144 Treaty of Constantinople 3

I also raised the issue of trade with the Ottoman delegation, but it was such an insignificant topic compared to others that the Turks had no problems with it... we said goodbye and the Grand Vizier and the rest of the emissaries returned to Constantinople. Then I went to meet Potocki and report to him on my negotiations.

"I don't understand your way of thinking..." (Hetman Potocki)

"Everything I do is for the greater good and that should be enough for you. Remember that since we cooperate, you and the others started listening to my advice, everyone has benefited from it. So have a little confidence in what I'm doing." (MC)

"It is not a question of trust or faith in what you are doing, but you have as many supporters and opponents... in the east of Smolensk, Podolia, Volhynia, and even in Vilnius, Kiev, Lviv, people have a very good opinion of you, but the farther west and closer to Warsaw..." (Hetman Potocki)

"The moon does not care about barking dogs... returning to the topic of the Ottomans, we have to wait for what they decide." (MC)

"And how do you think?" (Hetman Potocki)

"I don't know, this whole situation is strange, they have a big army, they have supplies and they give up without a fight... the only thing that comes to my mind is that they have big internal problems, they do not fully control their troops, and the death of the Sultan only made it worse. There is also a war with Persia, and fighting on two or even three fronts is a bad idea. Perhaps they think the Persians are a greater threat to them, the Ottomans control almost the entire Muslim world... I don't know, maybe they are afraid of losing this position." (MC)

I spent the rest of the evening alone wondering what to do next, I already had a plan to deal with Prussia, but my name could not initially be linked to this matter... especially since my dislike of the Hohenzollern family was well known.

The next day, around noon, the Ottoman delegation returned to our camp... to my surprise, they agreed to almost all our and my demands... but there were also some changes that I didn't like.

The official document stated...

1) Crimea gains independence from the Ottoman Empire and guarantees security from the Ottoman Empire and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.

Which meant that if the Ottomans attacked Crimea, we would have to defend them, if we attacked, the Ottomans would defend them... so my conquest of the Crimea would have to wait.

2) Moldova becomes independent from the Ottoman Empire and becomes a vassal of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. The Ottomans will not interfere in Moldova's internal affairs.

3) Wallachia and Transylvania become independent. The Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and the Ottoman Empire will refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of these countries.

4) Jerusalem will become a city open to both Muslims and Christians, including Catholics and Protestants, under the control of the Ottoman Empire. A council will be established, which will govern the city, and will be composed of priests appointed by the Papal State, the High Porta and one of the representatives of Protestant countries.

Apparently not a big change from what I proposed, but... Instead of the status of a free city, Jerusalem will become an open city, although the city will be governed by a council, it will still be under the control of the Ottomans... They also included Protestants in the treaty, and that means an even greater increase in control by the Ottomans, Protestants, in the present age of religious wars, are more likely to ally themselves with the Turks than with the Catholics.

The fifth and sixth point concerned the arrangements for future trade and the release of twenty thousand Christian slaves.

When the representatives of Crimea, Moldova, Transylvania and Wallachia left the tent after signing all the copies of the peace treaty, we were left to deal with less formal matters.

"As we have established, your troops may cross the Bosphorus, but we will be watching them closely. I also have a request for you to provide a ship. The matter concerns Jerusalem, so we must bring an ambassador from Rome, I believe that the Pope's nephew, Cardinal Francesco Barberini, will be the best candidate." (MC)

"We will provide a ship and crew..." (Grand Vizier)

"Of course, and my people will sail with them to ensure the ambassador's safety, the Pope's nephew in the wrong hands is a big bargaining chip... I think you forgot something, my dear Grand Vizier, our verbal agreement had more content." (MC)

At my words, the Grand Vizier made a sign with his hand to one of the people accompanying him... the man handed the vizier some document and placed the chest on the table.

"I remember." (Grand Vizier)

The vizier turned the chest towards me and opened it... inside it was a man's head. I picked it up by the hair, despite the grimace of pain, anger and despair that froze on his face, I immediately recognized that he was the Patriarch of Constantinople.

"Thank you, no one gave me such a nice gift for a long time... but I have the impression that I am still missing something..." (MC)

The vizier handed me the document he had previously received from the man... it was not long, several lines of text.

"Hahaha... clever. In the Ottoman Empire, it is forbidden to practice the Orthodox religion under financial penalty, a person who is caught again in this practice will be subject to the death penalty and confiscation of property... You want to earn even on this. I admire." (MC)

"This probably closes all our affairs..." (Grand Vizier)

"Yes, but I still have a suggestion. Since the Orthodox religion is forbidden, I would ask you to return all holy icons and relics. You won't need them anymore." (MC)

I obtained less than I wanted, but I gained more than I expected... it was a strange war and an even weirder peace.