The Bosphorus Caesar's public declaration reached his Brother-in-law, Constantine XI, but only caused him confusion: Was this truly his Brother-in-law's original intention?
However, being on the front lines of the Corinth Isthmus, he did not pay too much attention to this matter. Instead, he shook his head regrettably and then shifted his focus back to himself and the Roman Empire.
After Murad II's abdication was confirmed, Constantine, having received the call from the Holy See, finally decided to respond to the Crusaders and wage war against the Ottoman.
To prepare for all contingencies, he laid the groundwork: Chancellor Lucas Notaras was left in Constantinople to guard the capital and ensure the city remained neutral, preventing Constantinople from being drawn into the war.
He, as previously mentioned, brought most of his staff to Morea and declared war on the Ottoman in the name of the Despotate of Morea, though he personally commanded the entire operation.
Now, beside the Basileus in the central army camp, Foreign Affairs Director George Sphrantzes stood on his left, while the Roman Empire's current Army Commander, Andronikos Palaiologos Kantakouzenos, stood on his right.
These two, serving as the Emperor's left and right arms, were dressed in military attire, their expressions solemn as they reported military intelligence to their Emperor in turn.
"By the way, Sultan, the spy you sent to gather intelligence on the Ottoman has returned," Sfrantzis reported to the Basileus with a bow at the end of his briefing.
"Let him in. I need to hear his observations from the Ottoman right now," Constantine, sitting at a birch wood table, waved his hand, allowing the spy he personally placed in the Ottoman to report back.
The spy he sent was named John Wilt, a prominent native Frankish Roman official whom he had always highly valued.
This man had extensive connections; although he had no Greek blood, he was very fluent in Greek dialect, also believed in orthodox, and was extremely loyal to Constantine himself.
After seeing the Basileus, offering his greetings, and reporting on the state of the Ottoman army he had observed, Wilt directly presented an astonishing proposal to his monarch:
"Sultan, in my humble opinion, we should not intervene rashly this time. According to my investigation of the Ottoman, these Turks are not someone you can defeat."
Seeing that the Basileus's expression remained unchanged, he steeled himself and advised him bluntly: "Your declaration of war against a Sultan who commands all of Asia and Europe is simply bringing unwarranted disaster to Morea.
If the Ottoman counterattack, there is no place here that can be defended, not even with the double defensive fortifications you built on the Corinth Isthmus, let alone Thessaly, where we might only be able to get a foothold.
Therefore, in the name of Allah, Basileus, quickly send envoys to negotiate with the Sultan, lest we be utterly destroyed by evil fate."
With that, Wilt looked up at Constantine sincerely.
At this moment, the Basileus's expression finally changed, but it was not contemplation or understanding, but rather a body trembling with anger, as he furiously retorted,
"Not today, nor tomorrow. Has Allah given us a long history and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity only for us to abandon it!?"
At this point, Constantine XI, overcome with emotion, finally flew into a rage and directly ordered his subordinate to be detained and sent to prison under house arrest, ostensibly to let him calm down.
After the Frankish man was thrown into prison by the Basileus, neither Sfrantzis nor Andronikos Kantakouzenos dared to breathe: they both saw that this time, the Basileus, who usually had a good temper, was truly furious.
"Now, does anyone else have any opinions?" Constantine turned his head, glancing at his subordinates.
"No, Sultan!" all the officials replied in unison.
"Good, issue my decree: the army will set out in one week," Constantine said, closing his eyes, as if holding his breath, and drew the sword from his waist,
"Northern Expedition!"
In early August 1444, Moria Despotate Thomas, on behalf of the Despotate of Morea, launched a Northern Expedition against the Ottoman.
At the same time, the Roman Empire's Chancellor, Lucas Notaras, on behalf of Constantinople, declared strict neutrality, neither participating in this military action nor providing any support for Morea's "independent action."
However, it was clear to anyone with discerning eyes that the true leader of this Northern Expedition in response to the Crusaders was Emperor Constantine XI; his imperial brother's declaration of war against the Ottoman was merely a facade.
Unable to cope with the enemy, the new Sultan, Sultan Aladdin Ali, had no choice but to grudgingly accept the Roman Empire's deceptive actions, acknowledging Constantinople's neutral stance.
Even so, the young Sultan could not stop the Crusaders, who were like tigers and wolves.
After just over half a month, Władysław III, aided by Hunyadi and Cardinal Cesarini and guided by Bulgarian rebels, led twenty thousand elite troops directly to Sofia, the Ottoman's central city in the Bulgaria region.
This time, the Rumelia Legion, whose strength had been depleted by previous battles, was largely unable to withstand the Crusaders' fierce assault.
Soon, the two great generals, Kasim Pasha and Turahan Bey, were defeated, retreating in disarray to Edirne after abandoning nearly ten thousand corpses.
Now, a twenty-thousand-strong allied army from Poland, Hungary, Bosnia, and Lithuania had entered Sofia.
The Bulgarians, led by rebel leaders, openly opposed Ottoman rule.
The two principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia, having combined six thousand men, majestically joined the main Crusader force led by Władysław.
The Albanian Despotate also led troops into Southern Albania and Northern Epirus.
The Despotate of Morea, after swiftly taking control of the Principality of Athens, continued its Northern Expedition.
The Knights Hospitaller and the Burgundian navy also showed no signs of abandoning any attempts to land in Asia Minor from the sea…
The Ottoman Sultanate was in grave danger.
As a result, Sultan Aladdin Ali's already weak prestige, having just ascended to the throne, was completely lost due to the crushing defeat.
The Janissaries even caused trouble outside the palace, coercing him to abdicate.
Ultimately, the young Sultan, whose mental state had exploded, had to rely on Grand Vizier Halil Pasha to negotiate with the Janissaries about his next course of action.
The Janissaries' demand was: to bring back the old Sultan Murad from Brusa, and for him to abdicate immediately.
Under the pressure of internal and external difficulties, Sultan Aladdin Ali finally accepted their demands, personally writing a letter for Mahmud Pasha to deliver to his father, requesting him to lead the Anatolia Legion back to the throne—
"If you believe you are the Sultan, then return and lead your army; if you believe I am the Sultan, then I command you to come and lead my army."
In the Brusa palace, after reading this passage from his beloved son's letter, Murad smiled wryly with some relief and stretched lazily.
"Allah above, it seems my old bones must remain on the golden throne in Edirne until death."
As he muttered this, the Sultan, who had previously appeared indolent, his eyes became sharp and ruthless, and he commanded his son-in-law, who was kneeling beside him, as if he were still in Edirne directing the battle:
"Help me inspect the troops and prepare to return to Rumelia. Allah is with us, the time has come to drive out those Kafir."
Before leaving the room, Murad seemed to remember something and cautiously asked Mahmoud a question, "By the way, have the Bosporus Romans to the east had any unusual movements recently? Especially militarily."
After careful thought, Mahmud Pasha bowed and replied, "Reporting, Sultan, the Romans in Pontus seem to have gathered all their elite troops at the port rather than in the mountain passes, and they have additionally conscripted an unknown number of militias in the Pontus region for defense.
Furthermore, they have openly sold a large number of bonds to the public, which should be their Caesar's way of raising funds."
After hearing Mahmoud's reply, Murad fell into a long silence.
After a while, the old Sultan, believing he had clarified everything, turned the conversation to more practical matters, "Help me gather all the main forces of the Anatolia Legion, and there must be no shortage of conscripted soldiers from the various Beys, led by the Kandar Beylik.
Also, send someone back as soon as possible to contact your brother, and have him send an envoy to the Latins, bribe them, and make the Republic's navy abandon the blockade of the Dardanelles Strait.
As for the timid Bosporus Romans wanting to launch an expedition against the Tatars at this time? Let them go about their own business!"
"Yes, Sultan!"
In late August 1444, Murad II led the main force of the Anatolia Legion and a large number of conscripted soldiers, totaling forty thousand troops, back to Edirne, and on the morning of September 1st, he reascended the throne of the Sultan, announcing a counterattack against the Crusaders.
But that evening, an entirely unexpected participant was about to disrupt the plans of all involved parties—
In the port of Amisos in the Bosphorus Despotate, Caesar Manuel, clad in armor and helmet, stood on the deck of his flagship, the "Theodore," letting the sea breeze ruffle his long, wide, purple-black cloak, listening to the reports of his important ministers.
"Sultan, Her Highness Barbara and young Prince Theodore have safely arrived in Constantinople; and Her Royal Highness Princess Justiana has been properly settled in the city of Trabzon, while young Prince Marcus has also been safely transferred to Simferopol to take refuge with your parents."
His Chancellor Serenus bowed and reported on the status of the Caesar's family.
To cope with various contingencies, Manuel had arranged for his family members to be in different places, ensuring that even in the worst-case scenario, a lineage would remain.
After the Chancellor finished his report, his banker, Carlo de Medici, stepped forward and reported: "Sultan, the vast majority of bonds issued internally and externally have been sold, bringing in over three thousand ducats for military expenses.
I ask for your further instructions."
"Enough," Manuel nodded, indicating his approval.
"Reporting, Sultan, in addition to the main fleet where the 'Theodore' is located, the squadron led by the 'Gavras' anchored in Trabzon is also fully prepared.
The other two squadrons, led by the 'Mangup' previously anchored in Mangup and the 'Alexius' in Theodosia, have also sailed to their destinations in Anatolia as per your instructions."
At this moment, Admiral Falero bowed and reported on the navy's progress and preparations.
As military orders had been issued long ago, this was more of a formality.
After the navy's report was completed, Dungar de Lapole, as the Army Commander of Pontus, was the last to step forward and report,
"Sultan, the First, Second, and Third Legions of Pontus have secretly disembarked as instructed, and the rest are being loaded onto ships as ordered.
We await further military orders."
"Very good, now proceed as previously planned. Dungar, you will personally lead the first three legions to attack the enemy as the Army Commander of Pontus.
As for the remaining legions on the main fleet, I will lead them personally."
Manuel nodded and gave the next order.
What he didn't elaborate on here was that the Tauris legions had already been loaded into those two squadrons and would be moving with the navy.
After listening to the final report, just before the official action, Manuel drew his scimitar from his waist, swung it towards the west where the sun was setting, and commanded like a pre-battle speech:
"We have been silent for too long.
The Romans of old were stripped of their glory, cities, provinces, lands, and even property; now is the time to reclaim them all.
I promise that in this war, every brave warrior who beheads an Ottoman Turk will receive their rightful land and rewards.
It is time to end the silence forced upon us by the Turks' evil deeds and resume this war that abruptly ceased eight years ago!
For Allah, for Rome, for the Fatherland!"
"For Allah, for Rome, for the Fatherland! Loyalty!"
Facing the increasingly biting sea breeze and the blood-red setting sun, listening to the magnificent response of his soldiers, the Caesar's lips curved upward, and his left hand instinctively and firmly raised slightly forward.
The bloodshot veins in Manuel Komnenos Gavras's brown eyes even became faintly visible at this moment, making his eyes appear crimson and ferocious in the twilight.
"Target, Sinop and Bafra."
On the night of September 7, 1444, the Bosphorus Despotate launched an undeclared war, striking the Ottoman vassal Kandar Beylik by both sea and land, bringing this Crusades to a climax.