Became The Sultan Of The Ottoman Empire [EN]: Chapter 166

Became the Sultan of Osman – Episode 166

4 Princes (2)

The occupation of Hungary was most shocking to the Archduchy of Austria.

Although the Ottomans and Habsburgs had signed a peace treaty, it was a treaty that could become a worthless piece of paper at any moment.

For Austria, with its capital Vienna essentially becoming a border city, the Ottoman threat felt very real.

Archduke Ferdinand of Austria, who was even collecting separate taxes to prepare for an Ottoman attack, was taken aback when the Ottoman Prince Kasim came to Vienna in person.

“How is Prince Kasim doing?”

Ferdinand asked his chamberlain, recalling Kasim, whom he had met several times.

“He is meeting with nobles in the building he purchased, I hear.”

“…Are many people still gathering?”

The chamberlain bowed his head silently, the gesture serving as a sufficient answer.

Ferdinand made an unpleasant face.

Unlike Mehmed and Murat, whose names were already known in Europe, Kasim, whom he met for the first time, seemed to be merely skilled in etiquette.

‘It’s surprising that he knows European etiquette and can speak various languages, but I thought that was all.’

He was not just good at talking, but a resourceful prince.

He decorated the building he had purchased with permission in an exotic Ottoman style, served coffee to the nobles, and gathered people.

By the time Ferdinand realized that the signs were ominous, the building, dubbed the Ottoman Hall, was crowded with nobles who had fallen for coffee and noble ladies who were fond of Kasim.

“I don’t like him wandering around my city as if it were his own home, but I can’t stop him.”

He had already given permission, and reversing it would only provoke the Ottomans.

The war with France in the Lombardy region, including Milan, was prolonged, so he had to avoid friction with the Ottomans even more.

This meant that he could only watch as Kasim roamed Vienna as if it were his own home and built goodwill.

“I wish he would return to Buda soon. Anyone would think this place is Ottoman territory.”

Ferdinand said irritably and took a sip of the coffee Kasim had given him as a gift.

***

Yusuf took a sip of coffee and savored the aroma.

“Kasim seems to be doing well.”

From Hungary and Croatia to Bohemia, Yusuf received reports of Kasim’s success.

He even heard that Ferdinand, who had been hindered by all sorts of Ottoman interference, was delighted with the coffee gift.

At Yusuf’s words, Hassan, who had returned from India, twitched his scarred face.

“It’s fortunate that Prince Kasim is doing well, but I am concerned about the coffee houses in the empire.”

“Why, are there many who speak out of turn gathering?”

“That is so, Padishah [Ottoman Emperor].”

There is no policy that satisfies everyone, and this held true even in the Ottoman Empire ruled by Yusuf.

It was not strange for dissatisfied people to emerge and complain in coffee houses where many people gathered.

Yusuf calmly took a sip of coffee at Hassan’s complaint, which implied that he thought this should be stopped.

“Enough. There’s no need to get so worked up. It’s not like we can stop it anyway.”

If he was afraid of that, he would have strictly banned coffee from the beginning.

He could have erased coffee from history when it was just beginning to become popular in Mecca.

Considering that there are cafes everywhere even in modern times where you can easily drink coffee at home, it was obvious that coffee houses would be established now that coffee is a precious drink.

‘I already knew that coffee houses could endanger the dynasty.’

Not only in the Ottoman Empire, but also in European countries such as England and France, coffee houses were places where intellectuals gathered and where ideologies that sparked change converged.

If the dynasty were to be shaken over time, the coffee house would be the first place where the seeds of rebellion would grow.

“If the country is overturned because of the impure words coming from the coffee houses, then it is already in a situation where it will be overturned anyway. It’s just that the time has been brought forward.”

Hassan was startled by Yusuf’s words.

It was because he had uttered the devastating words that the royal family could collapse so calmly.

Yusuf chuckled when Hassan, one of the empire’s leading informants, couldn’t even manage his expression properly.

“Why are you so surprised? It’s something my descendants can do well.”

“All the princes are wonderful people now, but you never know what will happen in the distant future, do you?”

“As you said, an incompetent guy may inherit this position.”

The reason why Machiavelli, who was captured as a slave and worked as an oarsman, and is now earning foreign currency by staging plays in Venice, advocated for a republic was also because of this.

Because there is always the possibility that a foolish ruler who ruins the country will become king.

“The empire is not a country that will easily collapse just because one or two incompetent rulers appear.”

Even the Ottoman Empire in the original history had a brilliant lineup of incompetent rulers starting with Selim II, but it was still breathing until the early 20th century.

The Ottoman Empire is even more amazing than that, so it would not be easy to ruin it.

“Of course, it will collapse if there are more than one or two, but if it’s that ruined, isn’t it right to collapse? That would be much better for the people.”

“Padishah.”

It was a statement that would have been punishable by death if the person who said it was not the owner of the empire, and Hassan looked dizzy.

“Let’s not talk about the distant future that we won’t even see while we’re alive. Hassan Shaytan Bal Pasha.”

Hassan bit his lip tightly at the sound of his full name.

The introduction of surnames, which began with the census, had begun, and the full name was finally determined to follow the format of name, father’s surname, and mother’s surname.

This was because it was difficult to distinguish people with just one surname because there were so many people with the same name.

Anyway, work was underway to attach surnames, centered on the capital, and Hassan’s name was also decided.

Shaytan meant Satan, and Bal was a word meaning honey.

Hassan, who had the surname Satan’s Honey, clenched his fist tightly, and Yusuf smiled.

“Your name was the last will of Hersekzade Ahmed Pasha. He said to make sure to name you that.”

“I would have grabbed him by the collar if he hadn’t returned to Allah [died].”

“Still, isn’t it because he cared about you in his own way since you have the only surname in the empire?”

Since the population of the empire was not one or two, there were many cases where surnames overlapped.

Except for the Ottoman royal family, who only used the surname Ottoman, it was a luxury that only Hassan enjoyed.

Looking at Hassan smiling as if he had given up, it didn’t seem so bad.

Yusuf looked at the coffee that was about half left.

In Turkey, there is a saying that coffee is as dark as hell, as strong as death, and as sweet as love.

It was an appropriate medium to remember the old servant who had left his side.

“Seeing that Ahmed eventually passed away, a lot of time has passed.”

Ahmed, the father of Hatice Hatun and the grandfather of Murat, eventually passed away before the surname reform.

Since the old servant, who had been associated with him since he was a prince, had died of old age rather than overwork, it meant that a lot of time had passed.

‘This year is 1528, so I’m forty years old.’

Born in 1489, considering the Ottoman age calculation that counts one year old from birth, he was forty years old.

“It feels like I was enthroned just yesterday, but I’ve gotten old too.”

As Yusuf said, stroking his beard, Hassan bowed his head.

“Time seems to have passed by Padishah. You will lead the empire for a long time to come.”

If he looked young, it was thanks to the characteristics he had attached.

The points spent to buy characteristics in the store have doubled, but unlike when he was a prince playing in a narrow well, the points coming in after becoming Padishah are also considerable.

Thanks to this, he was able to buy characteristics such as longevity and vitality, and as Hassan said, his body was very healthy.

Yusuf raised one corner of his mouth.

“Not all subjects think like you. I heard that they are very worried about which prince to reach out to.”

“That is…”

“They may be worried about the succession. They are the ones who are there to worry about such things. And there are many who are concerned that the power of the princes is growing, aren’t there?”

“I am sorry, but that is so.”

The Ottoman Empire did not have primogeniture [inheritance by the eldest son], and it was common to wage civil wars when the time came for succession to the throne.

As such, no one wanted the power of the princes to grow and the civil war to grow.

‘If time passes like this and a civil war breaks out, the situation will be incomparable to the succession war I waged.’

More than 100,000 troops were mobilized in the last succession war, but a war that would make that look like nothing would break out.

Even if the longevity characteristic means that the princes die before him, there is nothing to change as they will eventually wage a civil war among their grandchildren.

“It’s not that there’s no way to prevent civil war. I can just hand over the position before I die.”

“Padishah.”

In the Ottoman Empire, Yusuf’s decision is absolute.

Even in the coffee houses where the empire’s complaints gather, there is only praise for Yusuf.

If Yusuf handed over the position and the enthroned prince protected the Padishah’s position until it was firmly established, the other princes would not dare to revolt.

Yusuf twisted his lips towards Hassan, who was making a surprised face.

“Did you think that I would be attached to this position and only try to hold on to it until I die? Or do you think my mind will change over time?”

“How can I doubt Padishah’s heart for the empire?”

“I understand if you doubt it. Isn’t power sweeter than coffee?”

The power that Padishah has is enormous. If there is something he wants, he can take it regardless of whether it is an object or a person.

People can’t easily give up even the small amount of money they hold in their hands, let alone strong power.

This will may be worn down by time, leaving only the ugly appearance of trying not to let go of power. He may fall into the arrogance that he is the only one who can lead the empire.

‘But, that shouldn’t be the case.’

Yusuf coldly looked at the gun hanging on the wall.

It would be better to die than to remain in such a pathetic state.

“If I’m going to do such a stupid thing, wouldn’t you kill me?”

“Padishah?!”

Yusuf smiled at Hassan, who jumped up in surprise.

“I’m just kidding. Don’t worry, I’m not a weak human being who can be eaten away by time. It wouldn’t be bad to step down from this position and live while looking around the world.”

Padishah’s life is directly related to the safety of the empire, so he can’t move as he pleases.

It seemed like a good way to spend the rest of his life by lightly giving up his position and seeing the world that he could only see on the map.

Having said that, Yusuf got up from his seat.

“My mother hasn’t been feeling well lately.”

“I have heard rumors that Valide Hatun [Queen Mother] is not feeling well. There are many subjects, including me, who are worried.”

Fatima is also close to sixty years old.

There are people who live to be over 100 years old even in this era, but it was an age where he had to worry about things that might happen.

Yusuf ordered Hassan.

“My mother said she wants to see the princes and Hatuns [Princesses/Noble Women]. I am thinking of calling them all to the capital so that they can see her while she is still healthy.”

It seemed like an order to fulfill his mother’s request, but it was not an order to be taken so simply.

It was an event in which all the princes who had left for Sanjakbey [Provincial Governor] and the Hatuns who had left the harem gathered in the capital.

The ripple effect was on a different level than when Mehmed and Murat stayed in the capital last time, and it was something that had never happened in the history of the Ottoman Empire.

Hassan bowed his head at the thought of the royal family gathering in one place.

“I will obey your command.”

As Hassan left, Yusuf put his hands behind his back and looked at the family portrait hanging on the wall.

Yusuf smiled as he looked at the young 모습 [image] of the princes and the 모습 [image] of Hatuns such as Ayşe, Hatice, and Gülfer for a long time.

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen you.”

***

-Kyah!

Murat, who was holding the neck of a small animal, turned his head.

“What did you say?”

When Murat asked again, Yagiz Pasha said clearly once again.

“Padishah has summoned all members of the royal family to the capital. The Hatuns, including Hatice Hatun, must also go to the capital.”

“What’s the reason?”

“He said it was to allow them to see her face, even if only a little, while Valide Hatun is still healthy.”

He had been worried after hearing the news that Fatima’s health was not good.

When he was in the harem, he scolded her a lot, but he knew very well that it came from affection, and there was no prince who hated Valide Hatun.

“Of course, this is the superficial reason, and there is a high possibility that there will be talk related to the succession.”

“The reason doesn’t matter. Either way, I have to go. Hmm, it would be nice to take a cat as a gift.”

Muslims regarded cats favorably due to the influence of Muhammad, who called cats his friends, so Murat thought it was a good gift.

The animal, which was destined to become a gift in an instant, waved its feet with its claws raised, and Yagiz Pasha sighed.

“Prince, aren’t cats and lions different?”

“Lion cubs look like cats, so it’s okay. It’s just a little fierce.”

Murat replied shamelessly.

***

-Michelangelo, I am planning to draw a new portrait with my family members gathered in one place this time, but has your opinion on castration not changed yet?

Michelangelo, who received Yusuf’s letter, seriously considered whether he should meet a woman.

The members of the royal family gathered in the capital one by one.