Mahmud I (1747: The Safavid Visit)
Osman Aga
Banned
After a while being out, I set a few things straight in my life. I'll keep the details for myself. I decided to return and continue my participation on Alternate History. In the mean time I started put an halt to all of the TL I was busy with and open a new account rather than the old one. I also decided to restart the old TL, revised as I wanted to be, and finish the TL before starting with other ones. Here it is... I hope my old followers enjoy it as much as they did before.
The death of the Persian Lion
The grim fate for all humans, the poor and rich, the most pious man and most powerful Shah: death. It happened to the most powerful rulers of Persia since Amir Timur: Nader Shah of the Afshar Tribe. The warlord of the Turkmen Afshar tribe was murdered by his own soldiers in Khorasan. Nader was betrayed by his own soldiers. Betrayal that brought him to power at the cost of the Safavids had now cost his own life. Persia had been divided among the warlords who served Nader Shah and his own household. All the hard work gone in merely months and divided, like vultures preying over an animal carcass.
This did not however, mean that everybody was unhappy. Soleiman II of the Safavid Dynasty fled in a momentum from Persia, and took his nephew Ismail with him. Soleiman hoped to convince Sultan Mahmud I to invade Persia and restore him as the true Shah of Persia. He barely escaped the cavalry regiment of the Zand Amirs of Shiraz, and reached Basra dressed as merchants from India. His distrust of the Baghdad Mamluks caused him to continue his hidden life until he reached Bursa with horses he bought from Basra. After three months, Soleiman Safavi had reached Bursa and asked for an appointment with Sultan Mahmud I. Rather than being brought to Istanbul, he was thrown into a dungeon and assumed that he were to be ransomed back to Shiraz. That was until Grand Vizier Ali Pasha came to Bursa himself to investigate the situation.
Ali Pasha: “Open the gates guards…”
Izet Aga: “Out you go Great Shah”
Soleiman Safavi: “Don’t touch me, I am the Shah of Persia. I am a descendant of Shah Ismail! Who do you think you are?”
Ali Pasha: “Leave us before I take your head, Izet Aga… I am sorry you had to experience our dungeons Soleiman Safavi. But all is over now”
Soleiman Safavi: “When I came to Bursa I expected to be treated as a friend instead of a thief instead. If I wanted to stay in a prison I would prefer to stay in Shiraz. And I would like to be treated as Shah of Persia…”
Ali Pasha: “Unfortunately, there is no Shah of Persia. There is no Persia to begin with. A Shah would not come here to meet the Sultan. But the future is open for many options, Soleiman. Maybe you will regain your throne”
Soleiman Safavi: “Is this how you treat me Ali Pasha? Should I have stayed in house arrest then?”
Ali Pasha: “I’m not here to discuss with you whether you are a Shah or not. You can tell Padisah Mahmud Khan whatever you want to tell him. I will join you in your travel to the Palace”
Soleiman Safavi: “All right then, I also brought my nephew Ismail with me.”
Topkapi Palace - 11 November 1747 - İstanbul, Thrace, Ottoman Empire
Mahmud Khan was looking West and observing the war between the Austrians and the French. The war broke out in the best moment and kept his Austrian Rivals away from the Balkans. When he got the word that Soleiman Safavi was in Bursa to meet him he lost his interest in the war and wondered what the Safavid Prince wanted from the Sultan. Ali Pasha was instructed to go to Bursa and bring him back safe and sound. The idea of a Safavid claimant on the Persian throne did increase Ottoman interest. Soleiman and Ismail were brought to Istanbul, as the former would have explained his cause to Mahmud Khan.
Soleiman Safavi: “The great Ghazi Mahmud Khan… I am honored to be in your palace.”
Mahmud Khan: “I am no Ghazi Soleiman. I never led the armies in war. That pride goes to Ali Pasha. But we are not here to discuss who is a Ghazi. You came all the way here. Why?”
Soleiman Safavi: “I, Soleiman, descendant of Abbas the Great and Shah Ismail, from the Safavid Dynasty have come to your great court and ask your assistance to regain my rightful throne in Persia. If you, great Mahmud Khan, help me in my struggle the Ottoman Dynasty will forever have friends in Persia.”
Mahmud Khan: “Friends forever, sounds lovely Ali Pasha… But Soleiman, there are many other claimants in Persia. If I were to tell you that a son of Nader Shah made the same offer, what would that mean to you?”
Soleiman Safavi: “Nader… Shah? I am sorry my Sultan but who do you mean? Mustafa Mirza? Did he make an offer?”
Mahmud Khan: “What would that mean to you Soleiman? Can you impress me?”
Soleiman Safavi: “My Sultan, I will make a better offer. I will become Sunni. I will return Persia back to the Sunni Community.”
Mahmud Khan: “My… that is impressive. I will think about your offer Soleiman. But you will hear it soon… I would like to be alone now… not you Ali Pasha, you stay.”
Ali Pasha: “My Sultan, will he find out we captured Ali Mirza Khan and Mustafa Mirza here? Their capture brought us their offer.”
Mahmud Khan: “I don’t trust Ali Mirza Khan. If he had any friendship in him he would not try to hide in my capital to flee to the West. No, Soleimans arrival has turned the odds in Persia in our favor. I have no trust in Soleiman either, but his nephew… He is our secret weapon in Persia… Make sure they both become Sunni. I want to ensure their loyalty.”
Ali Pasha: “Will we not risk the Persians turning against him then my Sultan?”
Mahmud Khan: “I don’t know Pasha. But they won’t have a better alternative.”
Europe in 1748: after the war of Austrian Succession
Europe had come out of an eight year war. Maria Theresia won her struggle to gain her father’s throne from aggressors. However, she could not prevent the losses of certain areas. Silesia for example, was gone to Prussia. Maria Theresia never accepted the loss and hoped for a second round. Frederick II was no fool either. His desire to keep the Austrians under pressure resulted in a diplomatic mission to Istanbul. Frederick II offered a defensive alliance between the Ottoman Empire and Austria should any of the nations be attacked by Austria. Mahmud was distrustful of the Christian leaders yet he respected Frederick II. He pointed out that he could not offer much help should the war break out any time within the next seven years. Afterwards, he would agree to help. Frederick II diplomatic mission could not get a guarantee of Ottoman aid should the Empress declare war before 1755 and thus awaited the situation. The Prussians were curious why the Ottomans could not participate in a theoretical war as the Ottoman Government has no Army reforms going on to say the Army needs an update. It had later come to the ears of the Prussian ambassadors that the Ottomans were preparing for a Persian Campaign and had mobilized the Janissaries already. The ambassador had written to Berlin that the Janissaries offer no real offensive advantages as they seem to lack discipline which the Prussian militaries had. Defensively they would be good to go but it would not help Prussia without the Ottoman Armies in Austrian land. Prussia looked elsewhere where they could get allies. Savoy was another option. Charles Emmanuel III was ambitious. He desired Parma and Austrian Lombardy. His desire for Corsica was thwarted by France who pressures the Savoyards from expanding there. The Prussians were willing to help the Savoyards to gain the Austrian land in Italy but could not help with the Bourbon lands. Spain was yet another target as potential Prussian Ally. Spain seemed close as Prussia was already friendly with the French. They would be desired in Italy to divide the Austrian attention
The Austrians did not remain silent. Maria Theresia had Russia backing her. Saxony also showed interest in turning against Prussia. The Netherlands had only a little interest in war against France after the chaos of the war of 1740-1748. Willem IV was already leaning to Prussia in an attempt to save the army. Austria however, looked West for Spain. Spain, a Bourbon led state, was controversial. Spain had nothing to gain from Prussia and only a little to desire from France. It had much more hostility to Austria.
The death of the Persian Lion
The grim fate for all humans, the poor and rich, the most pious man and most powerful Shah: death. It happened to the most powerful rulers of Persia since Amir Timur: Nader Shah of the Afshar Tribe. The warlord of the Turkmen Afshar tribe was murdered by his own soldiers in Khorasan. Nader was betrayed by his own soldiers. Betrayal that brought him to power at the cost of the Safavids had now cost his own life. Persia had been divided among the warlords who served Nader Shah and his own household. All the hard work gone in merely months and divided, like vultures preying over an animal carcass.
This did not however, mean that everybody was unhappy. Soleiman II of the Safavid Dynasty fled in a momentum from Persia, and took his nephew Ismail with him. Soleiman hoped to convince Sultan Mahmud I to invade Persia and restore him as the true Shah of Persia. He barely escaped the cavalry regiment of the Zand Amirs of Shiraz, and reached Basra dressed as merchants from India. His distrust of the Baghdad Mamluks caused him to continue his hidden life until he reached Bursa with horses he bought from Basra. After three months, Soleiman Safavi had reached Bursa and asked for an appointment with Sultan Mahmud I. Rather than being brought to Istanbul, he was thrown into a dungeon and assumed that he were to be ransomed back to Shiraz. That was until Grand Vizier Ali Pasha came to Bursa himself to investigate the situation.
Ali Pasha: “Open the gates guards…”
Izet Aga: “Out you go Great Shah”
Soleiman Safavi: “Don’t touch me, I am the Shah of Persia. I am a descendant of Shah Ismail! Who do you think you are?”
Ali Pasha: “Leave us before I take your head, Izet Aga… I am sorry you had to experience our dungeons Soleiman Safavi. But all is over now”
Soleiman Safavi: “When I came to Bursa I expected to be treated as a friend instead of a thief instead. If I wanted to stay in a prison I would prefer to stay in Shiraz. And I would like to be treated as Shah of Persia…”
Ali Pasha: “Unfortunately, there is no Shah of Persia. There is no Persia to begin with. A Shah would not come here to meet the Sultan. But the future is open for many options, Soleiman. Maybe you will regain your throne”
Soleiman Safavi: “Is this how you treat me Ali Pasha? Should I have stayed in house arrest then?”
Ali Pasha: “I’m not here to discuss with you whether you are a Shah or not. You can tell Padisah Mahmud Khan whatever you want to tell him. I will join you in your travel to the Palace”
Soleiman Safavi: “All right then, I also brought my nephew Ismail with me.”
Topkapi Palace - 11 November 1747 - İstanbul, Thrace, Ottoman Empire
Mahmud Khan was looking West and observing the war between the Austrians and the French. The war broke out in the best moment and kept his Austrian Rivals away from the Balkans. When he got the word that Soleiman Safavi was in Bursa to meet him he lost his interest in the war and wondered what the Safavid Prince wanted from the Sultan. Ali Pasha was instructed to go to Bursa and bring him back safe and sound. The idea of a Safavid claimant on the Persian throne did increase Ottoman interest. Soleiman and Ismail were brought to Istanbul, as the former would have explained his cause to Mahmud Khan.
Soleiman Safavi: “The great Ghazi Mahmud Khan… I am honored to be in your palace.”
Mahmud Khan: “I am no Ghazi Soleiman. I never led the armies in war. That pride goes to Ali Pasha. But we are not here to discuss who is a Ghazi. You came all the way here. Why?”
Soleiman Safavi: “I, Soleiman, descendant of Abbas the Great and Shah Ismail, from the Safavid Dynasty have come to your great court and ask your assistance to regain my rightful throne in Persia. If you, great Mahmud Khan, help me in my struggle the Ottoman Dynasty will forever have friends in Persia.”
Mahmud Khan: “Friends forever, sounds lovely Ali Pasha… But Soleiman, there are many other claimants in Persia. If I were to tell you that a son of Nader Shah made the same offer, what would that mean to you?”
Soleiman Safavi: “Nader… Shah? I am sorry my Sultan but who do you mean? Mustafa Mirza? Did he make an offer?”
Mahmud Khan: “What would that mean to you Soleiman? Can you impress me?”
Soleiman Safavi: “My Sultan, I will make a better offer. I will become Sunni. I will return Persia back to the Sunni Community.”
Mahmud Khan: “My… that is impressive. I will think about your offer Soleiman. But you will hear it soon… I would like to be alone now… not you Ali Pasha, you stay.”
Ali Pasha: “My Sultan, will he find out we captured Ali Mirza Khan and Mustafa Mirza here? Their capture brought us their offer.”
Mahmud Khan: “I don’t trust Ali Mirza Khan. If he had any friendship in him he would not try to hide in my capital to flee to the West. No, Soleimans arrival has turned the odds in Persia in our favor. I have no trust in Soleiman either, but his nephew… He is our secret weapon in Persia… Make sure they both become Sunni. I want to ensure their loyalty.”
Ali Pasha: “Will we not risk the Persians turning against him then my Sultan?”
Mahmud Khan: “I don’t know Pasha. But they won’t have a better alternative.”
Europe in 1748: after the war of Austrian Succession
Europe had come out of an eight year war. Maria Theresia won her struggle to gain her father’s throne from aggressors. However, she could not prevent the losses of certain areas. Silesia for example, was gone to Prussia. Maria Theresia never accepted the loss and hoped for a second round. Frederick II was no fool either. His desire to keep the Austrians under pressure resulted in a diplomatic mission to Istanbul. Frederick II offered a defensive alliance between the Ottoman Empire and Austria should any of the nations be attacked by Austria. Mahmud was distrustful of the Christian leaders yet he respected Frederick II. He pointed out that he could not offer much help should the war break out any time within the next seven years. Afterwards, he would agree to help. Frederick II diplomatic mission could not get a guarantee of Ottoman aid should the Empress declare war before 1755 and thus awaited the situation. The Prussians were curious why the Ottomans could not participate in a theoretical war as the Ottoman Government has no Army reforms going on to say the Army needs an update. It had later come to the ears of the Prussian ambassadors that the Ottomans were preparing for a Persian Campaign and had mobilized the Janissaries already. The ambassador had written to Berlin that the Janissaries offer no real offensive advantages as they seem to lack discipline which the Prussian militaries had. Defensively they would be good to go but it would not help Prussia without the Ottoman Armies in Austrian land. Prussia looked elsewhere where they could get allies. Savoy was another option. Charles Emmanuel III was ambitious. He desired Parma and Austrian Lombardy. His desire for Corsica was thwarted by France who pressures the Savoyards from expanding there. The Prussians were willing to help the Savoyards to gain the Austrian land in Italy but could not help with the Bourbon lands. Spain was yet another target as potential Prussian Ally. Spain seemed close as Prussia was already friendly with the French. They would be desired in Italy to divide the Austrian attention
The Austrians did not remain silent. Maria Theresia had Russia backing her. Saxony also showed interest in turning against Prussia. The Netherlands had only a little interest in war against France after the chaos of the war of 1740-1748. Willem IV was already leaning to Prussia in an attempt to save the army. Austria however, looked West for Spain. Spain, a Bourbon led state, was controversial. Spain had nothing to gain from Prussia and only a little to desire from France. It had much more hostility to Austria.