Became The Sultan Of The Ottoman Empire [EN]: Chapter 111

Became the Sultan of Osman – Episode 111

Sacred and Inviolable (1)

Spending the same time every day is what we call a routine.

Working when the sun rises and sleeping when the sun sets.

For the subjects who see the same scenery until they die, rumors were more stimulating than any other entertainment.

The most talked-about story among the subjects was the Sultan’s achievements in punishing the treacherous Georgia and the Safavids.

“They say that as soon as the Sultan set foot in Georgia, the people, ashamed before Allah, drove out the nobles!”

“Hey, that’s nonsense.”

“No! It’s true! A noble family from that place moved to a nearby village and told me. They weren’t guilty of a crime against the Sultan, so their lives were spared.”

“I heard that the Shiite [a branch of Islam] bastards in the east burned their own land like cowards without even fighting once.”

“How dare those cowards stick their heads out in front of the Sultan? Huh?!”

Those gathered at the barley tea shops, established throughout the empire by the Sultan’s order, cheerfully raised their voices.

Because he ascended the throne with an earthquake prophecy, many believed Yusuf’s words even if he said he would make bread from stone powder, and the unfamiliar barley tea shops were easily accepted.

In fact, stomachaches and sick children decreased, and in the cold winter, it became a place where adults gathered and chatted.

“By the way, have you heard that rumor? I heard it from a merchant who travels to and from the capital the other day.”

“Are you talking about the portrait?”

When someone cut in, the man who was about to start the story frowned.

“Hey! There are times when you should be quiet!”

“Don’t get angry, just tell me the story! What portrait?”

“Ahem, they say a portrait of the Sultan is being painted in the capital. And it will be enshrined in various parts of the empire so that commoners like us can see it! That’s it.”

Those who hadn’t heard the rumor widened their eyes at this.

Ordinary subjects were not allowed to see the Sultan’s face.

Even those living in the capital had to bow their heads when the Sultan passed by, so there were only rumors.

Some said he was incredibly handsome, while others said he looked so scary that enemies would wet themselves.

Even though it was a painting, they were thrilled to have the honor of seeing the Sultan’s face.

“Will it come to our city too?”

“Well, I don’t know. Our empire is so vast. It might not come.”

“But our Sanjakbey [governor of a district] would do something about it, wouldn’t he?”

The Sanjakbeys, who received such expectations from the subjects, felt burdened.

It wasn’t just a matter of disappointing the subjects. The problem was that the difference in ability between the Sanjakbeys would be revealed.

Each Sanjak would be given one portrait anyway, but anything more than that depended on the Sanjakbey’s ability.

‘I have to get more than the Sanjak next door, at least.’

If it were just a normal painting, they would make copies, but if they copied the Sultan’s portrait, their heads would fly off. And if they missed this opportunity, they didn’t know when they would make another portrait.

The Sanjakbeys moved their heavy bodies with the thought that they might be compared to others for at least several years, or even a lifetime if they went wrong.

The first to reach out were the two Beylerbeys [governor-general] in charge of the Balkans and Anatolia.

“We have to get more portraits than Rumelia [Ottoman territory in the Balkans], at least.”

“Isn’t it natural since our Anatolia [Ottoman territory in Asia Minor] has a larger territory?”

“That’s not wrong.”

Rumelia and Anatolia, the two pillars of the empire, were very different from each other.

Even the Sipahis [cavalry soldiers] were armed like European knights in Rumelia and like nomads in Anatolia, weren’t they?

There was bound to be some rivalry.

Dukakinzade Ahmed Pasha, the Sanjakbey of Ankara who assassinated Korkut under Yusuf’s orders, stroked his beard.

“Okay, I’ll try my best.”

“Thank you!”

The Beylerbey of Rumelia made the same decision.

Even though the Balkans had less territory, it was a lucrative area that paid a lot of taxes.

The two regions did not hesitate to lobby the officials staying in the capital, and this movement eventually reached Yusuf’s ears.

With the portrait causing unexpected regional conflicts, Yusuf declared firmly.

“Only one portrait will be placed per Sanjak. However, Trabzon will be an exception and will be given two portraits.”

The noisy atmosphere calmed down a bit with this declaration.

Trabzon, where Yusuf was the Sanjakbey, was the only exception, but it was understandable enough.

The commotion subsided with this decision, but the interest in the portrait deepened as it had been noisy for two months; even ordinary subjects knew about it.

There was no need to worry about the backlash against temporarily placing portraits in churches and mosques.

It was an incident that would later be called the Portrait Disturbance among historians, and it was even known as gossip in the West not long after.

Of course, the Pope, who learned about Michelangelo’s position—who left behind half a masterpiece and disappeared—grabbed his neck in frustration.

Anyway, Michelangelo completed all the portraits with the single-mindedness of sculpting, regardless of the commotion outside, and the portraits were moved to various places under extreme escort.

***

With the Sultan’s return, Ayşe and Hatice newly established their homes in the harem [private living quarters of a ruler’s wives, concubines, and female relatives].

This was not just about adding two women; it meant that the power within the harem was shifting.

Nigar and Gülfer, who had gained the status of concubines by gaining the Sultan’s favor, bowed their heads to the two Hatuns [a title of respect for women in the Ottoman Empire] without resistance.

‘They said it’s hard to be in the Sultan’s arms again if you upset the two Hatuns.’

Hürrem always kept her ears open to survive in the harem.

Fortunately, even the women in the harem, who knew that their heads would be cut off for gossiping, became light-hearted in front of the still-young Hürrem.

Besides, since she was not old enough to be called by the Padishah [Ottoman Sultan], she could step back and observe the trends in the harem.

‘The forces are divided into two.’

The easiest way to gain the Sultan’s favor is to be good to Valide Hatun [the Sultan’s mother] and Hatun.

Women from Orthodox regions, including Circassians, gathered around Ayşe. Muslims gathered around Hatice.

The harem forces were divided into two to the extent that Hürrem could also tell, but they gathered in one place today without distinction.

“This is the Padishah’s portrait.”

The women stared blankly at the portrait hanging in the harem.

It was a portrait that could not have been hung without the request of Fatima and the two Hatuns, and the women who saw the Sultan’s portrait felt their hearts beating.

It was such a vivid painting that it seemed like the Sultan would walk out of the painting, and the women couldn’t take their eyes off it for a while.

This painting was enough to make Hürrem, who had been acting cautiously as if walking on thin ice, take bolder actions than usual.

“Ayşe Hatun.”

“What is it?”

Hürrem mustered up the courage to ask, facing her bright blonde hair and warm green eyes.

“How did you meet the Padishah?”

“Are you curious about that?”

Ayşe curved her eyes beautifully.

Yusuf’s appearance at that time, reaching out to her who was being sold to a slave trader, was still vivid in her mind.

Hürrem, who listened to the story, savoring each memory with an excited face, couldn’t bear it and picked up a pen the next day.

***

Yusuf looked at the portrait of himself.

It is a work where you can definitely feel that Michelangelo is a genius. The mass-produced portraits were this good.

“Grand Vizier [chief minister of the Ottoman Empire], what is the reaction to the portrait?”

“Aya Sophia [Hagia Sophia], where the portrait is hung, is so crowded every day that there is no room to set foot. Other regions are said to be in a similar situation.”

“That’s good. It would have been embarrassing if there was no reaction.”

Yusuf asked Grand Vizier Hersekzade Ahmed Pasha, who was smiling softly.

“Do you meet with Hatice?”

“I contact her occasionally.”

“Come to think of it, your relationship is quite long.”

Quite a long time has passed since I first met the Grand Vizier in my adolescence.

It was when he was starting to show his talent, but no one thought he would become the Sultan. He didn’t even try to meet a mere vizier.

That’s why I was quite surprised when Hessekzade, who had even served as Grand Vizier, reached out.

“You made me sweat because you brought up the fact that I was embezzling gunpowder.”

“I’m sorry. I was rude at that time.”

“That’s enough. Hasn’t too much time passed to bring that up? And the gift I received at that time was also strong.”

I had no intention of tormenting him over old things. It was also a meeting that had more advantages than disadvantages.

Yusuf carefully looked at the Grand Vizier, who had a slightly nervous face.

“Time is more cruel to those who are old. Unlike then, your face is full of wrinkles.”

“Isn’t that Allah’s providence?”

“But I won’t be too disappointed because you have a reliable grandson like Murat.”

Unlike the lips with a gentle smile, the Grand Vizier lowered his body even more at the gaze that exuded a cold aura.

Because he felt that the conversation that would follow would not be light.

“Grand Vizier, Murat is my son, but he has quite a talent.”

Even if guns and cannons are the main weapons in the future, individual martial power is not entirely meaningless.

There are areas where it is difficult to use guns, such as Africa and the jungle, and it may rain and make it impossible to use gunpowder.

The worse the conditions, the more Murat’s martial power will shine, and Yusuf was planning to give him such opportunities appropriately.

“But his rival, Mehmed, is not an easy guy either.”

“…I know.”

I realized for sure because I actually talked to Mehmed.

Only monsters are born from the blood of monsters.

“If I were Mehmed, I would attack you to catch Murat.”

“Padishah?!”

“Why are you so surprised? It’s not impossible to catch you. Don’t you think you’re just watching because you’re clean?”

“I, I’m sorry, Padishah!”

The Grand Vizier prostrated and begged, and Yusuf waved his hand.

Even in modern times, where you have to be aware of the eyes of the entire nation, corruption is rampant, but in this era, it was more severe, not less.

If it’s at an appropriate level, I just know it and pass it over.

‘Because it’s good to use it as a justification when purging.’

Paying money and holding the lifeline was a pretty good exchange.

“That’s enough. I didn’t call you to punish you. Anyway, you can be Murat’s weakness at any time.”

If the opponent was an ordinary prince instead of Mehmed, it wouldn’t be a problem.

No matter how much of a prince he is, it is never easy to blow the Grand Vizier’s head off.

However, if it was Mehmed, who even Suleiman feared, the story was a little different.

The Grand Vizier, who had barely calmed down at Yusuf’s words, asked.

“What do you want me to do?”

“You may be sad, but you have to prepare to step down from your position.”

Once you go down this time, you will never be able to dream of the Grand Vizier position again.

Hersekzade, who had been Grand Vizier three times, felt regret for a moment but soon accepted it.