Chapter 684: Why Can’t I Take a Break?
Little did Sultan Mehmed know that he was ensnared in a web of deceit spun by Antonius. Contrary to the assurances given, the Romans had not enjoyed a bountiful harvest. In fact, their granaries were far from capable of supporting the starving masses of the Turks. In a desperate bid to fulfil their lofty promises, the Romans depleted nearly half of their own grain reserves and then began covertly purchasing additional supplies from the Mamluks, Hungarians, and Moldovans. The strategy devised in Constantinople was audacious yet clear: the Roman Empire was to ensure the delivery of grains to the Zaganos Turks at prices even lower than those of local Turkish produce, ostensibly to rescue the populace of their eastern neighbour from the clutches of famine.
This Roman initiative, however, sparked significant unrest back home. Numerous officials and scholars, alongside swathes of the citizenry—including many young students from universities—were inflamed by the government’s actions. They could not fathom why Emperor Antonius would sanction a policy so clearly detrimental to his own people, causing grain prices to surge and making life increasingly arduous for the common Roman peasants. Protests erupted on the streets, but eerily, the administration offered no justification, pressing on with the policy regardless of public dissent.
Thus, ordinary Romans found themselves tightening their belts, sacrificing their dietary staples to support a foreign policy that saw them aid the Turks. Support for the government plummeted during this period as the populace grappled with the harsh economic realities imposed upon them.
Despite the domestic backlash, the Romans miraculously managed to bridge the vast chasm of food scarcity that threatened the nascent Zaganos dynasty. Their strategic—if surreptitious—supply operations averted another catastrophic famine in Anatolia, allowing Sultan Mehmed I to sustain his sprawling populace, which stretched across the rugged mountainous landscapes of the region.
The price paid by the Sultan was steep, though not in the currency of land—as a traditional lord, he held his territories in the highest regard. Instead, he conceded nearly every economic demand the Rumelians set forth. This included outsourcing the ownership of most Turkish mines, binding them to sell exclusively to Rumelian interests. Traditional agricultural fields were converted to cash crops, designed to funnel resources into Rumelian manufacturing sectors. Moreover, the Turks were compelled under the agreement to import key goods solely from the Rumelians, excluding all other potential trading partners.
When Ahmed Celebi returned to Ankara and learned of the agreement, tensions quickly escalated. He and his elder brother, Sultan Mehmed, engaged in a fierce debate, highlighting the potential political and economic perils embedded within the deal. Ahmed pointed out the risks of over-dependence on foreign aid and the long-term consequences of altering agricultural priorities. Yet, when pressed by the Sultan on alternatives for acquiring the desperately needed grain, Ahmed found himself at a loss for words. He withdrew, burdened with the task of finding a safer path forward.
Sultan Mehmed was acutely aware of the dangers associated with the deal but felt compelled by the immediate needs of his people. Facing the stark reality of starvation, he saw the arrangement with the Romans as a necessary evil, a temporary solution to prevent a crisis. His position as Sultan wasn’t just about overseeing various departments; it was about ensuring the survival and welfare of his three million subjects.
Despite the internal conflicts, the arrangement initially seemed to alleviate the food shortage. Turkish farmers, enticed by higher earnings, shifted en masse from traditional crops to cash crops. Rumelian traders, consistently purchasing these goods, became seen almost as benefactors, further influencing local agricultural practices. Over just one year, grain cultivation areas in the Turkish territories saw a dramatic decline by eleven percent, replaced by fields of more lucrative cash crops tailored to feed the burgeoning industrial appetite of Rumelia.
Local markets adapted, with farmers prioritising sales to Rumelian buyers over local needs, effectively aligning their economic activities with foreign interests. This shift not only transformed the agricultural landscape but also deeply intertwined the economic fortunes of the Turkish farmers with the fluctuations of Rumelian demands.
While the deal had staved off famine and Sultan Mehmed’s popularity soared among his people for avoiding a catastrophe, the long-term sustainability of these changes remained uncertain. The Sultan had navigated his nation through a dire crisis, but the future held new challenges that would test the resilience of his policies and the independence of his empire.
As trade relations with the Turks opened in 1476, the Romans faced a different set of challenges. The mountainous terrain of the Roman territories limited agricultural yield, which could not compete with the vast, fertile lands of the Turks. The introduction of new import policies shifted market preferences towards importing grains and other raw products like olives, fish, and grapes. This shift made traditional farming less profitable, prompting an exodus of young people from rural villages to urban centres in search of better opportunities.
The surge in urban migration fuelled by the promise of industrial jobs transformed the demographic landscape. Cities became magnets for the new workforce eager to find employment in burgeoning industries, particularly as factories and workshops innovated with new production methods involving steam, coal, and pistons. By the year 1476, these economic strategies engineered by Emperor Antonius resulted in a doubling of goods produced by the Roman Empire compared to three years prior. Rural populations dwindled by an astonishing eight percent as people crowded into major cities like Athens, Constantinople, Thessaloniki, and Avlonya.
This rapid urbanisation, while bolstering economic output, had dire consequences for urban living conditions. Cities, unprepared for the sudden population influx, saw the emergence of makeshift slums with substandard living conditions. The disparity in service standards and safety led to frequent clashes between long-time city dwellers and the newcomers, exacerbating social tensions.
Moreover, the industrial boom brought with it environmental degradation. Increased coal burning and careless disposal of manufacturing waste polluted local beaches and diminished air quality, marking a significant shift from the previously pristine urban environments.
The year 1476, while economically successful, was deemed ’the year of the terrible’ by citizens and historians alike. It underscored a paradox of progress where economic advancements came at the cost of environmental health and social stability. This period highlighted the critical need for sustainable urban planning and environmental management to address the unintended consequences of rapid industrial growth.
The trade routes buzzed with activity as Roman goods, although not of the finest quality, began to saturate the markets of major powers in the region. Their sheer volume and affordability rendered them irresistible to merchants. Venetian traders, in particular, capitalised on this economic opportunity, transforming their operations into lucrative voyages of commerce. They would dock at Roman ports, their ships empty but hopeful, and depart laden with low-cost goods destined for Turkish markets. There, they exchanged Roman manufactures for silver, using the profits to buy raw materials before sailing back to Rome to repeat the cycle. This simple yet profitable trading pattern rapidly turned many Venetian mariners into wealthy merchants, essentially middlemen who flourished by exploiting the economic disparities between the regions. Within just a year, the Romans had established a formidable trade network that spanned across the Mediterranean, reinforcing their burgeoning economic dominance.
Simultaneously, deep within the stone walls of Constantinople’s Great Palace, Emperor Antonius faced the personal toll of governance and age. The once vigorous ruler, known for his strategic acumen on the battlefield, now found his physical prowess waning. His sword, once an extension of his arm, felt heavy and burdensome. His eagle-eyed vision, which had surveyed countless battlefields with precision, now struggled with the fine print of state documents, leaving him increasingly reliant on his wife Anna to read aloud to him.
As Antonius neared his fifty-second birthday, his focus shifted increasingly from the affairs of state to the warmth of his family circle. He cherished his time with Anna, his daughter Agatha—who remained unwed despite her advancing age—and his son Leo, the heir apparent. Determined to pass on his legacy, Antonius devoted himself to preparing Leo to inherit the grand vision of the Greater Roman Ideology. This dream envisioned a restored Roman Empire, stretching its ancient borders and achieving the conquests Antonius himself could never complete.
Yet, as the emperor withdrew more into the comfort of his palace, entrusting the day-to-day affairs to a cadre of trusted advisors who had been his confidants for over two decades, he found solace in the domestic joys that had long eluded him during his reign. Within the palace walls, his world became smaller, shielded from the external chaos and focused on nurturing his son to lead a unified and mighty empire.
Reflecting on his tumultuous journey—from the blood-soaked fields of battle to the intricate dance of diplomacy—Antonius felt a profound desire to retreat from the relentless demands of leadership. As he approached the twilight of his life, a simple yet powerful thought occupied his mind: after a lifetime of relentless struggle and sacrifice for the empire, surely, he had earned the right to relish a few years of peace. "Why can I not relax at this age?" he mused, a wistful smile playing on his lips as he gazed out at the tranquil gardens of his palace, a world away from the battlegrounds of his youth.
