1444, Byzantium Resurrects

Chapter 393: Eastward Movement, Manifest Destiny

The villagers were exhausted after several days of running around, and some of them began to complain, but they could no longer turn back - the Tatar squad employed by the lord was hunting down the escaped serfs.

After entering the lower reaches of the Dnieper River, the villagers finally got rid of the Tatar group. This area is vast and sparsely populated, without any big cities. It is an unorderly civilized restricted area. Once they escape here, they are basically safe.

Although in the eyes of many later Ukrainians, Kievan Rus was the peak of the Rus nation before modern times, they never extended their rule into the eastern and southern parts of Ukraine. The main cities were located in the middle and upper reaches of the Dnieper River. Large cities such as Dnieper, Zaporizhia, Kherson, Mariupol and Luhansk were basically established during the reign of Catherine the Great and had nothing to do with Kievan Rus.

So, after trekking for a few more days in this forbidden zone of civilization, when the villagers' food was about to run out, they finally arrived at the banks of the Dnieper River. On the other side of the river was the Cossack Kingdom, which also belonged to the escaped slaves of Russia.

"Padre Trabelsi, look!"

Sergei pointed toward the river ahead, his eyes wide.

As the sun rose higher, the clouds gradually dissipated, and the Dnieper River flowed smoothly, shining with dazzling golden light.

On the other side of the river, a stone fortress was looming. On the fortress, three flags were fluttering in the wind. On the left was the bloody and fiery double-headed eagle flag of the Cossack Kingdom, on the right was the golden tree flag of the Zaporizhia Cossacks, and the golden-red cross was in the center.

"This is Zaporizhia Castle, here we are!"

Trabelsi cried out in surprise.

"There is a small port in Zaporizhia, where the Emperor's Dnieper Fleet is stationed. We will be safe soon, and freedom is just around the corner!"

The villagers' eyes immediately lit up and they ran towards the river bank desperately, waving their felt hats.

"Don't be impatient! Light the beacon first!"

Trabelsi handed the child on his back to Sergei, and immediately directed the villagers to get busy. They lit a bonfire on the ground, placed wet branches on it, and a large cloud of smoke slowly rose.

"His Majesty Justinian made some modifications when he built the castle last year. There is a large telescope on the tower. They will notice us!"

Trabelsi explained.

Sure enough, after a while, a large sailing ship and a dozen small sailing ships sailed out of the port and began to approach this side.

"Have you memorized the national anthem I taught you?"

Trabelsi looked at everyone.

"Remember, sing it every day these days!"

Some villagers responded.

"Which song?"

Trabelsi was stunned and thought.

After forming the Bosphorus Military Band in imitation of the Ottoman Empire, Isaac invited the famous composer Josquin Despres from Italy to compose the national anthem and military song for the Eastern Roman Empire according to his own ideas. The national anthem was "The Double Eagle Flag Will Never Fall" and the military song was "As Fast as Lightning".

After that, Justinian liked this method very much and formed his own military band. He also hired Josquin to compose the national anthem and military song for the Cossack Kingdom, namely "God Save the King" and "Song of the Don".

"Let's just sing 'The Double Eagle Flag Will Never Fall'. After all, we are not soldiers, and I guess few of you want to join the Cossack Kingdom."

Trabelsi looked at this group of poorer and thinner villagers.

The villagers took a breath and began to sing in a mixed voice in the Greek they had just learned.

"The Lord showers blessings on the people and the world;"

"My emperor is majestic and will annihilate the barbarians;"

"Where the sun shines, the flags are painted with double eagles;"

"Blessed by the Lord, your kingdom is coming!"

……

"Romulus, the city was built for eternity;"

"Constantine, bathed in divine grace;"

"Antios, Jerusalem;"

"Our sea, our city!"

"The eagle flag will not fall, and the glory will not sink;"

"As long as the eagle flag falls, Rome will live forever!"

After the national anthem was sung, the ship flying the double-headed eagle flag came closer and closer. The villagers were so excited that they burst into tears and could not help making the sign of the cross, as if heaven was just ahead.

The largest warship sent out flag signals to welcome their arrival.

The huge warship appeared in everyone's sight, with the black muzzles of its guns pointing directly at the shore. The villagers who had lived inland all their lives were dumbfounded and dared not say a word.

This warship is a flat-bottomed boat with distinctive features of a Viking longship. It has a slender hull, a shallow draft, a specially reinforced bow, and metal-wrapped rams. It has the potential to break through thin ice and has powerful impact capabilities. It is powered by sails and oars. It is obviously a ship focused on inland rivers and shallow seas. It does not have ocean-going capabilities and has special advantages in these two waters.

Trabelsi recognized the ship; before leaving for the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, he had visited the naval port of Zaporizhia and was deeply impressed by the vessel.

"God of the North Wind."

Trabelsi whispered the name of the warship.

Since the navigable inland rivers have gentle currents and relatively stable water surface conditions, unlike the oceans which are unpredictable, after several decades of development, the inland ships of the Eastern Roman Empire had surpassed their oceanic ships and had achieved the formatted construction of large ships.

The current inland navies of the Eastern Roman Empire are the Danube Fleet, the Dnieper Fleet and the Don Fleet. The former is composed entirely of Eastern Roman sailors, and the latter two are joint fleets of the Eastern Roman Empire and the Cossack Kingdom. Except for large warships, the remaining small and medium-sized paddle boats are operated by Cossack sailors. They are more flexible and can sail freely on the wide river, giving full play to the advantages of the Cossacks, looting along the coast and attracting escaped slaves.

The main ship type of the Danube Fleet was the "Zephyros class", named after the god of the west wind in ancient Greek mythology. It had strong firepower and the shipyard was located in the city of Vidin where there was abundant raw materials.

The main ship type of the Dnieper Fleet is the "Boreas Class", named after the god of the north wind in ancient Greek mythology. It has a fast speed and strong close combat capability. There is only one ship at present, and this is the first ship "Boreas" in front of everyone.

As for the main ship type of the Don Fleet, the "Euros Class", the first ship "God of the East Wind" is still under construction and it will take several months before it can be launched for sea trials.

The benefits of formatted construction are considerable. Lower-level suppliers can build the wooden parts, cannons and sails used to build sailboats at the same time without changing other designs. This can effectively shorten shipbuilding time and achieve mass production.

Trabelsi knew that the Eastern Roman Empire had recently attached increasing importance to its inland navy, because inland ships could extend the influence of the Eastern Roman Empire from the ocean to the inland. They were not only an important force for national defense, but also a unique weapon for interfering in other countries.

Your country's center of gravity is inland, so you are not afraid of maritime hegemony? Sorry, I can still attack your core area directly through the inland rivers.

As far as he knew, the "Notos-class" ship adapted to Nile River shipping was also under design, and the first ship "God of the South Wind" would complete its launching trial at the Carthage Shipyard.

The God of the North Wind dropped anchor on the shore, and the other small boats went straight to the river bank. Trabelsi stepped forward, showed his documents, and negotiated with them.

Most of the people who got off the boat were Cossack men. They were generous and simple-minded. Without saying a word, they asked all the villagers to board the boat in batches and cross the Dnieper River.

Trabelsi took several sick people on board the Borei, handed them over to the ship's doctor, and went into the captain's room.

"The Lithuanian branch of the Black Sea branch of the Roman Empire Immigration Bureau, Trabelsi Serdi."

Trabelsi looked at the captain.

"I have finished this tour preaching, and it is a pleasure to meet you, my dear countrymen, and thank you for your hospitality."

"A graduate of the third class of the Inland Sea Academy of the Navigation School. He is currently the captain of the Borei and the captain of the Dnieper Fleet."

The captain nodded sternly and poured Trabelsi a glass of wine.

"Just call me Zagora, respected father."

"As a fleet captain, I have received orders from my superiors to assist you with your immigration work. No thanks required."

"Once you arrive at Zaporizhia Castle, you will need to register with the immigration officials. These immigrants can choose to join the Roman Empire or the Cossack Kingdom, and become Varangians or Cossacks according to their own wishes."

"Varangians?"

Trabelsi looked at Zagora with some confusion.

"Aren't they from Russia?"

"No, this is the latest amendment to the Citizenship Clause, which defines each type of citizen in more detail."

Zagora shook his head.

"The immigrants from the Russian states were all called Varangian Romans, and no longer called Russians. The moment they arrived on the land of the empire, they no longer had any relationship with the original Russian states."

"In addition, the Vikings of Northern Europe and the Anglo-Saxon immigrants in England were also included in the Varangian Romans, but their numbers were smaller and insignificant."

"This...is okay."

Trabelsi nodded.

"Most northerners don't even know who they are. For them, 'Varangie' is a symbol of honor."

"Well, the Varangian Guard has been expanded and fully equipped with spears and lances. In addition to participating in wars, this army also serves as the palace guard and the emperor's honor guard."

Zagora said.

"Your Majesty has issued a decree that the selection of the Varangian Guard will only be open to Varangian Romans. Even pure Greek-speaking Romans are not allowed to join. This is an old tradition from the time of Emperor Basil until now." "This month, more than 2,000 Russian Orthodox Christians have entered the empire from Zaporizhia Castle, and many of them are very satisfied with the name "Varangian"."

Upon hearing this, Trabelsi nodded in agreement.

He had some knowledge of the history of the Eastern Roman Empire after the Macedonian Dynasty. He had never had a good impression of the Greek legions who were slick, treacherous, rebelled from time to time, and supported the royal civil war from time to time. Instead, he admired the Varangians, who were famous for their loyalty and keeping their promises and rarely participated in political struggles. As long as the monarchs were willing to treat them with respect and fairness, they would offer 100% loyalty.

The Varangians did not care who was on the throne, but as long as the emperor was alive, they would defend him to the death, no matter whether he was incompetent or wise, no matter whether his competitors for the throne could lead the empire to prosperity. They had no political ideas of their own, only absolute loyalty.

Back then, even though Nikephoros III was old and confused, and even though Alexios I was once one of the commanders of the Varangian Guard, the Varangians did not choose to join the latter in the coup, but became absolute supporters of the old order.

Of course, after the death of Nikephoros III and the seizure of the throne by Alexios I, the Varangian Guard also directly chose to pledge allegiance to the new emperor and became an important aid to Alexios I in rebuilding the country's strength.

"What about the distribution? Most of the people I brought with me are honest serfs from the inland. They are quite different from the fugitive slaves from the border areas who are semi-nomadic and semi-agricultural. I'm afraid few of them want to join the Cossack Kingdom."

Trabelsi asked.

"Do you need me to lead them to Anatolia to open up a village?"

"No need, the Empire has made arrangements for this."

Zagora said simply as he drank his wine.

“They will be registered as foreign residents, with temporary permanent residency, and will also enjoy pioneering privileges, and can acquire their own land on the Anatolian peninsula through the Homestead Law.”

"Some wealthy Romans would usually spend money to buy a large amount of vacant land in the reclamation area, and at the same time form armed reclamation groups to absorb these foreign immigrants. They were small landowners, and the land of small landowners surrounded the large landowners, forming a special village community."

Zagora shrugged.

"After all, the plateau territories belonging to Rome are still very chaotic. If they don't stick together, the nomads will soon come to plunder."

"However, compared to colonies, Anatolia still has many advantages. At least the immigrants don't need to spend a lot of time fighting against nature. They can just take over the Turkic farmland, pastures, livestock and houses."

"In a registered armed reclamation group, the Greek-speaking population must account for more than half. The Varangians you brought will probably be assigned to two or three reclamation groups."

“Is the plateau still very chaotic?”

Trabelsi was a little worried.

“What if they don’t want to participate in the reclamation?”

"That's fine. They can indeed choose to enter the core areas on both sides of the Aegean Sea and become hired farmers or laborers. Some Greek-Romans will be freed, which actually increases the number of people being reclaimed."

Zagora explained.

"Don't worry, your majesty's main forces have all gathered in Anatolia. Those Turkic barbarians who are unwilling to convert can only flee eastward in waves, and civilization will expand accordingly."

As he spoke, Zagora came to the window, looked at the Zaporizhia port which was getting closer and closer, and looked at the Russian immigrants gathered at the port, queuing up and waiting for allocation.

"Just wait and see, this will be the greatest pioneering movement since the Roman Restoration."

"You, me, and them—"

Zagora pointed at himself and the priest, then at the hopeful immigrants.

“They will all be historical witnesses of this movement!”

……

The city of Hierapolis in the southwestern part of the Anatolian Peninsula, in the province of Asia of the Eastern Roman Empire.

Hierapolis was the only city of the Eastern Roman Empire in the southwestern Anatolian Plateau. It was located on the front line against the Turkic Muslims. To the west of the city was the Mendres River Valley, and to the east was the vast plateau.

Due to its geographical location that is easy to defend and difficult to attack, the river valley provides sufficient agricultural water and fertile land, and the flat land facilitates the movement of people and the transportation of goods. Hierapolis has developed rapidly, and the population of the urban area can reach 8,000. Many dignitaries are very willing to come here for vacation and enjoy a good life in the famous Pamukkale.

After 1478, armies arrived here one after another, adding a touch of solemnity to the beautiful and gentle Hierapolis. The Turkic settlements around the city that refused to convert were cleared out, and several hilltops that hid Turkic bandits were set on fire and burned to ashes.

The plateau east of Hierapolis has abundant water and heat, and is home to five large lakes and a number of small lakes. Among them, Lake Beyşehir is the third largest lake and the largest freshwater lake in Turkey. It is located on the southwestern foot of the Taurus Mountains and has a very typical Mediterranean climate, which is not much different from the Morea and other places across the Aegean Sea. The agricultural and pastoral conditions are excellent. Although the fragmented terrain makes transportation inconvenient and it is destined not to become an industrial concentration area, it is still a very good immigration destination and the southern center of the Anatolia reclamation area of ​​the Eastern Roman Empire.

Compared with the central and eastern parts of the plateau, the Turks here became very scarce due to the Eastern Roman Empire's continuous expulsion and suppression for several years. A large number of people fled eastward, and some die-hard Turkic Muslims who hid in the mountains were also driven out by the Eastern Roman Empire's repeated large-scale mountain burning campaigns. It was a virgin land that urgently needed to be developed.

The Eastern Roman Empire's "recolonization movement" against the Turkic Muslim communities in Anatolia has always been unscrupulous. They set fires when the weather was dry and dug river embankments when the rainy season came. They tried every means to drive away those Turkic Muslims who were unwilling to convert and allow their own people to reoccupy these lands that had belonged to the Romans since ancient times.

However, there are still many Turks in Anatolia, and some landowners and ranchers who go to the reclaimed areas do not want to be involved in a protracted security war. They often sign treaties with Turkic Muslims, designating the deep mountains and forests or desert Gobi that are difficult to cultivate as "reservations" and allow the weak Muslim tribes to live there.

Of course, the so-called "reservation" policy was just a transitional measure. With the increasing number of Christian immigrants in Anatolia, some of the former reservations were constantly occupied, and those Turkic tribes could only migrate to farther places to escape.

You ask me why I broke the contract? Or ask me about the heavy musket in my hand.

Outside the city of Hierapolis, endless military camps were lined up on the river valley plain, with all kinds of flags flying above the camps. Behind the camps were even more armed reclamation camps. These were Christian immigrants who were preparing to reclaim the plateau. They would follow behind the army and help them stabilize the occupied areas.

The arrival of these people made the citizens of Hierapolis smile. Whether it was the army or the reclamation group, they had to pay if they wanted to obtain local supplies. This was not a civilized restricted area deep in the plateau. Everything was in order under the strict legal constraints.

A high platform was built in the center of the reclamation camp. The immigrants gathered around the platform and looked at the young man on the platform.

The young man was wearing the official uniform of the Eastern Roman Empire and a silver double-headed eagle badge on his chest, with a feather pen under the double-headed eagle's claws.

This is Carface, a young man who passed the civil service examination and entered official career. He once performed well in the propaganda offensive in Sicily and was promoted to the head of the Propaganda Department of the Eastern Roman Empire, in charge of internal and external propaganda affairs.

This time, the Eastern Roman Empire's offensive began in the south, where most of the legions gathered. Dozens of warships had begun patrolling outside the port of Antalya, and more than half of the armed reclamation groups were also here.

Karfis looked around. These immigrants came from all over the world. Greek Orthodox Christians accounted for about 40%, Varangian Romans accounted for about 20%, Orthodox natives and mixed-race natives from the colonies accounted for about 15%, Bulgarians and Serbs accounted for about 15%, and Catholics such as Italians, Spanish and Germans accounted for about 10%.

As for North African Orthodox Christians and Albanians, these places have stabilized after decades of assimilation, and the proportion of Greek speakers among them is very high, and they have basically been counted as Greek Orthodox Christians.

Not long ago, Kalfis also gave a propaganda speech for an armed reclamation activity in the city of Sakarya. Compared with that time, the proportion of Varangian Romans has increased significantly, and the proportion of indigenous immigrants has increased significantly. The immigration of these two ethnic groups is entirely the result of the Eastern Roman government's macro-control of the economy and policies. The reason is very simple. Their level of civilization is very low, and their Orthodox beliefs are particularly fanatical. They are more easily absorbed into the Eastern Roman cultural community. Even if they do not agree with Rome for the time being, they will tend to the only Orthodox emperor because of the same religion.

Kalfis knew that for many wealthy Greeks, these people were an excellent labor force that was willing to work hard and endure hardships. Their living standards in the past were too poor and they were very easy to be satisfied. Because they generally wore the cheapest undyed gray clothes, they were also called "gray cattle."

For Kalface, none of these situations mattered. He was not a Greek supremacist, but deep down he was still proud of his identity as an orthodox Roman in Thessalonica. Anatolia had been the homeland of Greeks and Romans first, and in the future it would surely belong to the descendants of the Greek-speaking Romans.

Seeing the crowd growing, Carlface cleared his throat and began his speech.

"My name is Calface, and I am from Thessalonica."

Calface spoke loudly in Greek, and the priests in the crowd translated the Greek into various languages.

"You may not know me, but that's not important. My family and my position have nothing to do with you. You just need to know that here, I am just like you, a Roman who longs for a better life and a Christian who is extremely devout to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit."

Calface's voice was clear and loud, reaching everyone's ears.

"Several hundred years ago, Anatolia was the homeland of the Romans. Our ancestors lived here for a thousand years. They built cities and opened up farmland, making this the most populous region in the Eastern Roman Empire, surpassing the Balkans, the Levant and Egypt."

"But the arrival of Muslims changed all that. The evil faith that originated from the Arabian Peninsula overturned Africa, Egypt and the Levant in just a few hundred years. In just a few hundred years, it spread from the Arabian Peninsula to all directions like a disease, from Iberia at the westernmost end of Europe to the Pamir Plateau in the Persian population. In the blink of an eye, it has all become a hotbed of evil faith."

“Before they started the war, we had never had any ambition towards Mecca and Medina, and had never committed any violence against their people. However, they directly occupied beautiful Syria and committed a horrific massacre here. They occupied Alexandria, Antioch, Jerusalem, and even looted the eternal city of Rome. These cities are our homes, our holy places, and the places of our dignity and glory!”

The spring breeze swept by, and everything was silent.

"I admit that in the first few centuries, the Saracens were very powerful. Not only us, but even the Seres in the east, who were at their peak, were defeated by the Arab Empire. We don't need to blame ourselves for this, and we don't need to be afraid of it."

"But their era has passed. The Turks' century-long operation in the Balkan Peninsula has come to nothing. The Egyptians are in the midst of internal and external troubles. Granada and Hafs have long been destroyed. The Marin Dynasty is isolated on the border. The past tyranny has vanished. Our era is about to come!"

"Now, it is time to take back our glory. The Holy Father is watching us and blessing us. We will start a great eastward movement from the shores of the Aegean Sea to the Supreme Holy City!"

“Remember! My compatriots, from this moment on, every step we take forward will bring us closer to victory, closer to revenge, and closer to Jerusalem!”

"Remember! My compatriots, the situation has changed! The flames of war have spread to them, their people, their land, and their blood!"

“Remember! My compatriots, what we are fighting for is not just a better life and a more beautiful home. Taking back the land that belongs to Christians is our God-given responsibility and our innate mission!”

"Remember! My compatriots, we will eventually take all the land given by God and fulfill the destiny of the Romans. Go ahead! Kill! Take revenge! God will bless us!"

"If they are willing to fight for their faith, let them die for their faith. If they are unwilling to convert to God, let God judge their crimes!"

Below the podium, everyone's faces were flushed and their expressions were excited, as if the glory of God was shining on them, and as if their every move was to achieve the greatest ideal.

Calface raised his right fist high into the air.

"In the name of God, in the name of the Emperor, in the name of Rome!"

"My fellow countrymen, march east! For our Manifest Destiny!"

……

In the spring of 1478, the Eastern Roman Empire deployed troops in Anatolia. A hundred thousand troops were divided into three routes: north, center and south, to attack the remaining Muslim forces on the Anatolian Peninsula. Behind each army was a large number of armed reclamation groups, who would fill the living space left by the massive reduction in the Muslim population and transform it back into a Roman home.

At the same time, all propaganda forces of the Eastern Roman Empire, including newspapers, churches, and governments, were working at full capacity to portray the ongoing expansion as "the eastward movement for Manifest Destiny" and to instill the concepts of divinity and destiny into the hearts of every immigrant.

For the Eastern Roman Empire, this was not only a movement to recover lost territory, but also a great project to build national consensus and strengthen national consciousness, and a process of shaping the Roman spirit and culture. Christian immigrants from all directions would gradually become true Romans in the joint participation of the eastward development. The wave of urbanization and the advancement of large-scale development would become two assimilation machines with supreme power, fundamentally changing the current situation of insufficient core population in the Eastern Roman Empire.

In the spring of 1478, after more than ten years of preliminary preparations, the eastward movement officially began. The Christian Romans rushed eastward on the plateau, and the Muslim Turks fled eastward in a panic on the plateau. A grand picture filled with gunfire and smoke, blood and violence, glory and dignity slowly unfolded on the Anatolian plateau.

(End of this chapter)