From Istanbul With Love

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"About twenty eight years ago, the very event that perhaps shaped the the world happened. The Turks decided that it is a good idea to unleash hell on the demonstrators who wanted freedom(POD). They thought that it was a good idea to send em to their graves. This very thing, however, are just plain, condensed stupidity in its most, uttermost form. Like, what in god's name they are thinking? Those very bullets, perhaps, shaped the world forward. The collapse of the Ottomans eventually results on the shit on the Balkans, the shit on the Balkans leads to the Second Great War, and eventually, the revolutions. Civil wars, all those shizzles. Many states have been formed now. The old world have been dead. The Italians fell under the rule of a resurgent, Roman-Empire nostalgia-filled low-class people(1). The Bulgarians claimed Constantine's throne. The Russians are broken into pieces(2), with the Turks, ironically, being the one in the better places, as the Turkestanis made their way even past Tehran(3). Hell's rampaging on every continent. The Americas saw things that could make Bolivar proud, the Orient became the clear definition of hell, Europe is a lesser hell, while Africa, well, is still Africa, in a sense. Now, this letter are made as a reminder on how what hell looked like. This hell, called China, awaits.

Somewhere along the line, i hoped that the world is not this shitty, but alas. What can i do? I'm just a volunteer, fighting for the kicks of it. Fighting for a ideology that i dont necessarily believes. Fighting for something that i knew could lead me into the actual, literal hell.-if it does exist. So, what am i doing in here? Being a big pawn on a bigger conflict. What am i doing? Who am i actually? A mere a dust in the wind, perhaps."
-George Orwell, 1st Spartan Legion
Beijing, 1936
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FROM ISTANBUL WITH LOVE
A TIMELINE BY THETIMERANGER
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(POD).Yes. The POD is essentially the 1908 Young Turks rebellion gone bad. Gone extremely bad. This very act eventually sparked a civil war, on which leads into the first, ATL Balkan War.
(1).Do i need to explain?
(2).Do i need to explain-again?
(3).Do i need to explain-again, again?
 
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A Young Turk demonstration in Prileppe, 1908.

Ottoman Empire
10th June 1908-11th September 1908

The sick man of Europe is dying. Spirit of Fatih have been vanquished. Years after years, it is proven, that the Ottoman Empire, after the death of Suleiman the Magnificent, could not held out on their own. True, they lasted for more than a hundred years afterwards, yet, it is seen that they are leading themselves into their own death, as the Ottoman Empire became a joke on Europe, and eventually, as time goes by, even the equally-dying Qing Empire is also laughing at the state of the Sublime Porte. Unlike the supposedly-backwards Russia, the Ottoman Empire, does not move on its own. Years of mismanagement, losses, counter-coups, chaos, horrible leaders, or even the unorthodox races to Istanbul that have claimed way too many lives of the Sehzades who wanted the throne, have eventually sent the Ottoman Empire into their own hell. Ironically, the Ottoman Empire managed to avoid the fate that the French ancien regime have fallen into, and even survived the unspeakable, as they managed to outlast various greater nations that have challenged their power. The Ottoman Empire even managed to witness the birth of the French Republic, the fledging German Empire, or even the Russian Empire's rise to power. Yet, despite all of this, the time is ticking for the House of Osman, as death is looming ahead of them, with Murad V's actions became something of note, as his actions, essentially, have proven the falibility of the state. The royal house, despite their attempts over the year, soon enough, will met their end, as the first constitutional era does not mean anything for the good, and also for the overall common man of the Ottoman Empire itself.

By 1908, the Young Turks, and the army revolted. They refused to bow to the future, supposed Russian and British overlords. They refused. There, their words made their way into the general populace, and soon after, the general populace began to raise the banners of a revolution. There, riots. Demonstrations. The Ottoman Empire is outnumbered. They are fighting their own men. They are fighting their own people. Not learning from what the French have felt throughout the French revolution, one member of the Ottoman police did the unspeakable, as a bullet strays towards one of the demonstrators(POD)-and eventually, all hell breaks loose. One bullet became many, and one drop of blood became bloodshed. The Ottoman Empire have betrayed their own people. The state have been seen as betraying the people. It was unevitable. As the riot became bloodbath, the revolting army officer became defectors. Initially unorganized at first, the event of 10th June 1908(1) have launched the Ottoman Empire into a full-scale civil war. Yet, the Ottoman Revolution does not spoke of a actual war, not until July, where the Young Turks finally met their end(2), as elements of the state began to plot for a actual revolution, as they hoped to turn the riots into an all-out war. There is no reason anymore, to keep the non-Turkish lands at their hands. The Young Turks-now naming themselves as the Ulusal Komite(3), as Turkish nationalism is all time high, and republican sentiment have reached levels slowly mimicking what France had years ago. As the cycle began to repeat itself, the Comittee, in the other hand, have abandoned all lands that not Turkish(4). Kurdistan. Iraq. All was seen as a burden. Yet, despite those states havent launched their war against the empire, yet alone preparing their independence. Never the less, these very officers managed to avoid the government's eyes-despite their involvement on the revolution month ago(5), and they began to set their eyes for the upcoming revolution.

The Ottomanist sentiment is gone. There is only Turkish sentiments lying afterwards. And such thoughts, eventually led to the Comittee to began their negotiation with the British Empire, as they planned to sold the freedom of the non-Turks and the lands beyond Anatolia for the British Empire(6). Spearheaded by the very men in the future called as the "Three Pashas"(7), the negotation itself, however, made their way into the ears of the Balkan states who bows towards the Ottoman crown, as they began to plot for their own revolutions. Greece with their eyes on Cyrus-and beyond, Bulgaria with their own-vision, and in the end, the clock have reached the nadir, as the British Empire agreed, on the terms of the Pashas have given to them(8), with the clear irony that the Pashas are actually acting without the Comittee's permission or even knowledge. Yet, the weapons eventually began to head towards Turkey, as the common man of Turkey began to plot their war against the crown. The crown themselves, oblivious to this very fact, will find themselves outnumbered, outmatched, and shocked with these very obivious revelations waiting ahead of them.

Somewhere along the lines, the great game will find its own complications.
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Painting of the Battle of Reveni Pass, on 29th October 1908. The painting itself later used by the Greek Kingdom as a propaganda piece.

Ottoman Empire
11th September 1908-1st December 1908

The unthinkable eventually happened. Started with the government's own unprovoked attack on the so-called "Macedonian Guerillas" in 11th September 1908(9), the National Comittee eventually launched the Ottoman Revolution, as various vilayets on Anatolia declared their independence-all under fighting the banner of the Committee-on which they themselves are ironically clueless, of their own future(10)-yet, they continued and carried on fighting. The very vilayets itself were small in number, yet effective on cutting the Ottoman Empire from their Middle Eastern provinces, as the empire became unable to contact their Middle Eastern vilayets, halting the reinforcement from the other regions. Ankara, Konya, Adana, Sivas, and eventually Elazig, all of them became the traitors of the empire, yet heroes of the revolution. With the British guns fueling the revolution, the Comittee assumed victory, yet, not realizing the facts that they will see not long after. Not long after the Comittee's push towards Trebizond on early October, the Greek Kingdom declared war against the Ottomans, hellbent on taking back the lands they have lost-most notably having the Cretan State and Cyprus as their focus. The declaration of war was even followed by the Bulgarian Kingdom's declaration of war a week later on 18th October, where no alliance is notably made between them, due to the Bulgarian Kingdom's conflicting interrests against the Greek Kingdom. Nevertheless, death is looming towards the Ottoman Empire, as three forces have declared war against them at the same time, all of them are hungry for territories and for their blood. The Macedonians, however, suffered the worse, as their attempt on breaking free are ironically subverted by both the Greek and the Bulgarians, as the two nations are contesting their claims on the region(11).

As the war rages on, the Ottoman Empire's hold on Europe is effectively broken, as the Dual Monarchy decided to fund the separatists on the Ottoman Uskup and Monastir, while Serbia themselves are facing future Austrian subjugation, if they dont act quickly. This, was followed by a Serbian declaration of war on 19th November, as Serbia hoped to win the race against Austria-on taking over the Slavic lands of the Ottoman Empire. The Albanians, oddly enough being the loyal side of the empire, eventually, attracted Greek invasion towards the territory, as George I's ambitions became just as unchecked as Ferdinand I's on Sofia-where the delayed declaration of "Independence" in 29th November(12) became the consolidation of the Bulgarian ambition towards Turkey. By then, it was clear. Bulgaria was not pleased with their Balkan ambition. Their eyes are set upon Thrace, not only the Balkans. This very ambition eventually reached the ears of Greece-and the only option George have is none other than declaring war against the Bulgarian Kingdom, pitting the two kingdoms against each other, buying the Ottomans more time on fortifying Thrace. Regardless, the Ottomans themselves are facing immidiate death, as the Committee's moves grew unchecked, gaining grounds and winning battles, as the Three Pashas's leadership spoke of a movement that will benefit the army, effectively decapitating the Ottoman army, as defections and mutinies became something as a trend.

Yet, the world will be soon thrown to hell, as complications looms over all involved in the party.
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(POD).Yes. The POD is essentially simple, yet, i'm basically pitting the Ottoman against a poor man's version of the French Revolution. Less bloody, less spectacular, but just as important in various ways.
(1).The date! Yeay!
(2).The end-as in they reorganize themselves.
(3).COUGH ROBESPIERRE WILL BE REBORN COUGH-oh yeah, this is "National Comittee" in Turkish.
(4).Effectively, the Turks does not give a damn anymore. They knew overexpansion killed the Ottomans, so..
(5).Que Benny Hill's theme, running on the Ottoman government's heads.
(6).He hehehehe ehhehehee not so easy, tho. Just wait.
(7).COUGH POINT THREE COUGH
(8).On which WWI will be launched far more earlier due to this.
(9).We need a spark, oui?
(10).COUGH DICTATORSHIP INCOMING COUGH
(11).Yes. Both of them are confirmed lusting for the Byzantinetastic glory.
(12).Delayed due to Ferdinand's ambitions.
 
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Picture of Tsar Ferdinand I of Bulgaria, before claiming the title of "Tsar" of the Second Byzantium Empire(1), this picture, however, also became the official potrait of Ferdinand, after his coronation as the Tsar of the Second Byzantine Empire, dated on 1909.

The Balkans, and the Ottoman Empire
2nd December 1908-10th March 1909

The Balkans are in fire. The Greeks against the Bulgarians, racing to grab their respective, supposedly historical lands-and even the claim for the Byzantine Empire, the Austrians-against the Serbians-despite not in a ware-in a race to claim all the Slavic lands that the Ottoman Empire held at the time. It was clear, that no Bosnian, no Croat, no Romanian, or even no Albanian will decide the fate of the Balkans. Its was the Dual Monarchy's desire. It was the Serbian spirit. And it was the Greek, and the Bulgarian dream, of ressurecting what Fetih have taken from them. In a increasingly desperation-laced unpopular decision, Abdul Hamid II have escaped the Empire, and put his vizier, Kamil Pasha, as the current "Custodian" of the empire. In the end, as the wars on the Balkan eventually regarded as the "First Balkan War"(2), the prelude to the war itself, the Turkish Revolutionary war, is slowly heading towards its inevitable end, as the Turkish revolutionaries are heading towards their victory. Ranging from small skirmishes, to the Bulgarian advance(3) towards Thrace, while the men of Greece are making their offense towards Macedonia. However, this leads into clashes, and the first battles between the Greeks and the Bulgarians, as Seres became the first site of a bloodbath between the Greeks and the Bulgarians. In the other hand,the French, and the British, according to their dealings(4) with the Three Pashas, have planned their partition of the Middle East, with the Khedivate eyeing for the Middle East. As the guns that have been supplied to the revolutionaries have proved their worth, Early February, however, have spoken against the revolutionaries-and the British Empire. With the absence of the Ottoman Empire, the situation on Arabia, eventually, have reached its nadir, with the Sauds, Hashemites, and the Hejazi-all of them duking it out(5), after the Sharifate of Mecca-now branding themselves as the Kingdom of Hejaz, declared their independence from the Ottoman Empire, something that Tripoli followed soon after(6).

Following the 9th February declaration of independence of Hejaz-and also Tripoli, the British have made their way into the Hejazi, knowing very well that controlling the Islamic holy city(7) is their only safe bet in order to put the Arabian people under their belt. The independence of Tripoli, in the other hand, brought up another problem into the table, as the Kingdom of Italy have voiced, and eventually eyeing their interrest towards the old Ottoman sphere, with the French, eventually, also making their overtures towards King Ahmed I-all of which, will spark another war to come(8). With the British looming ahead over them, however, the National Committee eventually realizes what they have done, as they essentially put themselves under a indirect, British jackboots. Yet, knowing that they cant do anything, as what they only can focus themselves on is on capturing Ankara, as their taking of Afyon, in the end, have encircled the second capital of the Ottomans, with Istanbul effectively out of reach for the Republicans, as the Ottoman navy, in a last ditch attempt on protecting Istanbul, all of them gathered on the Bosphorous, allowing the Greeks to move into Cyprus-and eventually also consolidating their power on Crete, while the British-via Egypt, began to hold a blockade on the Arabian Ottoman lands, effectively putting the British Empire as a party on the revolutionary war, indirectly. The battles between Bulgaria and Greece, in the end, have proven to be a great distraction for Bulgaria, who used this as a tactic to win the race towards Istanbul.

As 8th of March saw Gallipoli under Bulgarian hands, it was clear, that the Greeks must abandon their dreams towards Constantinople, yet, they knew that they could easily outmanouvre the Bulgarians. As the Bulgarians immidiately started their offensive on 9th March, the Greeks knew, that this is their final bet on taking things that the Bulgarians have missed. The Greeks, knowing that the Bulgarians are busy on Skopje(9), and also preparing their advances towards Istanbul, the Greeks laid out their last assault towards the Ottoman Empire-and also the Bulgarians, as simultaneous advances towards Kavala, Myteline, Chios and the Dodecanese, are made, with great immidiate success seen on Kavala, as the Bulgarians are caught off guard. Knowing very well that if the Greeks are left unguarded, Ferdinand knew that a peace treaty must be brokered between him, and the Greeks as soon as possible, and capturing Istanbul, at the very least, is the only thing that the Bulgarians must do, in order the win the race against the Greeks. While the Greeks and Bulgarians have slowly to find their ends on their businesses, the Serbians, making their first advances towards Montenegro, are eventually outpaced by the Austrian army(10), whom in a haste, launched a grand assault in order to consolidate their position on Slovenia, Croatia, and eventually, Bosnia(11). The Albanians, in the other hand, managed to stave off the Greek invasions, forcing the Greeks to end their assault towards them on 10th March, where the Albanians have brokered their peace with the Greeks-yet, with a pretense, where this is also a sign of a Albanian independence, something that would happen not so long after(12).
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Headline of the Ikdam, previously a pro-Ottoman newspaper(13), now pro-Republican newspaper, after its relocation from Istanbul to Ankara, featuring the Three Pashas, dated on 1909.

The Balkans, and the Ottoman Empire
10th March 1909-31st June 1909

It was clear, that peace is looming ahead of them. It was clear, that peace will be restored. While the situation on the Balkans have been proved to be in jeopardy, as both of the Austrians and the Serbians are in "Static", gaining and losing grounds repeatedly, the situation on Greece and Bulgaria became clear. For Greece, Kavala is the only farthest position to go. The islands-are also the only way to go. Making overtures towards Izmir or Manisa, perhaps, are outside from the question anymore, as Denizli eventually have fallen to the Republican forces, leaving Istanbul and Kutahya as their last grounds(14). Bulgaria, in the other hand, gaining grounds on Bitola, Skopje and Leskovac, while also making their final push towards Istanbul, also realizes that they could not stand their ground in Southern Macedonia, effectively drawing the map to come. Ferdinand's ambition, however, has eventually reached more than it was before. As the army of Tsar Ferdinand prepares for their final assault towards Istanbul, Ferndinand I have declared his declaration of Bulgaria's claims towards the Greek-majority provinces of Anatolia(15), claiming that the Byzantine throne is reserved for the Bulgarian Tsar. This declaration, however, is faced with opposition by the British-backed Turkish revolutionaries, resulting on Bulgaria's alienation from the western world. Alexandar Malinov, the Bulgarian Foreign Minister, is sent to Greece, in order to broke a peace treaty, on Kavala. The treaty(16) itself, however, is easily informal at this point, as the treaty of Kavala was just a mere plan, and a prelude, for the looming treaty of Bucharest on December, after the capture of Istanbul. Overall, the treaty of Kavala was the stepping stone for what the map will become like after the war. The treaty itself, however, does not involve the situation on Anatolia, or even in the Balkans, despite Bulgaria's gains on Macedonia, and their plans on Anatolia. The details of the treaty, goes as below.

The Kavala Accord
"This treaty was only considered as a intention of peace from the Tsardom of Bulgaria, towards the Kingdom of Greece, in order to end the war between the two parties. This was mainly caused due to the same objectives and goals of the Tsardom of Bulgaria, and the Kingdom of Greece. Further official declaration and signing, will be held after the condition of point one is fulfilled."
1.Peace between the Tsardom of Bulgaria and the Kingdom of Greece is made, after the Tsardom of Bulgaria is able to capture Istanbul.
2.The Kingdom of Greece ends their claim on Thrace, while the Tsardom of Bulgaria will end their claim on South Macedonia.
3.The Kingdom of Greece have rightful claims over the Aegean Islands, and Cyprus, with , South Macedonia, while the Tsardom of Bulgaria stands their rightful claims over Macedonia, and Thrace.
4.The Kingdom of Greece will recognize any gains that the Bulgarian Tsardom gained on Anatolia.
5.The Bulgarian Tsardom are inclined to sign a non-agression treaty with the Greek Kingdom.
6.Further discussions regarding a possible alliance between the two states will be done in a unspecified date.


Signed on 1st May 1909, the Kavala Accord attracted the ire of the British, the Austrian, and the Turks, as it was a sign, of the Bulgarian and Greek ambition. Little that they know, that these very actions(17) would lead into a unforseen, world changing complication(18).

On 17th May, the unspeakable happened. The siege of Istanbul are underway, with the 10-day siege-also coinciding with the first Republican move towards Ankara, knowing very well that losing the both of the biggest cities of the Empire would easily speak defeat, and the end of the Ottoman Empire, as the Sultan-and Caliph himself have found residence in the Paris. With the Sultan have effectively abandoned them, both of the siege of Ankara and Istanbul are seen as a action of liberation(19) by the populace of the two towns, even with the fact that 29th of May signified the recapture of Istanbul by a Orthodox force, after 1452. This, however, does not mark the end of the revolutionary war, as the Vizier decided to make his final stand in Kutahya, in a move that managed to drove the loyal Ottoman Navy to spoke against the government, resulting on their desertions, allowing Bulgaria to make their first landings on the Anatolian region of Istanbul in 3rd June, while the accord of Kavala is finalized in Bucharest, in 13th June. It was clear. Sooner or later, that the Republican forces will clash against the Bulgarians, while in the other hand, Greece prepares its second advance towards the still Ottoman-aligned, yet-heading-towards-independence Albania, whom is looking for backers, with their eyes set on Italy. Despite peace are looming over the Balkans, things, will spoke otherwise, as the situation between the Austrians-and the Serbians began to attract the Greece and the Bulgarians, as the two parties are weary about Francis's ambition-and the Serbians's lack of resolve, regarding the matter(20).
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(1).Yes. Spoiler alert, people. Spoiler alert. This, is our future. THIS.
(2).Late naming of the war, lol.
(3).Yes, overall, the Ottoman army is basically in its eventual last legs here.
(4).Remember the previous update? Yes, the Three Pashas are selling out the Arabs to the Brits here.
(5).More early Arabian unification, but, just be aware, it would not be the same.
(6).Yes! Yes! Its either Italy, or Britain. I'm setting things up, over here.
(7).EEEEEYUP, early British Arabia, over here. Lets wait!
(8).You are sure the Italo-Turkish war is averted, right? Its not. Its more bigger. Something that will also fuck up the North Africas.
(9).Expand, expand, expand all he wants.
(10).AKA, Prequel to WWI. Yes.
(11).Yes! Yes! The Habsburg are getting bigger-just kidding, it wont.
(12).And it would be a short independence, tho.
(13).Yes, in OTL, it is.
(14).Fortresses.
(15).I havent warned you all that Ferdinand I is quite eccentric, yes?
(16).And..its basically explained few sentences later.
(17).In short, alienating the Greeks and the Bulgarians.
(18).World War One. Early. Yes.
(19).Riots were seen, blockades were seen, and for the people of Istanbul, its quite backfiring for them.
(20).More seeds for World War One, kids.
 
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