Chapter 248: Expanding by Any Means Possible

At this time, the Knights were preparing for a war against the pagans. In addition to the investment from the lords, donations from the church and believers became their main income. They also run some other industries, but they are just a supplement to their funds. You must know that the last Knights who made a fortune by running industries are still sleeping under the soil of France.

They were ready to travel to West Asia, but the Ottomans and other small Turkic states stood in their way. At present, I can only gain experience in Anatolia, or go to Rhodes Island to communicate with the Knights Hospitaller. In short, two words: too idle.

The people living in Anatolia were miserable. Conquests between different countries destroyed their lives, and taxes and corvees increased several times. To escape, they had to move to other places. This invisibly weakens their strength.

Even more powerful than the war was the cultural invasion of Rome. Religion, language and literature were pervasive. Even the Turkic nobles quietly converted and planned to seek a status in Rome in the future.

Not to mention what kind of suppression the Turks suffered in Rome. In fact, the official government only suppressed pagans and speakers of different languages. It would not be too difficult for those who believe in Orthodoxy and speak Greek or Romanian. Those who are fully assimilated will also take the university selection examination, while some people will become the most fanatical believers under the influence of religion and then join the army.

What is the most dangerous nation-state in the world? Is it a country where the majority ethnic group accounts for more than 90%? Obviously not; is it a country where the proportion of each ethnic group does not exceed 15%? No; is it a country where the majority ethnic group is around 70%? are most prone to turmoil. 90% of the countries have too few bases of other ethnic groups and are easily crushed to death in numbers. 15% of the various ethnic groups will make some compromises and form a federation; only countries where the dominant ethnic group accounts for 70% are most prone to ethnic unrest, because the dominant ethnic group wants to Promoting one's dominance will overly suppress ethnic minorities, and ethnic minorities that make up a relatively small population will fight back, thus making the country uneasy. (Note: The above reasons are only applicable to countries after the awakening of national consciousness. In this era, it is just right to leave it alone)

Moreover, the previous empire completely lacked a stable local government and an effective bureaucratic selection system. The emperor constantly used cronies to try to control local areas. However, the reform of the military district system destroyed this attempt. The rise of local large families continued to challenge centralization. Only Only a few capable people can integrate the country. And the civil war fighters constantly tried to introduce external forces to win. In a sense, the Roman Empire was like the Polish Commonwealth.

Mircea's reforms to the empire largely avoided civil wars and coups, and thoroughly implemented the law of primogeniture and family inheritance. He still preferred to control military power by himself, even if it was his own son. Under these circumstances, Peter gave up his power as governor of Anatolia and devoted himself to diplomacy, colonization, and fleets. With the eldest son like this, the other sons could not succeed at the moment, so Mircea felt relieved.

The Orthodox Church opened schools in Anatolia to teach these pagans. The government also promoted taxes on pagans to force them to convert. At the same time, the exile system was restarted and criminals were exiled to the interior of Anatolia, which not only achieved the purpose of punishment, but also enriched the population. The population of Anatolia's interior is too small, which is one of the reasons why the area controlled by the Komnenos Dynasty only remained on the coast, without a basis for rule.

In addition to its small population, Anatolia's ethnic and cultural diversity was a hidden danger to rule. Even the Ottoman Empire can get a glimpse of the complexity of the national religions in the Anatolian region and its stubbornness in refusing to convert: before the First World War, the Ottoman Empire had only Greater Syria and Anatolia as its controllable territories. There were nearly 1.8 million Greek Christians, accounting for about 9.7% of the total population (more than 18.5 million); there were 1.29 million Armenian Christians, accounting for 6.9% of the total population of the empire at that time. It can be said that since ancient times, while this land has provided strong human and financial support to the regime that rules it, it has also been an area with constant troubles and stubborn local culture.

The complexity of Anatolia's politics, economy, culture, and religion makes this region, while being the core of the empire, its hidden dangers that cannot be underestimated. It can be said to be a double-edged sword, and this double-edged sword is more Stab the enemy or stab yourself, the key question is who can maintain stable rule in this area.

----Dividing line----

Sigismund suddenly received a surprise in Augsburg. King Louis of Croatia decided to join the battle against Mary and submitted an application to join the HRE.

In Louis' view, instead of being surrounded by Hungary and Rome, it would be better to become a vassal of Sigismund again, and of course it would be better to become a member of the Holy Roman Empire.

To show his sincerity, Louis took out nearly two-thirds of Croatia's army. He planned to march from the south to attack Belgrade. This can contain part of the Hungarian army and gain an advantage for Sigismund to capture Buda.

Mary was not idle either. After winning the support of Rome and Peter's army, Mary gave a speech to the citizens in Buda. Called on Hungary to resist German invasion.

As Hungary became more stable during Mary's reign, residents in many places joined the army to defend their queen. The Transylvanian Chamber of Commerce also provided some weapons free of charge, and the fate of both sides depended on a battle.

Moreover, Rome did not participate in the civil war on the surface. In fact, 4,000 troops entered Hungary along Belgrade. They support the queen under the banner of the Chamber of Commerce, but in fact it is Mircea who supports her for the benefit of Central Europe.

In addition to Mary of Hungary, Anne of Bohemia also made an engagement with Vlad. Although the Salic Code restricted female inheritance, Bohemia and other large areas adopted the Semi-Salic Code, that is, when all males in the family were wiped out, women could inherit all the property. Otherwise, how could the Habsburgs expand their territory?

At present, Vlad did not have his own territory, and Mircea planned to find one for him in Central Europe. After all, he was the one who would inherit Bohemia in the future, but this land was really hard to find. The suitable one had an owner, but the one who was willing to sell it was not suitable, which was really a huge problem.

However, the second letter from his relative Wenzel gave him inspiration again. Wenzel hoped to give some financial support to his relative, Jobst, Margrave of Brandenburg, in return, he would persuade Jobst to give his daughter and son-in-law a fief.

Since the title of King of Germany was taken away, Wenzel was disheartened and decided to support Jobst, who also belonged to the Luxembourg family, as the King of Germany to kill Sigismund's prestige. Therefore, in order for him to be successfully elected, he needs a large amount of financial support. Looking around, only his old relative-in-law has such ability.