The Tent on the Plain
Oct 7, 2016 15:44:42 GMT
August II "Mocny Sas", Médecin Mabusé, and 1 more like this
Post by Sublime Porte on Oct 7, 2016 15:44:42 GMT
Since the Sultan is far away from the government in Istanbul, his military councils now replace his usual meetings in the Divan chamber. The Sultan has been taking a far more direct role in the military aspects of campaigning than he was accustomed to in the civic government of his empire back home. Often, the Sultan would sit behind a grille above his council as his Grand Vezir conducted meetings of the Divan. Now, his Grand Vezir remains at home, without the Sultan’s watchful gaze, instead observed by his chamberlains. The Sultan had made some effort to change the detached rituals of the Sultan, who traditionally dines alone, rarely speaks in public even during his appearances, and sits remote and pious wherever he goes. At home Ahmet had spent far more time with his Viziers than previous Sultans, with the Enderun (Inner Palace) receiving a greater influx of visitors than ever before. Ahmet was fond of fostering philosophical discussions, and took a keen interest in artistic and scientific developments, though his wind was more creative than scientific. Walking through the Tulip gardens of the Seraglio, with his friends, reminded him of the philosophies of the ancient Epicureans. How right they were. Now, in war, he has sworn himself as a Janissary, speaks to his commanders and lower captains alike, studies maps and looks at the stars. He is determined to be more than a mere figurehead for this campaign, though, of course, the presence of the Caliph under the Banner of the Prophet can’t hurt the army’s morale.
Escorted by his household guard, the Sultan approaches the tent that has replaced his Divan chamber. The guards open the doorway for him to enter, and the guards within announce his presence.
“DESTUR!” yelled the attendant. “Sultan Ahmet Khan Hazretleri!”
With that, the Padishah enters the tent to see his Pashas and Aghas standing, heads bowed, in neat rows to the left and right of his bayram throne, beside which stood Koprullu Numan Pasha, his top commander and trusted advisor. Approaching the throne, the Sultan halts, turns to his commanders, raises his hands to either side of his head, and recites the Basmala, “Bismillah al-Rahman al-Rahim. In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful,” before taking his seat. The war council may now begin, and the attendees may raise their heads.
“What news from the Porte?” enquired the sovereign.
Stepping forward, “Hunkarum (your majesty), the Viziers report that the Treasury has been drained as ordered. The Janissary corps is set to expand, and many Azaplar have come forward to fight for you, my sovereign. Civic reforms continue, with Venetian traders establishing themselves, by your grace, in the Nile valley. Two new varieties of Tulip have been bred by a Pasha and a Celebi, and have been planted in preparation for your return, when you may examine them yourself.”
The first Pasha then bows his head and steps back in line. The Sultan asks the dread question, in Laconic style: “Rusya Çarı. The Russian Tsar.”
The Pashas hesitate. It is not an easy message to bear. The man responsible steps forward, starting with a stutter, “Hu- Hunkarum. The Tsar. Refuses peace. His demands are unreasonable. He asks for Crimea, Wallachia, Moldova. He asks that all armed men be withdrawn from Rumelia, leaving it undefended. He insults your dignity and demands that you break your word, severing the bond with your subjects the Hospodars of Wallachia and Moldova, and the Khan of Crimea. Following these demands he has begun military incursions into the territory of your subject, the Khan-”
“Enough. Nişancı, send a letter:” Ahmet paused as he waited for his Nişancı to begin the letter.
“To the King of the Rus, His Highness Peter Alexeyevich,
If you continue to refuse our offer of peace, on the basis of status quo ante bellum and the promise of renewed friendship and the end of all Crimean raids into Russian territory, then you shall seal your fate. If you bring the infidel into my house, bearing arms, then we shall respond in kind, eradicating his evil from the world. Thus, if you wage war, we shall be handed, by fate, the decree to eliminate your infamous wickedness from the world and, if God almighty wills, the lightning of our conquering sword shall uproot the untamed bramble grown to great heights in the path of the shining Divine Law and shall cast them down upon the dust of abjectness to be trampled under the hooves of our legions. The thunder of our avenging mace shall dash out the muddled brains of the enemies of the Faith as rations for the lionhearted. "And those who do wrong shall surely know by what means they will be overthrown." [Quran 26: 227]
But should you turn your hostile countenance to one of submission to our angelic threshhold - the refuge of the noble - should you lift up the hand of oppression from the heads of your subjects ruined by tyranny and sedition, and should you consider your lands and their people part of the well-protected Ottoman sovereignty, then shall you be granted our royal favor and our imperial patronage.
He whose face touches the dust of my threshold in submission will be enveloped in the shadow of my favor and my justice. How great the happiness of him who complies with this!
On the other hand, if your evil, seditious habits have become a part of your nature, that which has become essential can never again be accidental. What avail sermons to the black-hearted?
Then, with the support and assistance of God, I will crown the head of every gallows tree with the head of a thorn-crowned Romanov and clear that faction from the face of the earth - "The party of God, they are the victors" [Quran 5:56]. I will break the oppressors' grip with the power of the miraculous white hand of Moses, for "God's hand is over their hands." [Quran 48:10 ]
My triumphant troops "As though they were a building well-compacted" [Quran 61:41] will pursue you with unrelenting might. When destiny calls, you may not put it one hour back, nor forward. Your time has come, Tsar. The armies of the righteous shall fall on Russia like a deluge, and will slay your party wherever they find them, "So the last roots of the people who did evil were cut off, Praise be to God, the Lord of the Worlds." [Quran 6:45]
Make peace, or meet your end.
Thus speaks Ahmet, as God is his witness.”
Sultan Ahmet has stood to his feet for this tirade, remembering the words of Sultan Selim to the Shahs of Persia as best he could. The Tsar had forgotten who the true heirs to Rome were, and on whose side the True God marches. They shall be taught a lesson, in blood if necessary.
Escorted by his household guard, the Sultan approaches the tent that has replaced his Divan chamber. The guards open the doorway for him to enter, and the guards within announce his presence.
“DESTUR!” yelled the attendant. “Sultan Ahmet Khan Hazretleri!”
With that, the Padishah enters the tent to see his Pashas and Aghas standing, heads bowed, in neat rows to the left and right of his bayram throne, beside which stood Koprullu Numan Pasha, his top commander and trusted advisor. Approaching the throne, the Sultan halts, turns to his commanders, raises his hands to either side of his head, and recites the Basmala, “Bismillah al-Rahman al-Rahim. In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful,” before taking his seat. The war council may now begin, and the attendees may raise their heads.
“What news from the Porte?” enquired the sovereign.
Stepping forward, “Hunkarum (your majesty), the Viziers report that the Treasury has been drained as ordered. The Janissary corps is set to expand, and many Azaplar have come forward to fight for you, my sovereign. Civic reforms continue, with Venetian traders establishing themselves, by your grace, in the Nile valley. Two new varieties of Tulip have been bred by a Pasha and a Celebi, and have been planted in preparation for your return, when you may examine them yourself.”
The first Pasha then bows his head and steps back in line. The Sultan asks the dread question, in Laconic style: “Rusya Çarı. The Russian Tsar.”
The Pashas hesitate. It is not an easy message to bear. The man responsible steps forward, starting with a stutter, “Hu- Hunkarum. The Tsar. Refuses peace. His demands are unreasonable. He asks for Crimea, Wallachia, Moldova. He asks that all armed men be withdrawn from Rumelia, leaving it undefended. He insults your dignity and demands that you break your word, severing the bond with your subjects the Hospodars of Wallachia and Moldova, and the Khan of Crimea. Following these demands he has begun military incursions into the territory of your subject, the Khan-”
“Enough. Nişancı, send a letter:” Ahmet paused as he waited for his Nişancı to begin the letter.
“To the King of the Rus, His Highness Peter Alexeyevich,
If you continue to refuse our offer of peace, on the basis of status quo ante bellum and the promise of renewed friendship and the end of all Crimean raids into Russian territory, then you shall seal your fate. If you bring the infidel into my house, bearing arms, then we shall respond in kind, eradicating his evil from the world. Thus, if you wage war, we shall be handed, by fate, the decree to eliminate your infamous wickedness from the world and, if God almighty wills, the lightning of our conquering sword shall uproot the untamed bramble grown to great heights in the path of the shining Divine Law and shall cast them down upon the dust of abjectness to be trampled under the hooves of our legions. The thunder of our avenging mace shall dash out the muddled brains of the enemies of the Faith as rations for the lionhearted. "And those who do wrong shall surely know by what means they will be overthrown." [Quran 26: 227]
But should you turn your hostile countenance to one of submission to our angelic threshhold - the refuge of the noble - should you lift up the hand of oppression from the heads of your subjects ruined by tyranny and sedition, and should you consider your lands and their people part of the well-protected Ottoman sovereignty, then shall you be granted our royal favor and our imperial patronage.
He whose face touches the dust of my threshold in submission will be enveloped in the shadow of my favor and my justice. How great the happiness of him who complies with this!
On the other hand, if your evil, seditious habits have become a part of your nature, that which has become essential can never again be accidental. What avail sermons to the black-hearted?
Then, with the support and assistance of God, I will crown the head of every gallows tree with the head of a thorn-crowned Romanov and clear that faction from the face of the earth - "The party of God, they are the victors" [Quran 5:56]. I will break the oppressors' grip with the power of the miraculous white hand of Moses, for "God's hand is over their hands." [Quran 48:10 ]
My triumphant troops "As though they were a building well-compacted" [Quran 61:41] will pursue you with unrelenting might. When destiny calls, you may not put it one hour back, nor forward. Your time has come, Tsar. The armies of the righteous shall fall on Russia like a deluge, and will slay your party wherever they find them, "So the last roots of the people who did evil were cut off, Praise be to God, the Lord of the Worlds." [Quran 6:45]
Make peace, or meet your end.
Thus speaks Ahmet, as God is his witness.”
Sultan Ahmet has stood to his feet for this tirade, remembering the words of Sultan Selim to the Shahs of Persia as best he could. The Tsar had forgotten who the true heirs to Rome were, and on whose side the True God marches. They shall be taught a lesson, in blood if necessary.
