Encore of Europe: Gameplay Thread

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

It has come to His Sacred and Imperial Majesty the Sultan's attention, for there is no even the faintest of sounds that could escape His ears, that some of His subjects are worried the far-reaching development program is but a tantamount to the Ottoman State losing its historical identity by being "Europeised".

If for some unfortunate souls maintaining our splendid historical identity should amount to having a weak army and stagnant economy then yes, this is something We definitively do not want to see in Our realm.

But look at the history: there is so much the Europeans learned from orient, getting heavily influenced with our science and arts, without losing their identity. If we can use some of European ideas to make Our realm strong and Our subject prosperous, we shall not hesitate. For these efforts are not an imposed westernization, but modernization with unique Ottoman characteristics.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

The entire House of Osman salutes fallen Yongyan, Prince Jia of the First Rank, joining our Chinese brothers in mourning.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

His Sacred and Imperial Majesty Sultan Abdul Hamid Han is gravely alarmed by recent revelations regarding Persia's secret plans. The very idea of plunging the entire Asia and Europe into yet another war in the name of nothing but ill-considered lust of power is abhorrent to every sane man. Surely Seal of the Prophets (Peace Be Upon Him) watches us from heaven, where he sits at Allah's right side, and shakes his head in disbelief. As Successor of the Prophet of the Lord of the Universe and Custodian of the Holy Cities of Mecca, Medina and Kouds, the Sultan will strongly oppose such heathen ideas.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

The Most Sublime Ottoman State, having just reaffirmed its status as preeminent Muslim power, capable of projecting power across the wide globe, is very pleased with the reaction of independent Muslim rulers in West Indies to it's economic and political involvement in the region. We shall see it as our God-bestowed duty to forge close and permanent ties with said realms, as well as Mysore. His Sacred and Imperial Majesty Sultan Abdul Hamid Han's envoys shall pay respectful visits to our friends in order to hear of their ideas and expectations.

(OOC: I'm not ready to proclaim myself a protector of Sunni Muslims anywhere)

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

In His Divine Grace, Sultan Abdul Hamid Han, mercifully decided that no further reprisal nor forced relocation shall befall upon His Libyan subject, most of whom transgressed out of misguided sense of loyalty or due to pressure of their leaders. No mercy, however, shall be shown to ringleaders, for they have not only raised arms against the Sultan, their rightful sovereign, but also against Allah himself, by disobeying the Caliph.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

Trade Agreement between the Polish-Lithuanian Republic and the Sublime Porte

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xTadeusz Kościuszko

x Abdul Hamid

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

Having shown mercy in victory to his misguided subjects in Tripolitania, the Sultan is inclined to do the same in regard to his equally confused subjects in Serbia if they see errors of their ways and lay down their arms, abandoning treasonous aspirations. For they've been, after all, merely used by a formerly hostile foreign power, that since abandoned them. Shall they persist, however, the Sultan would have no choice but to reassert his rightful authority by all means necessary, just as he done in Tripoli. No matter how much sorrow he shall endure by ordering so. Serbian rebels are playing with fire that is bigger than themselves. For they not only are about to bring calamity upon their people, but are also threatening a great work of religious inclusiveness and equality of the Sultan's subjects everywhere.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

The Sultan wishes to congratulate his brother the Shah of completing many long years of Islamic studies at the seminary, followed by many even longer years of teaching and extensively researching the subject, since this is what it takes to become a Grand Ayatollah. It is regretful the world was unaware of the Shah long and hard way to attain the highest clerical title in the Usuli Twelver Shia denomination. Most impressive.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

It's been long clearly established and recognized the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople is the supreme religious authority of the Orthodox Church within the Ottoman realm. Therefore any foreign-based prelate claims to represent His Sacred and Imperial Majesty's Orthodox Christian subjects is simply illegitimate.

(Of course we're not referring to other established denominations, such as Church of Antioch)

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

It's been long clearly established and recognized the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople is the supreme religious authority of the Orthodox Church within the Ottoman realm. Therefore any foreign-based prelate claims to represent His Sacred and Imperial Majesty's Orthodox Christian subjects is simply illegitimate.

(Of course we're not referring to other established denominations, such as Church of Antioch)

The Shah of Persia, the Grand Ayatollah, and the Safaviyya Sheikh make no claim to authority over the subjects of other sovereign nations. The Orthodox Churches in the Caucasus are separate churches.

Thank you. It would indeed be very idiosyncratic for a Muslim to claim spiritual authority over a Christian church.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

It is with terrible sorrow the Sultan, upon being throughtly informed on the matter, learns the mighty and noble House of Giray, ruling Crimea for generations, had been largely wipped out during the invasion. As much as we would like to turn back the clock, the Crimea cannot be effectivelly defended while trying to maintain the old system. Incorporating Crimea into the Ottoman proper, while respecting its ancient traditions and rights of its inhabitants, is the only solution to keep the land Muslim and free.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

It is the Sultan's will the following paramilitary services shall be created:


Sekban Guard
Territorial- based cadres of professional officers and NCOs, temporarily transferred from the regular army, tasked with periodical drilling local recruits in preparation for regular service or, in case of those unfit for proper service, to work in non-combat capacities. The Sekban Guard shall be subjected to the Ministry of Defense (or whatever terminology is used for counterpart office).

Sultan's Militias
Based on the local level voluntary militia units (controlled by the Interior Ministry in peacetime), separate but coordinating with regular police or gendarmerie. (OOC: Kinda cross between Guardia Civil and ORMO.) Initially only a handful of such establishments shall be created as a pilot program.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

(One thing I've forgotten about)

The false Sultan's lieutenant and advisors, rightly held in His Sacred and Imperial Majesty's custody, are magnanimously offered His forgiveness for their transgressions. Those who will publicly renounce their past mistakes and swear allegiance to the Sultan shall be spared the executioner's tools and retained in benign custody pending evaluation of their future. Those who shall refuse the offering shall follow false Sultan's sons to their doom, much to the Sultan's sadness, but entirely on their own accord.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

The Sublime Porte respectfully asks H.E. President Verri to pause for just a moment and consider the very damage his recent hostile rhetoric is causing for Sardinia-Piedmont relations with the world.
[why being meen to our friends bruh?]

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

The Sultan respectfully offers his services as impartial mediator to avert full-scale war between Britain and Spain. Or, if the other mediating party is more desired, simply appeals to their respective majesties to show restrain at this fateful hour.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

The Sublime Porte recognized independence of Brazil early on and shall continue to do so.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

His Sacred and Imperial Majesty the Sultan is outraged by savage murder of the great Doge Carli and attack on the Most Serene Republic. While there is no military pact between Sublime Porte and Venice, we've been important partners, working together to restore order in Africa and cooperating to connect the Mediterranean and Red Seas by construction of the eight world wonder the Suez Canal shall rightly be known as.

As Allah is our witness, the Sultan, in his love for peace, did his best to help Sardinia-Piedmont in hope they will join a community of reasonable nations. But now we have no choice but to offer any aid Venice would request.  

We urge H.E. President Verri to act responsibly and in everybody's best interest by removing his troops from the Venetian soil.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

His Sacred and Imperial Majesty Sultan Abdul Hamid I Han wishes to applaud His Excellency, President Kościuszko, on his well-timed initiative of mediation.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

In order to properly honor great traditions of Crimean Khanate and the excint House of Giray, His Sacred and Imperial Majesty Abdul Hamid Han shall formally adapt their title, Khan of Khans of Two Seas. By doing this, He shall also send a clear signal to the world he will defend his Crimean subjects with the same ferocity as he'd defend Istanbul itself. And let it be known the Crimean nobility and high--ranking officials, that survived the carnage, shall now belong to the upper echelons of the Imperial society.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

In the name of His Sacred and Imperial Majesty Sultan Abdul Hamid Han, Sovereign of The Sublime House of Osman, Sultan of Sultans, Khan of the Khans of Two Seas, Commander of the faithful and Successor of the Prophet of the lord of the Universe, Custodian of the Holy Cities of Mecca, Medina and Kouds, Emperor of Rome, Padishah of The Three Cities of Istanbul, Edirne and Bursa, etc., etc.


Following His Majesty's intense diplomatic efforts, the government of the Holy People's Republic of Sardinia-Piedmont had agreed to take a necessary step toward restoration of peace and calm in Europe in general and Italy in particular, by completely withdrawing its forces from the Venetian territory, thus ending the Venetian-Sardinian war. The Sultan applauds H. E. President Verri on displaying his commitment for peace.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

Incredibly brutal murders of Prince Francis and Empress Maria Josepha has terrified his Sacred and Imperial Majesty, the Sultan. We hope the despicable deed was work of bloodthirsty individuals, and not a part of some devious wider campaign.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

While most of the European realms (with honorable exceptions, Poland-Luthuania in particular) still struggles with maintaining peace between various Christian denominations, not to mention non-Christian faiths, the Ottoman State is proudly standing by its traditions of religious tolerance and inclusiveness.

Make no mistake, the Ottoman State is a Muslim-majority reals and the Sultan takes his role as Caliph with utmost seriousness. However He is also proud of ruling over the land that is the cradle of three Abrahamic religions, which disciples lives together, under one banner and one crown. Although He believes Islam is the final, most perfect, religious denomination, and this is why we shall always remembers Jews and Christians believe in the same God, and that for a Muslim their Scripture directly precedes our Holy Quran. Ibrahim and Isa, known respectively as Abraham and Jesus, too are the propeths recognized by Islam, in the same line ending with Muhammad (Peace be Upon Him), the seal of Proptehs. Our Jewish and Christian bothers are no merely tolerated minority, but fellow men of God.

The Sultan would never claim liturgical and theological authority over Ottoman Christians and Jews. But he shall proudly assume a role of Protector. A Protector of their God-given right to live hand by hand with their Muslim brothers. A Protector from any scroundel wishing to ignite conflicts between the faiths. Who who does shall burn in fire. This is very easy for God

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

The Sublime Porte shall assist its Venetian friends in lifting their country from wartime damage, so the Most Serene Republic will regain its reigtful status as a major power. For without strong Venice there can be no stability in our region.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

It is His Sacred and Imperial Majesty Sultan Abdul Hamid Han's will the Austrians shall receive a complete cooperation from the Ottoman State.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

His grief understandable, but we appeal to His Imperial Highness Joseph II not to make accusations unless an unbeatable proof is obtained and presented to the world to judge.