Chapter 76 The Duke

Chapter 76 The Duke

To the south, Bayezid again displays the properties of lightning. These months progressed smoothly in Anatolia and Greece, and most of Thessaly was soon captured.

The so-called Christian Union troops fled in all directions after being lightly charged, and the nobles also packed up their property and ran to Italy to be happy. Only the local people were left to suffer.

In the eyes of these Western nobles, these people who believe in Orthodox Christianity are not worth mentioning. If they die, they will die. It is no big deal.

The people could only surrender to Ottoman. Even if the other party kept their faith unchanged, the capture of young men and the blood tax still made them miserable. One rebellion after another began.

On the other hand, Bayezid personally led military operations in Anatolia. The target is Sivas on the Black Sea coast. Those Emir countries can only join forces to keep warm, but the size is too small, and it will be a matter of time before they are captured.

Mircea is also paying attention to the compilation of the code in Kemplonga. It is currently more than half completed, and there are still some details that need to be added.

At the same time, Mircea also received an envoy from the south. Envoy from Constantinople.

Manuel II was a frustrated emperor who hoped to confuse the wolf-like Ottoman Empire by appearing to be a loyal subject. Further increases in annual tribute overwhelmed the impoverished empire, and the sultan ordered a large Turkish garrison into Constantinople. This part of the population was not under the rule of the Byzantine central government, but was directly governed by the Muslim regime. But it seems that this humiliation has not yet satisfied the capricious Sultan.

After Manuel II learned the result of the Battle of Skopje, he understood it. Fortunately, he did not join, otherwise he would not know what the consequences would be.

So on the one hand, he prepared to go to Western Europe in person to request reinforcements, and on the other hand, he sent people to Kemplonga to ask Wallachia to send troops to help him.

But what did he use to get Wallachia to save him? Land, no, the Roman Empire no longer had land to reward. At this time, there was a powerful enemy outside the Ottoman Empire, and there were local separatist forces and nobles trying to usurp the throne inside. The area under the jurisdiction of the central government was getting smaller and smaller, the urban economy was not improving, and the countryside was dilapidated due to the war. The city republics in Italy all had their own evil intentions, and they just wanted to get more out of the "Last Supper" before the empire's collapse, and take advantage of the Eastern Roman Empire again.

As for money, it's even less important. From a tax point of view, customs duties can hardly collect much, because Italian businessmen engaged in import and export enjoy the privilege of tax exemption or tax reduction. The land tax is not paid by the noble landowners, churches and monasteries. Although the yeoman farmers must pay, their number is not large. If the tax is too heavy, they would rather hand over the land to the noble landowners for protection, but they can no longer pay it. Suffering from paying taxes. However, the central government's financial expenditures are increasing, because it costs money to fight the Ottoman Turks, the Serbs, and the rebels who oppose the central government. Emperors had to worry about raising revenue for the treasury. John V had to pawn the emperor's jewels and even sold some of his territory cheaply.

Manuel also understood that he had nothing to reward, but he couldn't let people come in vain. The only thing he can use is to give others the title of Duke.

Duke, also called an absolute monarch, is also translated as a tyrant. Manuel I first used this title to consecrate King Béla III of Hungary (whose Greek name was Alexios and who lived in Constantinople as a hostage and Betrothed to the daughter of Manuel I, he gained the original exclusive title of emperor, and was once confirmed as the heir to the throne. However, in 1169, when Manuel I's only son was born, Bella's engagement was canceled and she was demoted. as Caesar) to demonstrate his suzerainty (Bela III had not yet succeeded to the throne, but the principalities under his rule, Dalmatia, Bosnia and Slavonia, were incorporated into Byzantium). After that, the title became an honorary title for the monarchs of "absolute principalities" with the right to inherit the throne, such as the monarchs of the Morea Despot that ruled the Peloponnese Peninsula.

Mircea treated the envoy with the highest courtesy, but kept silent about the rescue of the Eastern Roman Empire. Only some gifts were sent to Basilius, and the title of Duke was given to Mircea.

For Mircea, being able to get Roma is definitely the biggest reward. Although he could also get the archbishop to crown him king, it was not as good as the Roman emperor recognizing him. And this is still the Duke, not a lower level Caesar. This shows that Wallachia is an independent country, not a vassal.

At the same time, Manuel also proposed another thing: marriage.

Although Manuel had no children, his younger brother. Theodore, the Despot of Morea, has a niece who is 12 years old this year.

"Your Majesty has a niece who is similar in age to the Grand Duke's eldest son. If the two families can get married, it will be a blessing for both countries."

Mircea did not refuse, but neither did he agree. It just needs to be considered. After all, she is a niece, not a daughter, so the right to claim is weak.

However, the Despot of Morea had no sons. After his death, Morea came under the rule of Wallachia. This is the only thing that has actual value.

After receiving the title of Duke, Mircea had the crown and robes prepared and would be crowned king at a specific time. And now, it's not a specific time.

Mircea adopted a moderate policy toward Poland and Lithuania, trying to make friends with them, and engaged in a cold war with Hungary and the Ottomans, who maintained a fragile peace. After all, Wallachia has territorial claims to both countries.

----Dividing line----

At this time, envoys from Western Europe had arrived in Bursa. Within the same month, France reached a consensus with the Ottoman court on the ransom issue. France needed to pay 200,000 florins in gold coins. And those nobles who were about to be freed realized that there were not enough funds to support their usual luxury. So he prepared to borrow money to support the business.

There will be no Crusades in Western Europe for a long time, at least with so many countries participating. They must recuperate, especially Britain and France. They joined the Crusades while still suffering from the trauma of the Hundred Years War, and the losses can be imagined.