CHAPTER 2 – A Shadow of former Self
When the messenger from Leontares arrives at Constantinople and relays the letter into the hands of emperor Manuel II Palaiologos, he finds an emperor that has reigned for 20 years, a man renowned for his rhetoric, his charisma, his gregariousness and intelligence.
Only recently recovered from a bad cold, the now old aged Manuel II is visibly tired, yet his eyes are wise as ever. After reading the letter, he stands up from his chair, walks across the room towards a table where a giant map of the surrounding area is spread out. He looks at the position of Thessaloniki briefly, then focuses his eyesight north setting on the sanjak of Dobrudja, an area in northern Bulgaria, divided by the Danube River from the realms of voivodeships of Wallachia and Moldavia.
Map of Balkans and Agean Coast, circa 1410
Manuel stands still for a moment, then proceeds to write a replying letter. Before long he hands the reply to the waiting messenger, telling him: “Place this letter into the hands of Demetrios, and remind him that he must fully control the movement of Mustafa and Junayd, they are to be well treated but kept secured from themselves, the Ottomans, or any potential third party that have interests other than ours. As for the matter of the Ottoman disturbance, I applaud him for his effort, and may he find comfort when I finalize a deal with my beloved son the Sultan, who shall be obedient in time like these.”
“As you wish my most benevolent Basileios.”
As the messenger leaves, Manuel sets his sight at the map again. He calls upon his eldest son Ioannes to come to his side. Ioannes has only recently been crowned as co-emperor, and has witnessed his father’s conversation with the messenger. He walks to his father's side, curious in the matter.
“Ioannes my son, this is Dobrudja, where sultan Mehmed is heading according to the report of Leontares.” Manuel points out the location on the map, and while his son is observing, he continues: “My agent to the north has recently send me reports from Mesembria, that a certain mystic, the former kazasker[1] to the dead prince Musa, Sheikh Bedreddin has gathered a large follower in Northern Bulgaria. It is rumored that he has gained support from the princes in Wallachia and Moldavia, many reports seeing weapons, armors, wheat, arrows being ferried across the river.”
“This man must be the headache that sultan Mehmed I facing. A decent amount of frontier beys of Ottomans still has favorable opinions of Musa, but without a son of Bayezid in his helm, I wonder how long this disturbance would last.”
“Wouldn’t it be to our benefit then, that we support sultan Mehmed to put down this disturbance, gain his favor and lift the siege in Thessaloniki? Especially since this Sheikh Bedreddin is the remnant of the despicable prince Musa who sieged our Constantinople not long ago.” Ioannes offers his insight to the matter.
“Son, the politics goes beyond personal feelings. Our support means little to Mehmed, how many men can we gather? How much are we willing to sacrifice for the Ottomans? Mehmed knows well our limitations. We have nothing to give to the rebels that may change the outcome, yet risking angering Mehmed to our detriment.”
Ioannes, however have a different take on the situation. Young and bold, eager for honor and glory, he replies: “That may be, but if we do not support Mehmed, as Mustafa and Junayd are currently in our hands... if, say we transported them to Anatolia while Mehmed is busy in Bulgaria, they would surely stir up a lot of support, threatening the position of Mehmed dearly. Then Mehmed will know well our potentials, and grand us further concessions.”
Manuel patiently explains his thoughts to his son: “We are still too weak to face the Ottomans in open conflict, Mustafa and Junayd is the only major cards we hold. If we let them loose, we will lose control of the situation. It could become dangerously risky to us.”
“The fact that we are too weak on our own require us to utilize the internal division of the Ottomans to keep them busy and occupied, so that when the Latin crusaders finally arrives, we may deal the final blow to the scourge, and reclaim our empire.”
Manuel, perhaps worried by the bellicose tone of Ioannes, in turn changes his voice to a harshly tone: “If we release Mustafa and Junayd today, with Mehmed still having the allegiance of the beys, Mustafa would only be crushed by the beys in Anatolia eager to prove their loyalty to the sultan. Therefore, I have ordered Leontares to keep them in Thessaloniki. They will remain in our hands until some major crisis develops in Ottoman court, whenever that may happen, and we must remain friendly to Mehmed for the moment so to safeguard our precious gains following the Treaty of Gallipoli.”
Knowing Manuel’s positions, Ioannes avoids a confrontation with his father, and changes the topic instead: “How much are the Ottomans offering us to keep Mustafa and Junayd away from them?”
“Initially they want an immediate release into their custody, yet Leontares has managed to secure a payment of 1.000.000 akces in exchange for us to release them.”
“And what is your plan, father?”
Manuel smiles briefly: “We will promise Mehmed to never release Mustafa and Junayd, yet they must stay in our hands. Fortunately, the Venetians have destroyed Ottoman naval capabilities, and Bedreddin in rebellion has strengthened our position. I will require an annual payment from the sultan. I would assume 400.000 akces yearly would be something Mehmed is willing to accept, giving his predicament now.”
“Also, your brother Andronikos has mentioned around 800 men, women and children been taken as slaves by the Ottomans at Thessaloniki, these actions also require compensations.”
Seemingly convinced his son, Manuel places his right hand on the shoulder of Ioannes: “My son, our path, the path of emperor of Romans is a long and arduous path, it requires above all patience. Rash decisions may only lead us into oblivion.”
“I agree with your decision father, I will be more patient.” Ioannes nods.
"Leave the matter of negotiation with Mehmed to me, focus your effort on the coming Morea campaign. We mustn't waste the opportunity that Ottoman distraction has given us, you must fully support Theodoros in his effort to consolidate Peloponnese, swipe aside the remnants of Latin usurpers. We must use every opportunity to strengthen ourselves, while avoid the intervention of Ottomans and Venetians."
Ioannes shows a smile on his face. He is eager to prove his worth, and a military campaign in the near future in Peleponnese surely would cement his rightful position as co-emperor of the Roman Empire.
[1] A kazasker or kadıasker (Ottoman Turkish: قاضی عسكر, ḳāḍī'asker, "military judge") was a chief judge in the Ottoman Empire, so named originally because his jurisdiction extended to the cases of soldiers, who were later tried only by their own officers.
