King and Country - Gameplay Thread (Old)

[Donerail]

DECREES OF THE SUBLIME AND ETERNAL OTTOMAN STATE FOR THE YEAR 1080-1081

We are gratified to hear of the economic fortunes that have brought such wealth to the Ottoman state and its people. In pursuance of increased prosperity, we see fit to institute the following reforms, to ensure the eternal strength of the state and the welfare of its subjects.

To ensure our continued dominance of the Mediterranean and Black Seas, we shall expand our navy by ten ships every year for the next eight years. Our new galleons shall be 80-gun ships, each with crews of 400, capable of matching and defeating any Christian vessel. This program of construction shall be funded by a comprehensive review of the janissary payrolls, the staffing of other bureaus (in particular, the palace kitchens and stables), and the retirement payments to former governments and other senior officials of the state. Additionally, we shall systematically collect all overdue installment payments from investors in tax farms, on penalty of reassignment of their investment.

We have also come to believe that a fair price for goods in the marketplace is best determined by a mutual agreement between buyer and seller, rather than the decree of the state. Accordingly, we have concluded that the abolition of the narh regime is in order, and will proceed to gradually reduce all state-imposed price restrictions.

The Imperial Divan has been tasked with formulating a standard procedure for the issue of state directives to the provinces, and the acceptance of provincial petitions. These standardized forms of communications shall increase the efficiency of record-keeping, and contribute to the prosperity of the realm.

We shall also legalize and tax the sale and consumption of tobacco, and institute new taxes on the sale and purchase of luxury goods, such as coffee. The revenue from these taxes shall be used to reduce taxes on the Muslim and non-Muslim reaya. Additionally, the jizyah shall now be collected on individual adult free males, rather than assessing the maqtu on communities.

We shall gladly participate in the convention proposed by the Austrian king, such that war may be made more humane and just for all participants.

So be it ordered.



Sultan Mehmed Han, Sovereign of the Sublime House of Osman, Sultan es Selatin, Khakhan, 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, Kayser-i Rum, Padishah of The Three Cities of Istanbul, Edirne  and Bursa, and of the Cities of Châm and Cairo, of all Azerbaijan, of the Magreb, of Barkah, of Kairouan, of Alep, of the Arab and Persian Iraq, of Basra, of El Hasa strip, of Raqqa, of Mosul, of Parthia, of Diyâr-ı Bekr, of Cilicia, of the provinces of Erzurum, of Sivas, of Adana, of Karaman, of Van, of Barbaria, of Habech, of Tunisia, of Tripoli, of Châm, of Cyprus, of Rhodes, of Crete, of the province of Morea, of Bahr-i Sefid, of Bahr-i Siyah, of Anatolia, of Rumelia, of Bagdad, of Kurdistan, of Greece, of Turkestan, of Tartary, of Circassia, of the two regions of Kabarda, of Gorjestan, of the steppe of Kipchaks, of the whole country of the Tatars, of Kefa and of all the neighbouring regions, of Bosnia, of the City and Fort of Belgrade, of the province of Sirbistan, with all the castles and cities, of all Arnaut, of all Eflak and Bogdania, as well as all the dependencies and borders, and many others countries and cities, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.

[Donerail]

A NOTICE
To all nations and peoples of the world

That the Sublime, Eternal, and Well-Defended Territories of the Ottomans, represented by the Sultan Mehmed Han Hazretleri, Sovereign of The Sublime House of Osman, Commander of the Faithful and Successor of the Prophet of the Lord of the Universe, et cetera, has reached the following agreement with the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands and the person of Johan de Witt, the Grand Pensionary thereof:

I. Each signatory agrees to in every way respect those merchants of the other party, to not unnecessarily delay or burden them in their travels, and in general to entrust them with those same rights afforded his own merchants.
II. Each signatory agrees to not level any fees or taxes on the docking of trading and commercial vessels in his harbors beyond those levied upon his own vessels.
III. The signatories agree to a general reduction of tariffs, at the rate of 5% each year over the next three years, on all goods traded between themselves.

Sultan Mehmed Han, Sovereign of the Sublime House of Osman, Sultan es Selatin, Khakhan, 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, Kayser-i Rum, Padishah of The Three Cities of Istanbul, Edirne  and Bursa, and of the Cities of Châm and Cairo, of all Azerbaijan, of the Magreb, of Barkah, of Kairouan, of Alep, of the Arab and Persian Iraq, of Basra, of El Hasa strip, of Raqqa, of Mosul, of Parthia, of Diyâr-ı Bekr, of Cilicia, of the provinces of Erzurum, of Sivas, of Adana, of Karaman, of Van, of Barbaria, of Habech, of Tunisia, of Tripoli, of Châm, of Cyprus, of Rhodes, of Crete, of the province of Morea, of Bahr-i Sefid, of Bahr-i Siyah, of Anatolia, of Rumelia, of Bagdad, of Kurdistan, of Greece, of Turkestan, of Tartary, of Circassia, of the two regions of Kabarda, of Gorjestan, of the steppe of Kipchaks, of the whole country of the Tatars, of Kefa and of all the neighbouring regions, of Bosnia, of the City and Fort of Belgrade, of the province of Sirbistan, with all the castles and cities, of all Arnaut, of all Eflak and Bogdania, as well as all the dependencies and borders, and many others countries and cities, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.

[Donerail]

A LETTER
Of Sultan Mehmed IV, to the pig-dog Alexis who styles himself "King of the Russians"

Though you are as a puny fly to a Great Crocodile, your attacks upon Ottoman land in the Caucasus must nevertheless be addressed with all deliberate force. I command you to submit to me voluntarily and without resistance, and to recognize all lands south of Nicopsia east to Tarki as sovereign and involiable territories of the Ottoman State, and to desist at once from all attacks upon the Eternal, Supreme, and Well-Defended Ottoman State and her Territories.

Thus You Are Commanded By:

Sultan Mehmed IV Han Hazretleri, Sovereign of The Sublime House of Osman, Commander of the Faithful and Successor of the Prophet of the Lord of the Universe, son of Muhammad, brother of the Sun and Moon, grandson and viceroy of God, Caesar of Rome, Sultan es Sultan, Khakhan, Padishah of the kingdoms of Macedonia, Babylon, Jerusalem, Upper and Lower Egypt, Custodian of the Holy Cities of Mecca, Medina and Kouds, emperor of emperors, sovereign of sovereigns, extraordinary and never-defeated knight, steadfast guardian of the tomb of Jesus Christ, trustee chosen by God Himself, the hope and comfort of Muslims, the confounder and great defender of Christians, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.

[Donerail]

A Declaration From The Imperial Palace

After extensive and fruitful negotiations, His Imperial Majesty the Sultan has agreed to a comprehensive pact of non-aggression between his Domains and those of the Austrian Queen-Regent. His Imperial Majesty is pleased with this development, and expresses his full confidence in a renewed time of peace and security along the northern border.

Pact of Non-Aggression Between the Archduchy of Austria and the Sublime Porte [Treaty of Zounok]:
I. The parties agree that they shall respect one another's national borders, reflecting the current territorial arrangement along the Hungarian border, and to undertake no action which would lead to the alteration of their current borders.
II. The parties agree to in all cases respect one another's rights as sovereign states.
   a. This includes respecting the rights of citizens of the parties, abroad and on the high seas.
III. This agreement shall endure for the subsequent five years.
   a. Both parties agree, in the absence of any violations of the agreement, to meet and discuss the renewal of the treaty at that time.

x His Sacred and Imperial Majesty Sultan Mehmed Han Hazretleri, Sovereign of The Sublime House of Osman, Sultan es Selatin, Khakhan, 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, Kayser-i Rum, Brother of the Sun and Moon; Grandson and Viceroy of God, the hope and comfort of Muslims, and the confounder and great defender of Christians, et cetera et cetera, may he reign eternal.