Vlad Tepes successfully kills Mehmed at Targoviste

ar-pharazon

Banned
So Vlad Tepes launched a night attack in June of 1462 with the intention to assassinate Mehmed II.

He did manage to infiltrate the camp and force the ottomans to retreat.

However what if Vlad managed to kill the ottoman sultan that night?

How would that have affected Vlad's political and personal fortunes in Wallachian and the wider Balkans?

How would Mehmed's death and defeat affect the ottomans?
 
Killing Mehmed II may improve Vlad's prestige and, thus, his position face the boyars. Such an event, if exploited to its fullest potential, could also prevent Vlad's arrest at the hands of Matthias Corvinus, on the supposition that the latter will consider him a more worthy tool against the Ottomans.
 
How would that affect the Ottoman Empire?
I don't see much trouble, Bayezid is around 15, but the Ottoman Empire can survive it (Mehmed came to the throne at the first time at the age of 12) although how much people Vlad kills on his attack would far more significant, as it can hamper Ottoman incursions or be a mere setback. Of course Bayezid or his vizier would probably murder his two brothers (Mustafa and Celim) to prevent a succession dispute (like what happened with Celim in OTL).
For Vlad... he'll take a breathing space, maybe appease the Boyars and take some favor from Matthias, but Bayezid will probably vow revenge, in this case he's probably screwed.
 
Can Vlad make a push into Bulgaria or even Greece?

Yes... to raid the hell out of them... But not more.

The best Vlad could get is to consolidate his rule, obtain the recognition of the new Sultan/Regent, maybe as an independent state or at least as a "friend of the High Porte" with or without a symbolic tribute, smash the internal opposition and get good relations with Hungary and Moldavia. Maybe he will get involved in Ottoman politics (as his grandfather Mircea the Great) and stir up some revolts in Serbia and Bulgaria. But that's all, in the best case scenario.

Wallachia was in a terrible condition, it was ravaged by the war (by both sides, as Vlad adopted the scorch earth strategy while the Turks tried to loot even the smallest bit that the could get hands on), Moreover, Vlad was on the full paranoia of murders and executions of anyone he considered his enemy or acting dishonestly or being culpable of any crime and offense.

Most probably, the Boyars will try to kill Vlad once the great danger of Ottomans is diminished and get a "better" voivode on the throne, maybe even his own brother, Radu the Hansome. Mattias will definitely get even more jealous on his success (which will point to him as failing to provide the due help, as per their treaties and Pope mandate) and will try to remove him from power/capture/kill him.

And yes, the Turks will not forget, nor pardon the offense...
 
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ar-pharazon

Banned
Wouldn't such an action make him a hero-the man who fought the Turk and kept them at bay? Surely this would buffer his reputation?
 
Not just any Sultan, but the Great Eagle himself. The conquerer of Constantinople, the man who taught Europe to fear Turks anew. I daresay the avenger of Constantinople could rally support for himself, perhaps even for a renewed crusade if the fervor reached high enough.
 
Not just any Sultan, but the Great Eagle himself. The conquerer of Constantinople, the man who taught Europe to fear Turks anew. I daresay the avenger of Constantinople could rally support for himself, perhaps even for a renewed crusade if the fervor reached high enough.
The avenger of Constantinople seems like a title Vlad would be well placed to make use of.

I want that timeline. :3
 
I daresay the avenger of Constantinople could rally support for himself, perhaps even for a renewed crusade if the fervor reached high enough.
It will be very hard, and will probably need an entirely different person as Vlad rather than a stroke of luck. There will always be a lot of interest in European infighting once the Turkish threat has been lowered. So the Alt Vlad would need to be very persuasive, manipulative, and intelligent.
 
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