Chapter 22:The Bloody Accession: The Rise of a Nation

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The Ottoman Empire now had a new sultan. The golden throne of the palace gleamed with the young and determined presence of Osman. As Prince Osman seated himself for his accession ceremony, the Janissaries shouted in unison with powerful voices:

"Long live the Sultan!"

Osman raised his hand to silence them. The hall instantly fell into a solemn quiet. Until that moment, only the echoing footsteps around the intricately decorated throne could be heard. Sultan Osman, despite his youth, stood with unyielding resolve and addressed those gathered before him:

"Today, you will witness the rebirth of the Ottoman Empire."

He ordered the distribution of accession gifts to the Janissaries. However, this time, the gifts were neither the usual gold coins nor the standard akçes. The coins that reached the Janissaries' hands were unique, crafted with an elegance never before seen in Ottoman lands. Produced using screw press machines, these coins were both aesthetically and technically impressive. As the Janissaries held the coins and examined them, they could not hide their amazement. For the first time, they had seen such beautiful and innovative currency.

Noticing their reaction, Osman spoke in a firm, resonant voice:

"As long as you stand with me, I will never let you go without. Let these coins symbolize innovation and purity. But first, there is something more pressing we must address: ridding our state of those who leech off it."

The moment Osman lowered his hand, the action began. For a long time, Osman had been keeping a list of Nasuh Pasha's corrupt men, carefully noting their names. He had identified all of them in advance. The Janissaries, especially the younger ones, moved quickly. According to the list, the men Osman had marked were apprehended one by one and brought before the new Sultan. The faces of the trembling culprits had turned pale with fear.

Osman declared their crimes one by one:

"Bribery, abusing state power for personal gain, extorting the people, robbing the treasury... These are your offenses. And your punishment is clear: execution."

At these words, the executioners raised their swords, and the punishments were carried out. The heavy silence of the bloody accession ceremony was broken only by the nervous breathing of other officials whose hands were not clean. Turning to the crowd, Osman continued his speech with unwavering determination:

"This marks the beginning of a clean slate for us. I will overlook the wrongdoings of the past. But from this day forward, anyone who harms the state will face my merciless justice. That is my promise. And I also promise you this: I will not leave you so impoverished that you feel compelled to steal. Salaries will soon be increased."

These words, echoing through every corner of the hall, heralded the dawn of a new era in Ottoman history. Osman took another step forward, his voice carrying a tone of defiance:

"Today, I declare this: The merchant in Egypt, the farmer in Anatolia, the Serb in the Balkans, the pasha in the capital... All are equal. All are my people. Allah has tasked the Ottoman dynasty with governing its people with justice and ensuring their prosperity. Just as we rescued the Balkan peoples from Catholic tyranny and the oppression of local rulers, just as we liberated countless others from cruel masters, I have now taken up the banner of my ancestors.

Anyone who discriminates against another for being Catholic, Alevi, Orthodox, Hanafi, or Muslim and treats them unfairly will find me standing against them! Everyone living on these lands is a citizen of the Ottoman Empire. And they are all Ottomans!"

The hall was deeply moved by the young Sultan's words. The determination in Osman's voice was not just that of a ruler—it was the voice of a savior aiming to reunite his people. This accession ceremony was not merely the beginning of a reign but the opening of a new chapter for the Ottoman Empire.