[Edirne(Adrianople), Ottoman Empire]
Edirne, a city steeped in centuries of history. Known as Adrianople during Byzantine times, it once boasted a thriving community of Thracian Greeks who identified themselves as Romans.
Nevertheless, the fortunes of the Byzantine Empire took a downturn as a dark cloud of misfortune began to loom over the region.
In 1341, Andronikos III Palaiologos passed away, leaving his 10-year-old son, John V Palaiologos, to ascend the throne.
A regency was established, consisting of John Kantakouzenos, the young Emperor's mother, Anna of Savoy, and the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, John XIV Kalekas.
But as the Romans always had done throughout their millennium of existence, myriad of court faction intrigue and power struggle diminished
Unfortunately, the rivalry between Kalekas and Kantakouzenos sparked a destructive civil war, with Kantakouzenos eventually emerging victorious in Constantinople in February 1347.
During this tumultuous period, the Byzantine Empire faced additional challenges like plague outbreaks, earthquakes, and relentless raids by the Ottoman forces.
Throughout the civil war, both sides of the conflict employed Turkish and Serbian mercenaries, causing widespread pillaging and devastation, particularly in the northern part of Macedonia, which fell under the control of the newly established Serbian Empire.
Following his victory, Kantakouzenos ruled as 'co-emperor' alongside John V, but that was only the face, instead, he seized the throne illegitimately while making sure that the boy emperor become the puppet in his behest.
The situation was dire for the inhabitants of Constantinople and other Byzantine towns in Thrace, who suffered from food shortages and depopulation.
The frequent naval incursions by the Ottomans from Asia, aided by their monemes and triremes, exacerbated the region's hardships.
This dual rule of John V and John VI Kantakouzenos eventually proved unsuccessful, leading to another civil war that further eroded Byzantium's integrity in the eyes of its neighbors.
John VI emerged victorious once again, and his son Matthew Kantakouzenos was appointed junior co-emperor in place of the exiled John V Palaiologos.
However, the situation escalated when the Ottoman forces, under Orhan I, the heir to Osman I captured the fort of Kallipolis in 1354, gaining access to the European mainland.
The imminent threat of the seemingly invincible Ottoman soldiers surrounding Constantinople sparked panic in the city.
Taking advantage of the situation, John V orchestrated a coup with the help of the Genoese and ousted John VI Kantakouzenos in November 1354.
The civil war continued, with Matthew Kantakouzenos receiving troops from Orhan and attempting to take Constantinople.
However, his capture in 1356 marked the end of his ambitions to become Emperor, and the Ottomans experienced a temporary setback as they had favored the overthrow of John V.
Following the conclusion of the civil conflict, there was a brief lull in fighting between the expanding Ottomans and the weakened Byzantines.
In 1361, Didymoteichon fell to the Turks, and Murad I, Orhan's successor, focused more on securing his Anatolian positions rather than expanding his father's legacy.
Nevertheless, the Ottomans continued their relentless expansion, capturing Philippopolis after significant campaigning between 1363–64 and Adrianople in 1369.
By this time, the Byzantine Empire was in no position to launch any significant counter-attacks or defense of these lands.
The Ottomans had become immensely powerful, and Murad I's victory over the Serbian army in the Battle of Maritsa in 1371 spelled the end of Serbian power in the region.
The Ottomans were now ever so slightly poised to conquer 'City of the World's Desire'.
Desperate to stave off defeat and complete destruction of the empire, John V sought support from the Pope, offering submission to Rome and the Papacy in return for military aid.
Despite publicly professing the Roman Catholic faith in St. Peter's Basilica, John V received no help whatsoever.
Left with no other choice, he decided to reason with the Ottomans as the last resort.
John V and Murad I reached an agreement in which Byzantium would provide regular tribute in the form of troops and money in exchange for security.
This marked the beginning of a time when the once-proud Roman Empire found itself under the heels of the rising Ottoman Empire.
Their legacy was tarnished, and their pride humbled as they bowed before the might of the Ottomans.
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[Saray-i Cedid-i Amire(New Palace), Edirne.]
Amidst the splendor of exquisite Turkish architecture, Sultan Mehmed I stood in the company of his trusted Grand Vizier, Beyezid Pasha, as well as esteemed Beylerbeyis and Pashas.
All eyes were fixed upon the meticulously crafted map spread before them, its surface adorned with miniature figurines resembling soldiers and flags, bringing to life the vast expanse of their realm.
Their focus was on the surrounding provinces of Anatolia, where the Sultan recognized a looming threat posed by the Mamluks and their vassal, the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia in the region of Cilicia.
Recent news from spies within the Mamluk capital of Cairo revealed that the current Mamluk Sultan, Al-Mu'tadid II, was urging his Armenian vassal to launch raids around Karaman and Rum.
Both Karaman and Rum were Beyliks, the sworn vassals of the Ottoman Empire, who had pledged their loyalty to the Osmanoglu dynasty, which reigned over the Turkish people after the dissolution of the Great Seljuk Empire.
This recent development proved to be a vexation for Mehmed I.
Just as he was on the cusp of solidifying his newfound ascendency, another opportunist emerged, attempting to undermine his rule.
Despite the looming threat posed by the Mamluks, Mehmed appeared relatively unfazed, having placed his trust in the capable hands of his Vizier, Orhan Öztürk, who had been a loyal ally throughout the Interregnum.
The new Sultan's main concern lies close to his capital, with the ongoing Bulgarian uprising south of the river Danube. Following the Balkan conquest by the Muslim Turks, the Bulgarians have vehemently resisted their rule, refusing to accept their infidel overlords.
This recent rebellion was ignited by a mysterious individual, a fervent Orthodox zealot and a passionate Bulgarian nationalist.
With unwavering conviction, he rallied supporters under his banner, and the foundations of Ottoman rule in Bulgaria were profoundly shaken.
Over the course of the past year, the Sultan had been inundated with a relentless stream of distressing news.
Reports of Turkish merchants being robbed, brutally killed, and left hanging; Turkish colonies left in ruins, engulfed in flames; and once-thriving cities such as Sofia, Vidin, Philippopolis, and Bursa terrorized by the enigmatic figure and their nationalist cohorts.
The alarming frequency of such events weighed heavily on the Sultan's heart, and he knew it was time to take decisive action.
"My esteemed Grand Vizier, have you made any progress in uncovering information about that treacherous individual?"
Sultan Mehmed I inquired, his voice calm but masking a seething anger beneath the surface.
Beyezid Pasha remained silent for a moment, while the surrounding Beylerbeyis and Pashas, who oversaw the provinces around Bulgaria, were drenched in sweat.
Fear was evident on their faces as they dreaded the consequences of encountering the wrath of their Sultan.
"And as for you," the Sultan directed his stern gaze towards the Beylerbeyis and Pashas,
"Your incompetence in handling these unruly Bulgarian dogs has left me perplexed and astonished."
"By God Almighty, if it was not for our current predicament, I would've had your heads on the chopping block with my own hands."
Mehmed I's fury was evident to everyone in the hall.
"My Sultan, I take full responsibility for not handling this situation proficiently. I humbly request your forgiveness,"
The Grand Vizier pleaded calmly, bowing before the Sultan.
"But if we persist in bickering amongst ourselves within this hall, while taking no action to quell these rebellions, we not only waste valuable time but also risk becoming no better than the Rum people, who engage in constant scheming and treachery behind each other's backs."
"However, we are not uncivilized savages, My Sultan. By God's grace, we have been given the power to bring these infidels to justice,"
Beyezid Pasha earnestly reminded the Sultan.
Though his words might sound bold, no one dared to object, for they all understood that without the guidance of the Grand Vizier, the current Sultan would have met his demise long ago, languishing in the depths of the Timurid dungeon somewhere below Samarkand.
Almost instantaneously, the Sultan regained his composure, realizing that he could not refute his magnanimous savior, Beyezid Pasha.
The Grand Vizier had been by his side since the disastrous Battle of Ankara and later during the Interregnum.
Without his unwavering guidance, the Sultan would have been naught but another life lost amidst the mountains of corpses he had left in his wake during his ruthless pursuit of the throne.
"Grand Vizier, what course of action do you propose? If we fail to locate this traitor, the rebellion may never come to an end,"
The Sultan earnestly inquired, turning to his trusted advisor for guidance.
"Fear not, my Sultan. By heeding my counsel, we shall not only quell this disobedience from its very core, but also firmly bring this entire region under our fold,"
Reassured the Grand Vizier, his wise eyes glimmering with determination.
With a confident hand stroking his beard, he initiated the revelation of his well-crafted scheme to the Sultan and the assembled governors.
The plan devised by the Grand Vizier was remarkably straightforward, a strategy honed and perfected over centuries since the inception of their Empire, rising from the remnants of Alp Arslan's Seljuk Rum, and eventually from the ashes of Sultanate of Rum.
Turkification was a policy implemented by the ruling Turkish authorities aimed at assimilating or integrating their foreign subjects into the dominant Turkish culture and identity, whilst also aggressively in curtailing the dominant Christian faith in the region.
The strategy involved capturing and subjugating their women, coercing their children into joining the infamous corps known as the Janissaries, and indoctrinating them to renounce their ancestral culture and faith.
When these objectives were accomplished, their resolute loyalty and unwavering devotion to the reigning Sultan were effectively secured, thereby preventing any further rebellions from the once-subjugated and assimilated subjects.
This notorious strategy proved successful in Anatolia, where the majority population was formerly Greek.
However, with the implementation of this policy, the region underwent a significant transformation, and its inhabitants began to identify themselves more closely with Turkish culture and heritage.
While it is important to note that Turkification was not the sole cause of these changes, as various Turkish colonies were established through migrations from different tribes across Central Asia and Persia, it undoubtedly played a significant role in reshaping the region's cultural landscape.
Through the implementation of this policy in Bulgaria and the surrounding Rumelia (Ottoman Europe territories), not only will the territories would be stabilized, but the people would also be successfully embraced by the rich tapestry of Ottoman culture and heritage.
As the Grand Vizier, Beyezid Pasha had a visionary goal to see this policy extended throughout the entire Ottoman Empire.
Growing up as the product of an intermarriage between an Albanian woman and a Turkish statesman, he was raised within the walls of the imperial palace, where he delved deep into the history of the Turks.
This exposure instilled a profound admiration for his mixed heritage, transforming him into a fervent Turkish nationalist who sought to unite all civilizations under the banner of the Turkish legacy.
Fortunately, the opportunity presented itself earlier than he had expected. As he guided and supported Mehmed I's rise to the throne during the Interregnum, his aspiration drew closer and closer to bringing his grand vision into reality.
"If what you have presented today is truly as impactful as you claim, then I find no reason to oppose such a policy."
"For generations, my ancestors have shown leniency to these uncivilized adversaries, believing they would remain loyal.
"However, by assimilating them into our rich culture, not only will our heritage flourish, but history will also herald the magnanimity of our people."
"With our strength, historians will hesitate to misconstrue our benevolence as weakness."
The Sultan's laughter echoed through the opulent palace hall, a genuine expression of his satisfaction with his Grand Vizier's proposal to implement the Turkification policy.
"Do you see now, esteemed governors, this is the resolve you must display while dealing with rebellious subjects."
"Let it be known that henceforth, take decisive action against those who challenge our authority. Raid these dogs' house, take their women, and forcefully conscript their children, if the men fought back, just kill them or nail them to the cross."
"Let their descendants worship their ancestors like how they idolize their false God."
The Sultan's voice dripped with malice and cruelty as he continued, his mind already consumed by the vision of his prosperous empire, basking in the smiles of his people, while reveling in the destruction of churches and monasteries within his domain.
And so dawned the age of terror and destruction within the Bulgarian 'millet'.
This dark chapter was etched into the annals of history, marking a significant milestone in the Ottoman Empire's tumultuous journey as they triumphantly quelled the rebellion that had been ravaging the empire.
Yet, as the Sultan himself proclaimed, no historian dared to associate these atrocities with the people of the Ottoman Empire or any of its sultans.
Instead, they eulogized the strategic moves, skillfully crafting a narrative that portrayed it as a natural and inevitable transition that had unfolded over centuries.