The Prince That Was Promised - An Ottoman timeline (1566-...)

This is a timeline which I was busy with since early November but I guess this is the time to post it. It is also my first timeline so no hurting of my feelings :p
This timeline is about Sehzade Mahmud, son of Mehmed III. It was said that he was a strong, skilled prince who should have succeed Mehmed III. But his mothers ambition and Safiye Sultans intriges got him Killed. Mehmed died the same year, leaving the throne for Ahmed I. In this case, Mehmed III still dies in 1603 but before the execution of Mahmud. Because I want to change the situation in 1603 a bit I start in 1566 with Selim II to have a less worse situation as Ahmed I faced.


When the first messenger arrived at Manisa from Suleimans Army, Selim rushed over to Konstantiniyye and ascend the throne. Suleiman I, the great Turk, has died during the siege of Szigetvar. Without staying in the capital to await the army Selim also set for Belgrad fortress where he is suppose to meet grandvizier Sokollu Mehmed Pasha and also let the military know that a new sultan has taken over, the start of a new era. The reign of Selim II. In 13 days, with only small rests Selim finally reached Belgrad fortress. At the time Selim arrived the Army crossed from Zemun to Belgrad. Sokollu Mehmed Pasha let the other Pasha control the cross of the Army over the Danube. Sokollu Mehmed Pasha has crossed as one of the first as grandvizier to talk with the new Sultan.

1566
By the time Selim arrived with the Army to Konstantiniyye, the people both mourned for the dead Sultan Suleiman as his funeral procession moved trough the city and celebrated the victory in Szigetvar with prayers. A great leader has died and the people expect much from the new sultan. After arriving, Selim let Mehmed Pasha continue as grandvizier of the state. Much to annoyance of Lala Kara Mustafa Pasha, the former tutor of Selims brother Bayezid whom he betrayed in favor of Selim. Piyale Pasha was to continue as the commander of the Naval forces as well. Grandvizier Mehmed Pasha adviced the Sultan against a new campaign against the Austrians. Selim, even though enthousiast of his fathers plan to sack Vienna an place it under his Hungarian vassals he decided to not continue the war. Selim is not the biggest fan of going to sieges but letting the Pasha's go alone will cause more unrest among the soldiers. By order of Sultan Selim he gave authority to Sokollu Mehmed Pasha to negiotiate with the Habsburg envoy. The Sultan will decide whether the terms will be agreed. The suggestion of Piyale Pasha was to secure the Medditeranean from the Christian fleets. One of the targets Piyale suggested was Tunis. The city in North Africa is under Spanish occupation and the conquest of the city will crush the morale of the Christian Navy. Selim agreed to such plans. Influenced by his sister Mihrimah Sultan to go for Naval campaigns. The Siege of Malta was suggested by Mihrimah to her Father Suleiman and she even financed a part of the campaign. Piyale Pasha was to prepare a campaign to take Tunis. He was allowed to appoint commanders to go. Within a few months Piyale Pasha has to present his plans to the Divan*
The first problem Selim faced in his reign was the Army. The Janissaries are not happy with the culus** they got from the new Sultan. The Janissary aga*** has complained to the grandvizier Mehmed Pasha. The Army is unhappy and Selim fears for riots in the city which he cannot face in the beginning of his reign. Listening to his grandvizier, Selim decided to give some rights to the Janissary Corps in order to halt the unhappiness. By the Sultans firman the Janissary Corps salary was slightly raised but were also allowed to marry. The latter decision was not seen as a good one by many Pasha's because the loyalty of the Corps might get lowered. Before this, the only family the Janissaries had were each other and the Sultan as their father figure. Without hesitating Selim gave firmans to for the new rights of the Corps.
Before the end of the year, Selim talked with Mehmed Pasha. With the Sultans order, Sokollu Mehmed Pasha got more rights as grandvizier. He has the authority to talk to envos and can enforce demands or allow treaties he thinks it is right to do. With Selim II reign, Sokollu Mehmed Pasha's era begun. The era of powerful grandvizier. The second after Pargali Ibrahim. But the first who has no strong Sultan to deal with.

*The Sultans council
**The salary the soldiers get after a new Sultan ascends the throne.

***Highest officer in the Janissary Corps.

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The situation in the Kingdom of Hungary after the siege of Szigetvar (1566)
 
1567
Selim was presented with a few issues by his divan. The Number one threat was the rapid conquest by Ivan IV of the Khanates. The conquest happened 10 years ago. Lately it is known to Mehmed Pasha by the Crimean Khan that Ivan sendt Cossacks to the Terek River to build fortifications. Much to the fears of Sultan Selim, Devlet I Khan and Mehmed Pasha. Mehmed Pasha and the other Pasha's of the Divan have talked tot Sultan Selim about the situation. The suggestions were to counter the Russians by sending a force to reconquer the cities around the Lower Don and Lower Volga up to Astrakhan. This idea was widely rejected as it did and will not succeed for long term defence against the Northern threat. Mehmed Pasha suggested the same idea but with building a canal between the narrow gap of the Don and Volga river. The defence of the area will be left to the Crimean Khans. He will have the authority over the newly 'to be' aquired region in order to defend it. The building of the canal will give the state, acces to send troops to the Northern Caucasus to halt Ivan IV and Safavid influence in the area. The Pasha's were still not happy about the idea as it was the same as the first but with more money and recourses to spend. And the chance of succes is even less. However, Sultan Selim was quite interested in the idea of his Grandvizier. The last idea was proposed by Semsi Pasha. His plan contained a small expedition force together with the larger Tatar force to raid the Muscovite cities. Moscow, Ryazan were some of the targets. The Russian attention will be diverted from the Eastern Caucasus. The idea did not solve the problem, according to Mehmed Pasha and it could be integrated in the larger plan of Mehmed Pasha. Mehmed Pasha point out that there can't be an expedition without peace with the Habsburgs. Otherwise there were two enemies to fight. after hours of listening Selim gave Mehmed Pasha his approval of building the Canal. Selim also instructed that peace should be made with the King of Vienna within a year. As soon as the peace is made the campaign can start.
The second problem was the high activity of Knights in the Eastern Medditeranean. The Knights got courage since the failed siege of Malta and restarted to attack Muslim merchants ships. Even though Selim did not hear the increased attack of the Knights from his Pasha's however...

As Selim walks trough the gardens he sees his sister. He sits next to her. "Mihrimah? I did not expect to see you here. How are you?" Selim says. "My sultan, I am fine, God willing. Sometimes I miss the memories here... the times when we accompanied our father and mother with Cihangir and Bayezid walking in this heaven". Upon hearing his brother Bayezid Selim frowns but opress his irritation. "It's been a long time. I haven't forgotten the good old times with our beloved father and mother. Bayezid... If Bayezid did not turn against me we would still be sitting here together." Selim replies with slight bit of anger. "And Cihangir... He loved Mustafa more than he loved all of us together. I don't think he ever considered me as his real brother. Neither did you after Bayezid fled to the Persians. I am suprised, how are you so calm? I don't even see frustration anymore when you look at me?" Selim says. Mihrimah sighs. "When Bayezid died I was sad. sad about how to brother could hate each other to the point to death. But there is no point to stay in the past. Nobody will benefit from it. Even when I sometimes feel sadness and anger I have to keep it to myself. Our father gave the firman to his execution yet I haven't left his side. I can't leave you alone. You are my brother just you are my sultan. That is why I want things to go back to old". Selim looks at Mihrimah trying to smile. "My dear sister, I am happy to hear you aren't angry with me anymore. May Allah never allow us to be angry at each other". Mihrimah still does not look happy. "Is there something wrong?". Mihrimah stands up and ask if Selim and she can walk through the garden. As they walk, Mihrimah starts to talk. "My Sultan, there is something I need to tell you about what I hear lately. My eunuchs told me some problem the merchants from Egypt face. It seems that the infidel Knights are attacking the merchant vessels more and more. They have been going to the Pasha's but it seems that nothing is done about it. I hope I could tell you about it. Our merchants aren't happy with the situation they're facing. It seems that the Venetians have a big role in this part. They're harbouring the Knights on Cyprus and Crete. Selim has listened and thinks. After a silence for a few seconds Selim starts to talk. "My dear sister... I am delighted to hear about your concerns for the believers. I will talk to Mehmed Pasha about the situation and do whatever necessary to protect them." After an hour of talking Selim walks back to his palace. Just as he enters his palace he encounters Mehmed Pasha. "Mehmed Pasha, come with me immediately". Mehmed Pasha, confused, walks with the Sultan to the Sultans room. As they enter the room of the Sultan, Selim turns around. "Sokollu Mehmed Pasha. My Grandvizier. I gave you enough authority to make your work easy but it seems that you are solving problems while ignoring the others. How can you ignore the plight of the believers? How can you let them to be prey for the infidel Knights? They are under my protection and allowing this is disregarding my orders and smudge my honour!" Mehmed Pasha, unsure what to think looks only to Selim, not expecting such anger. My Sultan, It is true that I have heard the Knights attacking our merchants and I instructed Piyale Pasha to clean the area between Alexandria, Beirut and Kavala from the Pirates." Selim looks irritated. "It doesn't work well. It seems that they're fleeing to the Venetian islands. Instruct Piyale Pasha to bomb the Venetian ships and ports if necessary. I will not allow those infidels to attack the believers." Mehmed got his confidence a bit back. "My Sultan, I will make sure that the Venetians will know that we will not allow them to protect the cursed Knights. If they continue to protect them we will use force to evict them. Selims anger is getting less. "I give you your time to talk and observe the situation. If the Knights still flee to Venetian ports the next 3 years we will use force." Mehmed agreed and Selim walks away with his Grandvizier.

The year 1567 has gone swift for Selim. Preparations for Astrakhan campaign were made and peace talks with the Habsburgs is being negotiated. Maximilian II send the first envoys. Mehmed Pasha has talked and there were some trouble with the negotiations. By May 1567, The Austrians agreed to the terms. The Ottoman Sultan got authority over Moldova, Walachia and Transylvania and payment of 40,000 florins a year for the next 20 years. There is also a truce for 20 years which allows both the Turks as well as the Germans not to attack each other. The payment of 40,000 is guaranteeing the truce. The treaty was signed in Edirne on the 16th of July 1567. and also accepted by Maximilian II. As soon as the peace was made Selim ordered the Crimean Khan to raid Russian lands. Enslaving and steeling the riches of the cities was the plan. Selim hoped to wreck the area around the Lower Don so the Cossacks will move North and by next year Selims force can move to the Area. The Venetians agreed not to allow the ships of the Knights on their territory. Piyale Pasha has sendt Uluj Ali Pasha to raid Italian towns and islands to challenge the Christian Fleets. It seems to be it is going well this year for Selim. All that remains is waiting out for Winter and the next year the Astrakhan Campaign can start.
 
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