We discussed this. At first do what Ottomans did and give a lot of temporal/judicial powers to the Archbishop, when doing what (Protestant) Brits did when they ruled the Cyprus. Then think of Union of Florence/Union of Brest and how those worked out.
Apollinis et Dianae: A Story of Power, Magnificence and Glory
- Thread starter Emperor Constantine
- Start date
We discussed this. At first do what Ottomans did and give a lot of temporal/judicial powers to the Archbishop, when doing what (Protestant) Brits did when they ruled the Cyprus. Then think of Union of Florence/Union of Brest and how those worked out.
But would the Archbishop (and that of the autocephalous Church of Cyprus) really go to surrender his authority to the see of Rome after being relatively independent for so long? (since 431)
Before 1710ies the King won't really mess with the Church - he's a first generation convertee to Catholicism (and not voluntary one), majority of his relatives are Protestants and he's indifferent to religion. He'll leave the Archbishop with the same powers he had under Turks, maybe even more.
And in 1710ies-1720ies some big events will happen, which will change the face of Catholicism forever.
One is for sure - House de La Tremoille, Protestants until current generation, is much better option for Cypriots than ultra-Catholic SavoyardsOoh mysteriously vaguesounds exciting!
An index of chapters for further reference:
Prologue
Chapter I
Chapter II
Chapter III
Chapter IV
Chapter V
Chapter VI
Chapter VII
Chapter VIII
Chapter IX
Chapter X
Chapter XI
Chapter XII
Chapter XIII
Chapter XIV
Chapter XV
Chapter XVI
Chapter XVII
Chapter XVIII
Chapter XIX
Chapter XX
Chapter XXI
Chapter XXII
Chapter XXIII
Chapter XXIV
Chapter XXV
Chapter XXVI
Chapter XXVII
Chapter XXVIII
Chapter XXIX
Chapter XXX
It turned out that since the TL became truly co-authored we screwed up the numbering and missed the Chapter XXVII for some reason.
I have some ideas about what to do with this if we ever come around posting the Gold Masters version of this. One of the ideas is to make a "state-of-the-world" chapter describing some stuff that was briefly touched but left off-panel (Italian states, German states, Portugal, American colonies of 1680ies). If it speeds up the things I can write the "bare bones" for some of this and send it to Constantine to improve on (I already have some of those on Tuscany, Modena, Portugal and Brandenburg among others).
Another is simply renumber all the chapters past XVI.
Prologue
Chapter I
Chapter II
Chapter III
Chapter IV
Chapter V
Chapter VI
Chapter VII
Chapter VIII
Chapter IX
Chapter X
Chapter XI
Chapter XII
Chapter XIII
Chapter XIV
Chapter XV
Chapter XVI
Chapter XVII
Chapter XVIII
Chapter XIX
Chapter XX
Chapter XXI
Chapter XXII
Chapter XXIII
Chapter XXIV
Chapter XXV
Chapter XXVI
Chapter XXVII
Chapter XXVIII
Chapter XXIX
Chapter XXX
It turned out that since the TL became truly co-authored we screwed up the numbering and missed the Chapter XXVII for some reason.
I have some ideas about what to do with this if we ever come around posting the Gold Masters version of this. One of the ideas is to make a "state-of-the-world" chapter describing some stuff that was briefly touched but left off-panel (Italian states, German states, Portugal, American colonies of 1680ies). If it speeds up the things I can write the "bare bones" for some of this and send it to Constantine to improve on (I already have some of those on Tuscany, Modena, Portugal and Brandenburg among others).
Another is simply renumber all the chapters past XVI.
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A barebones sounds nice, but only if it's not too much trouble.
That said, considering this IS 1690, the new elector of Brandenburg has one (possibly) widowed half-sister, a widowed full brother, an unmarried half-sister, and a throng of half-brothers, it'll be interesting to see how he deals with them. Especially since Dorothea was basically the epitome of the wicked stepmom, which was why Friedrich I retired into the country after both his OTL marriages (there were rumors that Dorothea would try poison him etc). Also, considering how little the new elector likes his half-siblings, I wonder if he'll even marry them off at all, or fob them off to persons well below their station (like the de la Trémoïlles, the Romanovs, other "new" money royal families)? Though he was reportedly very close to his full brother, if only cause he felt sorry for him. So I could see him (perhaps) arranging another marriage (if necessary) for Fritz with some minor princess.
That said, considering this IS 1690, the new elector of Brandenburg has one (possibly) widowed half-sister, a widowed full brother, an unmarried half-sister, and a throng of half-brothers, it'll be interesting to see how he deals with them. Especially since Dorothea was basically the epitome of the wicked stepmom, which was why Friedrich I retired into the country after both his OTL marriages (there were rumors that Dorothea would try poison him etc). Also, considering how little the new elector likes his half-siblings, I wonder if he'll even marry them off at all, or fob them off to persons well below their station (like the de la Trémoïlles, the Romanovs, other "new" money royal families)? Though he was reportedly very close to his full brother, if only cause he felt sorry for him. So I could see him (perhaps) arranging another marriage (if necessary) for Fritz with some minor princess.
One goes to Romanovs (though who it is still a secret, and there was divergence from what was planned in the winter when this plot point was discussed), majority will marry different princelings (de la Tremoilles are off the game - King's brother and his younger sister look to French court for spouses, and elder sister sojourns at Danish court, though she (more likely her offspring) will play important role in the future). Second marriage of Marie-Amalie is as OTL, Fritz's first wife is still alive as of 1690 (though sickly and may die soon), they have one more daughter and currently keep "viceroy" court at Konigsberg (and as for now, basically rule the Electorate, as Karl went to Crusade abroad a bit). But rest assured, the siblings get enough of shitty treatment from Karl&Fritz.
And the barebones are wrtten, though it may conflict with "state of the world" one planned as XXXV under current numbering, so we'll likely go with simple renumbering for master versions.
Oh yeah. And two chapters are on "editor table" now -my Eastern one (soon to be posted) and the "bare bones" pieceSo this is back on eh?
This could get interesting, though I'm pretty sure that Princess [insert name here] is gonna feel she got a raw deal in having to go to Moscow, what with her OTL hubby/ies unavailable.
Although, differences and sibling rivalries aside, why were the half-sisters so "poorly" married (as in ending up as wife no. n to their OTL husbands)? Was it simply the elector not liking them (understandable but Brandenburg's got Salic Law so not sure what that has to do with it) or were Protestant princes just not thick on the ground that season?
I think that "poor harvest" was the reason
And after all, there are only two half-sisters to marry off. Half-brothers is where it gets interesting.If it rings any bells, TTL some representative of the Brandenburg family will follow in OTL example of Hessen-Homburg family...with the same or better results.
Chapter XXXI: Time of Peace, Time of War
Chapter XXXI: Time of Peace, Time of War
The winter between the 1688 and 89 campaigns was not spent idle in Moscow, as Feodor III finally came to reviewing the reports from Iakov Dolgorukov and Pyotr Potemkin, ambassadors in the Holy Roman Empire and Britain respectively, as well as several other Russian envoys, regarding possible brides for Tsarevich Peter. Alas, the Russian Royals are regarded by many as one step up from the Muslims, especially considering that “Asiatic” treatment of women only ended only with Agafia Grushetskaya, the first Romanov Tsarina to openly appear in public without fear of “hex” or “sinful behavior” and to introduce Polish dresses at court. As such, the list consisted of many “unwanted nieces” and even several bastards – those being offered by Kings of Denmark and Britain.
The British candidates included one legitimate Princess – Sophia of Cumberland, youngest child of the famous Prince Rupert, who was reportedly thought worthy to be “sacrificed” to the "barbaric" Russian court to return the British Muscovy Company to the glory days it had during the reign of late Rurikids and Godunovs, and two illegitimate daughters of Charles II, Barbara Fitzroy and Mary Tudor. Unfortunately for the Russians, in November 1688 Barbara married Edward Radclyffe, Viscount Radclyffe, whose father was created Earl of Derwentwater, thus ending her candidacy for Peter's bride. This marriage was among the last honors showered by Charles II on his illegitimate offspring – the same month Barbara’s half-sibling, Lord Charles FitzRoy, was created Duke of Albemarle, as Christopher Monck, the 2nd Duke and the only son of the famous General and Admiral died childless in October 1688. So Mary, as the daughter of a minor mistress, remained single, although the idea of her marriage to the Russian Tsarevich was thought promising some circles, especially by Ambassador Potemkin. The Ambassador remained in close contact with Mary’s mother, Moll Davis, going so far as paying some of her gambling debts out of his personal funds and presenting the her with a fur coat straight from his homeland and using Davis to discourage Mary from the match with Radclyffe.The Ambassador seems to believe that the advantages of an illegitimate Tsarina would be twofold: with such a step up in status Mary would likely be very grateful to him, while in regards to religion it would be easier for her to convert to Russian Orthodoxy than the highly devote Catholic Barbara. Of course, the British Court isn't the only place with a serious candidate for the Russians to consider, there remains several others, chief among them Denmark.
The Danish court has long been the wet dream of Russian matrimonial unions in Europe. However, like their British counterparts, the Danes are also unwilling to offer legitimate princesses. King Christian V offers two illegitimate daughters - Christiane Gyldenløve, aged 16, and Anna Christiane Gyldenløve, aged 13. Queen Charlotte Amalie had considered offering her first cousin Charlotte-Amelie de La Tremoille, sister of the newly crowned Hugh V of Cyprus and widow of Count Anton of Oldenburg, but the 37-old Princess balked at the idea of going to Russia and marrying a young man 20 years her junior. Instead Charlotte-Amelie accepted the offer of her cousin to stay at the Danish court, and later marrying Prince Jorgen of Denmark, thus becoming the sister-in-law to Christian V and creating the first new dynastic link between the La Tremoilles and the other ruling Houses of Europe.
Soon the la Tremoilles create another dynastic link, this time with the French Royal House when Princess Marie-Sylvie of Cyprus another sister of Hugh V, marries Louis-Joseph de Bourbon, Duc de Vendome. While the Duc, a formidable general who has already distinguished himself alongside his younger brother in African campaign, is a member of an illegitimate branch of the House of Bourbon, the marriage was prestigious for both parties: it allows Marie-Sylvie to remain in Versailles instead of leaving for her brother's war ravaged Kingdom, and brings Vendome the wealthy Duchy of Poix-en-Picardie via his new bride's dowry. Originally belonging to sister-in-law, Madeleine de Crequy, Poix-en-Picardie passed to Marie-Sylvie once the former became Queen of Cyprus, to keep such properties in the family. However, both de La Tremoile sisters will son rejoin their brother in Cyprus, traveling to the edge of Christendom with their husbands for the upcoming Levantine campaign.
Meanwhile, the Dutch begin to push their own candidate for the Russian Tsarevich. As William III's daughters are already betrothed, Elisabeth of Orange-Nassau to Frederick-Maurice of Cumberland, Earl of Holderness, and Amelia of Orange-Nassau to her second cousin Hereditary Prince Friedrich of Hesse-Kassel, he decided to offer one of his cousins. By this time the oldest, Countess Amalia of Nassau-Dietz, a rejected bride of the Duke of York with the reputation of being the “great spinster of Europe” at the age of 34, has finally found her matrimonial happiness with her January 1689 marriage to Count Palatine Adolf Johann II of Kleeburg, first cousin of King Karl XI of Sweden and a hero of the Moldavian war. The marriage allowed the Dutch to strengthen their already formidable economic positions on the Swedish market, becoming the European leading dealer of Swedish iron and naval goods. On the flip side the Countess's dowry helped to improve the financial situation of the young Count Palatine and, as part of marriage contract William III agreed to send 10,000 troops to reinforce the Protestant Holy League troops in Moldavia. Sadly for the new Countess Palatine, in March her husband departs for the Polish-Moldavian border, leaving her behind in Warsaw (where he and his brother resided with the Polish court for the time being) pregnant after their brief honeymoon.Therefore the Russians were offered 14-years old Henriette Agnes of Anhalt-Dessau. Aside from a sizable dowry and economic ties with the Dutch, the marriage offers a chance to create further links with the House of Sobieski, as the elder sister of Henriette Agnes, Marie Eleonore of Anhalt-Dessau, has recently married Prince Jerzy Radziwill, Duke of Olyka and nephew to Jan III (son of King’s sister Katarzhyna Sobieska from her second marriage to Michal Kazimierz Radziwill).
Meanwhile, the Swedish candidates are quickly disregarded, as Karl XI has made it abundantly clear that he won’t part with even one inch of Ingria as a dowry for any Swedish princess (possible candidates included the Countesses of Kleeburg, sisters to Adolf-Johann II and Gustav-Leopold), a key demand of the Russians. Moreover, Maria-Elisabeth and Catherine of Stegeborg no longer shut-ins at Stegeborg Castle, but daughters and sisters of the war heroes, have gained a much high status on the European marriage market. Shortly after the Russian rejection and their brother's wedding, the sisters enter into holy matrimony with Catherine marrying Duke Johan Wilhelm III of Saxe-Eisenach and Maria-Elisabeth marrying Ferdinand Kettler of Courland, brother of Duke Frederick Casimir of Courland and a wartime comrade of her brother (Ferdinand was a lieutenant-general in the Polish army and fought with distinction in Moldavia). While the match was lesser than what Maria-Elisabeth hoped for, it was arranged by her father as act of gratitude towards the Couronian Prince, who saved his son and heir's life during one of the League's Moldavian skirmishes. Plus, the idea of building ties with a Duchy that sits on the crossroads of three nations- Sweden, Russia and Poland, can never be considered a bad thing in the long run.
With Sweden firmly rejected, the Russians next investigate an offer from the Electorate of Brandenburg. Its new Elector, Karl-Emil (having inherited the title of Elector after the death of his great father the previous year), is offering the hand of his half-sister Margravine Elisabeth-Sophie. However, its unknown as to whether this is a genuine offer from a man in search of allies against his brother-in-law the Emperor regarding payment of his wife's dowry, or just a threat of to his hated stepmother. As Karl-Emil seems to genuinely believe that, given a chance the Dowager Electress would gladly kill him, his sons and full brother Margrave Friedrich make way for her progeny, the new Elector might see a marriage to backwater Russia as a good way to humiliate his step-mother and half-siblings.
The last court Russia turns to is that of Courland, whom Moscow recently established diplomatic ties. Unfortunately, the Duchy has no princess of marriageable age to offer, the closest candidate being the Duke's niece, 16-year-old Charlotte Dorothea-Sophia of Hesse-Homburg. While this match regarded as bellow those offered by the Great powers, the Tsar is interested the Duke's daughters, Amalia-Luise and Christina-Sophia as possible brides for his son, Tsesarevich Simeon Feodorovich. By April the master list of brides for Tsarevich Peter has been widdled down to 6 major candidates and two minor ones, Charlotte of Hesse-Homburg and Louise of Mecklenburg-Gustrow. In the end the final word was left to Peter, though the Tsar considered "killing two birds with one stone" by sending his brother to Europe to gain support for the Russian case among the Great naval powers, deemed necessary for the Crimean campaigns and personally investigating his potential brides. But for the time being, more pressing matters acquire his presence in Russia.
Over the winter of 1688-89 the military council had debated in Moscow the future of the Crimean conquest or “what to do with it once the Turkish assault is repealed”. In short, the generals of Russia were of single opinion - a successful conquest of Crimea requires a much stronger standing army that the Russians could afford without placing a permanent drain on Russian budget, halting any and all reforms the Tsar had planned for the country. Not to mention the inevitable genocidal acts against natives, against the humanistic nature of the Tsar – he was not above ordering the execution of men, but the idea of massacres of innocent women and children is intolerable to him.However,the Spanish success in Morocco gave the Tsar an idea. Through his former brother-in-law Prince Vasily of Siberia, Feodor III opened negotiations with his prisoner, Azamat-Giray, the former Nurredin of Crimean Khanate. The offer is simple: as a former prisoner, Azamat has little chance of becoming Khan, even if he will be exchanged back to Crimea. However, in the event of a Russian conquest of the Crimea, Azamat can be installed on the throne of Bakhchysarai, ruling the Muslim subjects of the Khanate as a Russian vassal, with the lands of the former Crimean Gothia being ruled by Christian viceroy. Vasily of Siberia even sweetens the deal, offering his only daughter Anna (though only 6 years old by now) as a wife for Azamat.
Since Vasily is the head of the foremost Genghisid family in Russia, descending from Genghis-Khan in the direct male line, and his rank among the foreign princes at court is second only to the Royal House of Imeriti, equaling those of Princes of the Qasim Khanate (altogether the three families who enjoy the title “Tsarevich” and not Prince for their males), the match would ba a major coup. However, only time will show whether the Tsar’s offer will bear any fruits.Meanwhile, the rightful heir to the throne of Crimean Gothia, Fyodor Golovin, is busy in China. Under the command of the formidable Pyotr Vasilievich Sheremetev, later known as “Grand Sheremetev” to distinguish him from his son, the Russians managed the near impossible task of creating a positional stalemate with the Manchu – though it helped that the Chinese had to consider the issue of the Mongolians, thus the war with “northern Barbarians” was second on the list of priorities. By this point both Sheremetev and the Chinese commander Langtang are pressed to sign a peace treaty by their respective governments. Golovin, while representing the Tsar, is forced to play second fiddle to Sheremetev in negotiations.
Months before, the embassy of Queen Sophia of Poland arrives in China, establishing contacts with the Jesuits at Emperor Kangxi's court . As the original addressee of the message, Ferdinand Verbiest (a German Jesuit and teacher of the Emperor) was already dead by the time the embassy arrived, the gifts were instead presented to Antoine Thomas and Thomas Pereira, two Jesuits who presided over the Beijing Imperial Observatory. Alongside the furs and gold the gifts from the Polish Queen, meant to impress late great mathematician, included the newly published catalogue of constellations and several new books by Johannes Hevelius, a celebrated Polish astronomer. Hevelius' mathematical models were of particular interest to the Chinese as he studied comets, an important element in Chinese astronomical science and it is felt that European ideas on the matter could enrich the scientific community. The token of good will did not come unnoticed, for when Thomas Pereira was assigned to negotiate a peace with the Russians, he promised to do his best to make the treaty conditions as lenient as possible for the great lady's homeland.
Indeed, Sheremetev could consider himself a victor, as only one of the Russian forts (Argun Fort) was to be destroyed and abandoned under the terms of the Treaty of Nerchinsk. The Chinese had all but agreed to a status quo ante bellum, with Russia owning the left bank of the Argun and Amur rivers, the eastern borders being fromed by the Bureya and Amgun rivers (Komarsky Fort becoming the easternmost Russian settlement on Amur). A geographical quirk in regards to Manchu knowledge of the actual position of Amgun's estuary ended up giving the gave the Russians access this unexplored region. However, such exploration is made difficult as the treaty banned Russia from maintaining any river fleet on Amur and exploring any territories beyond the zone assigned to them.Russia also pledged to refuse to send any aid to the Dzungar Khans of Mongolia, so any embassies to the Siberian viceroys received polite but firm Nos. Finally, the treaty created an embargo on Russian trade with China, with strict limits on the fur trade – designed to prevent competition with the Daurian sables from Eastern Dauria and other Amur territories controlled by China.
But all in all Sheremetev was not upset. First, the Russians retained access to the newly discovered gold mines, all but assured that a different set of people other than fur trappers will come to Dauria. And indeed, many gold mining adventurers start to arrive to Dauria in early 1690s, making it the first Russian “gold fever”. The most prominent among those adventurers is the Menshikov family. Danila Menshikov was of low gentry descent, and had ran a bakery in Moscow. However this former baker soon applied his skills with a sieve to gold mining, to the point that by 1705 his son Aleksand Menshikov, who inherited his father’s enterprise, was one of the richest people in Russia. He went on to scandalously “buy" himself the princely dignity by marriage to Anastasia Ivanovna Pozharskaya, the heiress to the celebrated Pozharsky princely family, with the right to style himself “Prince Menshikov-Pozharsky”.
Second, the war with the Dzungars opened new commercial opportunities to Russia, meaning that for a time being Russia is the only intermediate for Chinese trade with Persia, and Sheremetev, as Viceroy of Siberia, made his best to ensure that Chinese market will be supplied with decent quantity of Persian corals – a prized trade item for Chinese.The Signing of the treaty was concluded with exchange of gifts from Sovereigns. Feodor III, Tsar of All Russia, send to his Chinese counterpart five rhodonite vases, designed by craftsmen in Moscow, and twelve sable fur and velvet coats decorated differently, one for each month of the calendar year (under the advice of Nicolae Spătaru, newly assigned tutor to Royal children and former ambassador to China, the coats had elaborate embroidery with pearls and gold, depicting the animals considered the symbols of Chinese calendar). Emperor Kangxi sent the Russian Tsar ten precious nephrite wall panels, which will later form part of the interior of the Chinese Dining Hall at Izmailovo Palace, and a richly decorated bed made of precious sorts of wood. Finally, the treaty marked the recognition of the Russian Tsars as the rightful heirs to the Byzantine Empire.
For Feodor III, the first Russian sovereign crowned under Byzantine coronation protocols (protocols recieved by his father from Patriarch Parthenius IV of Constantinople in 1666) this means that his ambassadors no longer have to kow-tow before the Chinese Emperor all the way after entering the throne room, but instead fall to their knees three feet from the throne.For the Tsar such a recognition is nearly as important as the confirmation of his possession of Western Dauria.
Chinese Dining Room at Izmailovo Palace
Another important victory was won on the domestic front, where Feodor III finally made peace with the Muslim gentry of Volga, cemented by the marriage of his sister Tsarevna Maria Alexeyevna (considered the most beautiful of Russian princesses of her generation) to Tsarevich Ivan Vasilieich of Qasim on February 16, 1689. The marriage of a Russian Tsarevna and a Qasim Khan had been one of conditions the Qasim Khans recieved on converting to Christianity, but was not honored, leading to Ivan of Qasim all but openly supporting the rebels in the former Kazan Khanate. While the policy of not allowing Muslims to own Christian serfs continued, it is now seen as less hypocritical, thanks to the Tsar finally honoring his part of the agreement. While Maria Alexeyevna , unlike her sister Catherina,is marrying not for love but to keep peace in the Volga, the marriage is convenient enough for both parties to accept one another without a fuss.
The new titular Quasim Khanbika did not reject her fashionista ways even as a married woman, soon effortlessly combining old traditions with new, European tastes. Maria Alexeyevna removed the long unwieldy sleeves made from heavy fabrics, such as velvet, made to keep hands in position symbolizing women's submission and wore dresses with “flowing” sleeves from light fabrics. “Polish” style of dresses with the waist and breast highlighted but not shown properly, maintaining conservative etiquette requirements, completed the new fashion style,transitioning one from old Boyar habits to more European fashions, while maintaining a distinctly Eastern feel. The Khanbiika also transforms headgear from a symbol of submission into a vehicle to display wealth, some having so many jewels and gold in them that they “shone like the Sun”. Soon the Tsar’s sister was the new standard-bearer of progressive court fashions, succeeding her late sister-in-law Tsarina Agafia Grushetskaya,with her tastes copied by the majority of highborn ladies at court.
Maria soon dominated her husband, a "mere" mediatized Prince, his father being the last ruling sovereign of the Qasim Khanate.The marriage, while a peacemaking act, was seen by many Muslims as a further humiliation, especially when Ivan presented to his wife the jewels of his formidable grandmother Fatima-Soltan, the last Muslim regent of Qasim. Regarded by some as the reincarnation of Fatimah, daughter of the Prophet, due to the zeal the old regent fought against the policy of Khanate Christianization, this insult is one that many of the Khan and Khanbika's subjects won't forget.
Something old, something new: Khanbika Maria of Qasim
In spire of troubles in the South, which continue to drain the treasury, the Tsar celebrated his 28th birthday on May 30 with great satisfaction. Sharing this birthday is the Tsarevich Peter, whom Feodor now honors with the title of Prince of Tver. It was last held by a Danish prince engaged to Tsarevna Irina Mikhailovna, but as the marriage never happened, the Princedom was never formally created.Since their brother Ivan was granted the title Prince of Uglich immediately before his own marriage, Courtier tongues begin to wag that this is a sign that the Tsar made a decision on who will be his sister-in-law.
However, unbeknownst to the court there is a more important reason for creation. By this time the Tsar has been informed by both Ambassador Iakov Dolgorukov and his sister the Grand Duchess of Lithuania of planned Royal participation in the Crusade. While both Poles and Russians detest the word “Crusade”, having been on receiving end of several from the former Teutonic Knights, (the current war being known simply as Great War or War of the Holy League in both nations for that very reason) the Tsardom of Russia and the Commonwealth can't afford to be left out.The creation of a Princedom was meant to give Peter an European style title for the tour abroad. So it was time to bid farewell – soon after their joint birthday festivities and the solemn pilgrimage to Saint Trinity Monastery to pray for success of Russian warriors, Peter, along with 10,000 elite cavalry, depart Moscow on June 15th to join with the Poles in traveling to Cyprus, the agreed upon rendezvous point.
While the Russian contingent was officially commanded by Peter, now Prince of Tver, de-facto control rests with Patrick Gordon. The personal retinue of the Prince of Tver includes scions of the oldest Russian noble families: Pyotr Galitzin, second son of the Chancellor Galitzin, Ivan Romodanovsky, the only son of Fyodor Romodanovsky from his first marriage, Andrei Matveev, Peter’s secretary, Mikhail Sheremetev, grandson of the hero of Albazin and son of the hero of Ochakov,wanting his own taste of glory. But the most illustrious member, other then Prince of Tver himself, is Alexander of Imeriti, heir apparent to the throne of Imeriti (at least in Russian eyes). The Prince is leaving behind not only his wife but his newborn son, Tsarevich Vakhtang of Imeriti, born April 16th and betrothed to Feodor III’s youngest daughter Theodosia Feodorovna on May 20th, fulfilling the promise made a year before. Technically Alexander was the second Orthodox Royal going to the Holy Land, even though his family were dethroned exiles.
Apart from Crusading matters, the Tsar also found time to appreciate the little things – like the education of his children. Tsesarevich Simeon Feodorovich is growing up to be quite an active boy, bringing much headache to his governess, Anna Khitrovo. The distinguished old lady was previously governess to the Tsar himself, now heads the Household of the heir to the throne. However, as the grand old dame is in her early 70ies, an active boy (who already learned to walk and talk by the age of year and a half) is too much for her, leading to her resignation in favor of Princess Evdokia Romodanovskaya. The widow of Andrei Romodanovsky, killed at the Battle of Zelyonaya Dolina, Evdokia was perfectly suitable for position of governess of the heir to the throne. However, she was not the person to calm the boy, as amusing him with tales of war merely encouraged the Tsesarevich to play more with his toy horse and swords. By this point Simeon is eagerly awaiting his third birthday and the riding lessons that it will bring.
Meanwhile, his elder sisters received lessons in example of their father’s first wife, Agafia Grushetskaya. Since Feodor III remembered Agafia as the model modern lady, the girls, in addition to learning reading, writing, religion and handicrafts such as gold embroidery were to be taught Latin, French, music and dances. In addition, Tsarevna Maria Feodorovna received personal tutoring from Nicolae Spătaru, preparing her for her future in Moldavia. Hers sisters, Ekaterina Feodorovna, five, Natalya, four and Theodosia, three, on the other hand, merely continue on their original curriculum. However, the Polish Court has began to consider transferring the betrothal from Maria to her half-aunt Natalya Alexeyevna, as Maria will only reach marriageable age in 1697. With Natalya Alexeyevna, on the other hand, the marriage can be consummated as soon as Prince Aleksander reaches puberty. However, Feodor III has so far been adamant on keeping the betrothal, viewing the match as worthy only for his eldest daughter.
Tsarevna Maria Feodorovna of Russia at the age of 15
However, once in Moldavia, Dimitrie played the turncoat, meeting with his brother the current Regent of Moldavia, and defected, with the condition being appointed to the Regency Council. The 17-year old former student was charismatic enough to lead a fair share of Turkish troops with him, transforming the Moldavian lands into a perennial battleground between those who wanted a Cantemir as Prince or Regent and those who went with wish to install Constantin Brâncoveanu, Prince of Wallashia, on as Sovereign, uniting the Danubian principalities under the same monarch.While the Cantemir brothers and their Polish allies have done their best to make the best, southern Moldavia is more or less a permanent battleground, one of the hotspot of the Great Crusade. At this point any hope of advancing south to the ports of Khadsibey and Akkerman is no more than a pipe dream.
Dmitrie Cantemir: Patriot or Turncoat?
At around the same time, Feodor III is also using his newly established dynastic connections with the Royals of Kartli and Imeriti to quietly support rebellions in the Caucasus against Ottoman rule. However, even with the return of peace with China, Russia is still unable to send anything more than token support for the rebels, but a guerrilla war in the Caucasus will no doubt keep the Turks of balance, giving the army in the Crimea time to reorganize and formulate a strategy. With Selim Giray and the Istanbul Government at a stalemate in negotiations, the Russians are able to take advantage to train the new forces and fortify Novobogoroditsk and Ochakov from the inevitable attack by Crimean Tatars. As they lack a proper Navy, there is little the Russians can really do to prevent the Turks from landing in the Black Sea ports and launching major amphibious operations, not to mention the fact that the Tatars have began employing Ottoman instructors to train the newly raised peasant militias in an attempt to replenish the losses of the previous campaign. All in all, neither side is conferrable in launching an attack, leaving the Crimean front up in the air for this campaign season.
In early August the Russian troops under Peter,Price of Tver arrive in Warsaw and join the Polish forces under command of Crown Prince Jakub and Stanisław Jan Jabłonowski, once rival to the King but now the Templar Master of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. The Russian Tsarevich was feted by great balls and feasts, organized by his half-sister, who is seeing Peter for the first time since her wedding. The Russian hussar troops are unaccustomed to fighting alongside their Polish counterparts and not against them, but political necessity has created a need for the unusual alliance. So the Polish and Russian cavalry troops led by the their Royals soon depart for Vienna, then on to Venice, to join the rest of the Crusading Royals on Cyprus. Jakub and his cousins the Duke of Olyka and Karol Stanislaw Radziwill are accompanied by several other Princes, including the unlikely Protestant allies of the Polish crown– Adolf Johann II of Kleeburb (who left the command in Moldavia to his younger brother Count Palatine Gustav Leopold), and his new friend and brother-in-law Prince Ferdinand Kettler of Courland.
Meanwhile, the pastime of the Grand Duchess of Lithuania, now pregnant with her second child, no longer amounts to demurely supporting the policies of family and warmly greeting her half brother. Now well versed enough in Polish politics to play games of her own (to the extent the limitations surrounding the Polish Royal Family allowed her to do), Sophia has began to slowly gather favorites around her. The inner circle of the Grand Duchess includes the father and son Oginski – Marcjan Oginski was previously opposed to her husband, but returning to favor after Jan III's wedding to Sophia, to which he was instrumental.Sadly, disease has led to his withdraw from active participation in Commonwealth politics , the former Chancellor of Lithuania retiring to his estate at Trakai. However, his 25-year old son Jerzy (or Yuri, as Sophia called him) Oginski, is the rising favorite at Sophia’s court – due to his support of the Basilian order (being saved by a Basilian monk from near death in childhood), ideas about peaceful co-existence of the Orthodox and Catholics citizens of the Commonwealth, and due to his blood status: as a second cousin of the Crown Princess through his mother Marcibella Glebovich, he was one of the Radziwiłł heiress's closest relatives.
Jerzy Oginski's status as Grand Duchess's favorite is cemented with his wedding to Sophia’s lady-in-waiting, Praskovia Saltykova, one of the few Russian ladies who accompanied her to Poland. While Praskovia is no brilliant mind (her husband knew more Russian that she knew Polish), she is a great beauty, called the flower of the court by admirers which,combined with the sizable dowry provided by Sophia, Jerzy Oginski has clearly gained much from his connection with the Grand Duchess. Already Oginski holds the office of Voivod of Trakai, de-facto inherited from his father, although he had to fight the King's nephew, the Duke of Olyka for the post. But thanks to the backing of his patron, Jerzy was able to easily gain the office. And, although his military accomplishments are so far lackluster, Oginski is hopeful that he can prove himself on the Levantine campaign, therefore joining the Crown Prince's retinue.
Praskovia Oginski: A Russian Flower at the Polish Court
With Jakub was leaving on Crusade (leaving his wife at home pregnant) and Aleksander having de-facto renounced his rights to the Polish throne with his conversion, the presumed heir in any worst case scenario is nine-year old Konstanty Wladislaw Sobieski, youngest son of the late Queen Marie Casimire Louise de La Grange d'Arquien. Ironically the boy’s candidature was in many ways more acceptable than his older brother, as he is a devout Catholic, treating his Russian step-mother with suspicion, shedding many a tear after his brother converted to become the ruler of Moldavia, and is betrothed to a Catholic. Though the fact that said Catholic was Konstanty’s first cousin once removed, Princess Teresa Lubomirska, heiress presumptive to the Ostrogski Ordination, has once again set tongues wagging about the Sobieski land grab policy, which has unsurprisingly angered the Sejm. The members of the Commonwealth's Parliament fear,rightfully so, that the Royal family is attempting get around the “political straitjacket” of limitations on the Crown's authority, breaking the balance of power between Crown and Nobles.
Meanwhile, as the eyes of the world turn towards Cyprus and the Levant, the eyes of the Russians have turned towards Moscow, were two major bits of news are now being reported.First, soon after departure of Peter the Tsarina found herself pregnant with what is likely to be her last child, as the her doctors have advised that her frequent pregnancies are ruining her health. Secondly, it has grown apparent that Patriarch Ioakim is on his deathbed in the Kremlin. The next Patriarch, in the Tsar’s opinion, needs to be a modern-minded man, able to negotiate with the Western powers, as the successes of the Great Crusade have began to create completely new religious climate in Russia.
The list is soon widdled down to two major candidates, Bishop Marcellus of Pskov, who was in diplomatic service before entering the Church and knew seven foreign languages, and Archbishop Afanasii of Kholmogory, a co-backer (together with Governor Apraxin) of the Arkhangelsk Navigation School and amateur astronomer who turned the bell tower of Arkhangelsk's Cathedral of Transfiguration into an observatory (using his knowledge of astronomy to publish several works debunking astrology as “heretic anti-Christian pseudoscience” and correspond in German with the widow of Johannes Hevelius, regarding the observations of the Aurora Borealis on the White Sea). However, Afanasii politely but firmly declines the offer, citing the needs of his Archdiocese, his scientific research and his combat with the heretics (many Old Believers having escaped to the North), insisting that Macellus is the best candidate, with his years of experience in secular matters and his less troublesome diocese. Therefore, with Ioakim's death on November 3rd, it is to no one's surprise that Bishop Marcellus is announced as his successor, and promptly begins preparations to precede over the Christmas Service at the Dormition Cathedral. With a diplomat at the helm of the Church and the second-in-line to the throne abroad in the Holy land, its clear that Russia is in a position to reach out and grab a place in the new order. However, it remains to be seen if the attempt will be successful or if the differences between Moscow and Western Christendom will remain too great to overcome. Only time will tell.
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A note for mapmaker - the territorial state on Far East for Russia compared to OTL is Russia securing what's OTL Amur Oblast and northernmost end of Khabarovsk krai thanks to more competent commander and more attention (the largest territory it can reasonably hold). The OTL Khabarovsk and Primorsky Krai will be acquired as OTL or even later. The Russia getting OTL Khabarovsk Krai after Amur War in the Duchess of Cumberland TL was rightfully declared ASB. Also, Russian trade with China is worse off than OTL, but that,s compensated by earlier discovery of Baikal gold.
Right, think I understand that. I should be able to get the map updated soon, if school allows.
Yes and no. Officially the city was renamed Istanbul after it fell to the Turks in 1453 but it was referred to by both the Ottomans and other nations as Constantinople. It was only after the establishment of the Republic of Turkey that the name became regulated. So both names are acceptable.
It's always awesome when life comes with background music like that.Great update, although I'm afraid my lack of knowledge concerning Pyotr Velikiy's half-sisters and the Russian/Genghisid khanates means I can't comment thereon. Although having read Duchess of Cumberland, I could imagine the same bride happening to Pyotr.
Also, who was Elisabeth of Stegeborg hoping to get fobbed off with that she looks down her nose at Ferdinand Kettler? Unless she was toying with the idea of being tsarevna. Either way, will make for an interesting marriage dynamic. Likewise for Jørgen of Denmark - Mr. I-tried-him-drunk-I-tried-him-sober - might actually be able to get the peace and quiet he so longed for: " we talk here of going to tea, of going to Bath, of going here and there, all except sitting around all day, which is the height of my ambitions." Also, hopefully he and Vendôme will get living heirs out of the deal with the Trémoïlle girls.