Orsini said nothing, Isaac continued.

"Second, there is a large plain in the south of the Kingdom of Brazil. We call it the La Plata Plain. It has very good natural conditions and a large area. It is suitable for growing wheat and establishing plantations."

"Now, my flag is hoisted on the plain of La Plata, and if you wish, you can also hoist the flag of the Knights."

Orsini smiled bitterly and shook his head.

"Your Majesty, the purpose of our Knights' existence is to protect the faith and relieve suffering. We are the sword of Jesus Christ, the sharp spear to eradicate the Saracens, and the protector of Christians."

"If we move our headquarters to a distant new world, the foundation of our faith will no longer exist."

"And there's a third one."

Isaac prompted.

"Then go ahead."

Orsini was patient.

"You know, my grandson Carlos is the legitimate heir to the Kingdom of Castile and the legitimate king of the Kingdom of Granada."

Isaac said.

"Third, my grandson Carlos has always heard of the reputation of the Knights and admires you very much. He decided to give you one-third of Granada's land as a gift to the Knights after he conquers it."

"You can spread the gospel of the Lord in pagan lands and provide shelter and healing to Christians."

"This……"

Orsini's eyes widened, seeming a little incredulous.

Granada is a truly great place, with fertile land and a dense population. Its capital, Granada, has a population of over 100,000, making it one of the largest cities on the European continent.

"But...what about the Knights of Iberia? If your grandson wants to gain a foothold in Iberia, he can't abandon them -"

"They will get one-sixth of Granada and more castles in Castile."

Isaac said.

"The Castilian nobility—"

"one third."

"The Holy See and the Bishops—"

"One sixth."

Orsini calculated and it seemed that in the end, Carlos only had the city of Granada left.

"You... are really good to your grandson."

Isaac was silent for a while and shook his head.

Disrupting Iberia has always been his national policy, and introducing the influence of the Holy See is a crucial part of it.

If they only rely on local nobles, after they grow strong, they might think of overthrowing the king and embarking on the path of centralization. But the Holy See is different. They are outsiders like Carlos and will stand on his side to compete with local forces.

The Vatican is a natural enemy of centralized monarchs.

The native nobility in Castile is deeply rooted and difficult to control, but Granada is a blank slate that can be used to introduce large-scale Vatican forces and house the Knights Hospitaller.

In the great schism of the Catholic world, various countries chose sides. Castile and Aragon both supported the Pope of Avignon, and there were still some inexplicable gaps between them and the current Roman Curia.

As for Carlos, Isaac had indeed treated him unfairly, and if there was really no alternative, he could just give him some shares in several companies so that he would have a source of property independent of the territory and he wouldn't have to swallow his anger too much.

Then again, although Isaac would not support him, the same could not be said about Isaac's son and daughter-in-law. Isabella had always hoped that her son would inherit the crown of his ancestors and become a great ruler.

"How about it, are you willing?"

Isaac put the thought behind him and looked at Orsini.

"That will have to wait until the day when Granada is destroyed."

Orsini said, his face looking much better, and there was a hint of anticipation in his eyes.

“We also need time to have discussions.”

"It's okay. We still have a lot of time. I told you this plan today so that you can have time to discuss it."

Isaac nodded.

"I will inform the Vatican of this plan, and if they agree, then that's it."

"Okay, I'll go back and hold a meeting."

Orsini said.

"Now, the Spanish knights have two votes, and this idea is likely to pass."

Orsini smiled.

The Knights Hospitaller were divided into several districts according to language. There were once seven districts, each with its own vote. When the new Grand Master took office, the number was changed to eight, and the division of labor in each district was stipulated.

The Provencal region produced the commander, the Auvergne region produced the marshal, the French region produced the chief physician, the German region produced the great administrator, the Spanish region produced the livery officer, the Italian region produced the admiral...

Among them, the French Knights occupied three language areas, had the most votes and the greatest power. Throughout the 14th century, the French Knights firmly dominated the right to speak in the Knights Templar, and the vast majority of grand masters came from France.

But in the 15th century, the situation was slightly different. The status of knights of other languages ​​increased. The former Grand Master Zaxta came from Spain, and the current Grand Master Orsini came from Italy.

Of course, apart from France, the Spanish knights are relatively strong, followed by Italian knights. The German knights and the English knights are currently relatively weak.

Zacstar used a bit of subterfuge to divide the Spanish-speaking area into Castile-Portuguese and Aragon-Navarre, which actually increased the votes of the Spanish knights and enhanced their authority.

Even if all three French-speaking regions oppose, the current Grand Master Orsini can combine the Italian-speaking region and the two Spanish-speaking regions to defeat them.

The Grand Master has the most say, and they cannot ignore the orders of the Holy See.

"Your Majesty, this watchtower is a gift to you. We will take the boat back now."

Orsini nodded slightly and prepared to leave.

"Grand Master Orsini."

Isaac called out to him.

Orsini turned and looked at Isaac.

"If that day ever comes, I think my grandson should be supported by the Order and become an Honorary Knight of St. John."

"Most definitely."

Orsini nodded and rode away.

Isaac also gently stepped on his horse's belly and walked back to the army.

Members of the Knights Hospitaller walked toward the shore and boarded the ship one after another.

Isaac watched them disappear into the ocean, turned around, urged his horse to gallop north, and embarked on a new journey.

The two heavy cavalry units came in a cloud of dust and left in a cloud of dust. The ruins of the Mausoleum of King Mausolus watched all this quietly, watching the coast and the waves, just as they had done a thousand years ago.

(End of this chapter)