A year has passed since Naples has been taken. In that time, the Papal states have been busy. Constant drilling, calls for Crusade and emergency evacuation plans have been set up. Militarization has gripped the province, with the Papal legion swelling immensely in number, as both the faithful and the fearful join in order to protect their home and church from the infidel. Countless calls for Crusade are given out, and many an indulgence are rewarded to those who would defend God’s land. But these are less than expected, the Western Schism ensures that.
South of the border, Naples is undergoing great changes. Turkish and Rumelian settlers are sent in, and vast fortifications are being built. The conquest of Naples has been more costly than it should have been, and the Kayser is in no mood to lose his new possessions. His soldiers, as a reward for their service, are also encouraged to settle this new land, providing southern Italy with a well trained militia in the case of any northern incursions. At the same time, the Sultan makes sure to treat his new subjects with respect, and he is rewarded with only a minor revolt that is easily crushed. The serfs in particular are taking a liking to their new Ottoman overlords, as they signal the end of feudalism and being tied to the lands of their forefathers. This, combined with the new immigrants from the east, allows cities to quickly regain their old glory, and in many cases, surpass it.
In Bari, the regions ports receive substantial investments and are drastically increased to make sure naval landings are not compromised, and resupply is quick and consistent. The lifeblood of Ottoman Italy is dependent on the logistics at hand, and this is reflected in the investment given to make sure of that. Similarly, in Anatolia and Rumelia, calls go out to the Muslims and Orthodox, really, anyone who has a grudge against the Catholics and the Papacy, to join the Armed forces and take up arms against the Italians. The fact that the Ottomans have managed to gain a foothold in Italy inspires confidence, and many a zealot, opportunist or just plain murder join the army. The upcoming invasion is framed as both a Jihad and a Crusade, as twin holy struggles against the betrayals of the past, from the Great Schism to the Crusades, and that both the Orthodox and the Muslim should take arms against. Now, while one might ponder about how exactly that would be internally consistent, propaganda has never cared about being rational.
Nonetheless, the calls do their job, and the army sees an increase in volunteers. In addition, previous troops in the armed forces are routinely drilled and disciplined, with their mettle tested in the small, harmless targets of the remaining beyliks in Anatolia: Dulkadir and Ramadan, and that rotting corpse of a state known as a the Mamluks. The Beyliks quick capitulation, along with deep, successful raids in Syria, prove that the recruits are ready. The Sublime Porte expects resistance to be immense; this is the capital of Christendom after all. But the prize, the prize is what keeps them going. For holding both great cities and reuniting the Roman Empire after nearly 1000 years of separation is simply too much to resist.
In 1432, it is time to strike. As expected, the main Ottomans attempted to swarm Lazio with lightning speed, aiming to overwhelm the defenses and capture the Holy City as soon as they were able to. At the same time, landings in the Pentapolis were conducted to capture and contain the Papal forces, in an attempt to both cut off communications and force the Papal legions to split their forces into more manageable units. Divita et Impera, as the old saying goes. Following this, the impressive Ottoman navy (and that of the co-opted Venetians) followed with an absolutely massive blockade on the territory. On all sides but north, the Papal states were surrounded, and to the north lay their rivals, who don’t care of the state of the Papal lands, hell some of them might even welcome their rival getting conquered if it means shifting the balance of power in their favor.
While the Ottomans may have the initial advantage, they are stunned and in some cases repelled by the highly devoted Papal forces, who are willing to bleed if it means pushing back the Turk. While the discipline is nothing to be particularly proud of, nor is the number of people in the army. It is instead the ferocity of the defenders, along with their excellent use of terrain and Scorched Earth tactics that momentarily gives pause to the advancing conquerors. These are men, women and in some cases children who are going all out in defense of their faith, home and family. After all, the cornered rat is the most dangerous. There is, however, a very large and well trained mercenary presence in the Papal legions, that does give become a serious nuisance.
And so the initial advance into Lazio is slowed to crawl, as the Italians absolutely refuse to go down without a fight. In the nearby duchies of Romagna and the Pentopolis, things are going somewhat better, although that isn’t saying much. Both regions take well over a year to subdue, and it is estimated that around 10% of the population had died during the campaigns against the Ottomans. But there are 3 things in favor of the Ottomans: Dicipline, equipment and artillery. Glorious, glorious artillery.
With these three tools at their disposal the soldiers of Suleyman are able to continue pushing towards, Rome, slowly yet surely, wearing out their opponent bit by bit. On the other side of the war, Pope Martin is in turmoil. His non stop calls for crusade have been largely ignored, his troops are being bled dry and he is increasingly running out of money for new troops. Countless indulgences do him no good when the faithful are seeing, even betting, on Rome to fall to the barbarians. When the Ottomans arrive at the gates of Rome in late November of 1432, Pope Martin attempts to pull off his evacuation plans, but is blocked off impeding Ottoman troops, who begin to lay siege to the city. The winter is harsh, but the Ottoman commander, Selim Pasha refused to lay off the siege, seeing that he shall never gain the chance to capture the Pope alive. And so the wait begins. Attrition, takes it toll on both sides, but the Ottomans have the advantage of regular reinforcements and supplies. Rome does not.
It is fitting perhaps, that on Christmas Day, the siege is broken. Rome’s walls falter, and the Ottoman troops storm the city, overwhelming it within days and sacking it for days. On New Years, 1433, all resistance is effectively ended, and Selim Pasha declares that Rome is once again reunited with the Roman Empire. The unthinkable had just occurred. The holy city of Rome had fallen. Bitter tears were wept, and a shock wave of outrage rippled through all of Chrisendom. But it didn’t matter now, for the Ottomans had won.