06. They often call it "Renaissance."
Glarentza September 1430
The annexation of the four Ionian islands added nearly fifty thousand people in my realm. It also gave a nice boost to my income with more than twenty thousand gold florins per year—most of it from Zante and Cephalonia, significant currant exporters(1).
Naturally, my latest achievements started to get known within the Byzantine elite, both in Morea and Constantinople. I received numerous letters, including from my brother emperor John VIII Palaiologos, congratulating me on the recent conquests. Heh, John, also requested some cannons from me. To earn me some time and not share my technological progress yet, I send him a couple of early iron prototypes. My trustful brother co- despot of Morea, Thomas, in his letter even proposed to support me in an invasion of Athens' duchy. The other co-despot of Morea, my brother Theodore just sent a typical and a rather cold letter of congratulations. I also received marriage proposals from various noble Lords, which I turned down politely. My next marriage should be with a princess of a major kingdom. Playing my cards right, I will find a proper one within the following years. Last but not least, the letter from the most esteemed byzantine scholar, Gemistus Pletho, was the most alarming. Pletho practically patronized me to make a coup in Mystras and take all the power from the hands of my brother Theodore...
He also wrote to me about his theories, a merging of Stoic philosophy and Zoroastrian mysticism, and the soul's migration. He recommended the revival of ancient Greece and religious rites and hymns to petition the classical gods, such as Zeus, whom he saw as universal principles and planetary powers. He also proposed more practical, immediate measures, such as rebuilding the Hexamilion, the ancient defensive wall across the isthmus of Corinth, which had been breached by the Ottomans in 1423.
He also urged that the army must be composed only of professional native Greek soldiers, who would be supported by the taxpayers, or "Helots" who would be exempt from military service.
I'm afraid I have to disagree with most of them. Despite that, some of his ideas made me see things from a new perspective. We are still in the early 15th century, and a wide margin of the Ottoman lands is of an overwhelming Orthodox Cristian majority. Heck, I bet even Egypt still has large numbers of, hmm, what's their name Copts? Christians. Judging from the previous expedition in the majority Orthodox Christians Ionian islands, I am sure other ex provinces of the Byzantine empire will be more than glad if I "liberate" them. Then one idea hit my mind. A Byzantine Reconquista! Hundreds of thoughts flashed in my mind.
A secret society/service extended network promoting my plan could help me achieve this. Hmm, I can base it on a loose copy version of the freemasons structure. Haha yes! A blend of Mason and Orthodox rituals. A propaganda text speaking of the glory of Christianity and Hellenism could do wonders! I am sure Plethon would be delighted to write this, and my printers are ready to print it.
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
I created Ieros skopos(2) within days after receiving the letter of Plethon.
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By the end of September Ioannis Alketas, my new book salesman for Rome came back with a new outstanding order of another forty thousand Bibles to cover the Papacy needs! I got informed that Condulmer took the initiative and created a vast network of selling the bibles on his own, even expanding in Spain and France, making himself rich in the process. Gabriele Condulmer's influence within the Papacy skyrocketed also. There are rumors that he is one of the most prominent candidates for the Papish throne in the future.
My other book salesman had good news too. An order of five thousand copies was put on place by Venice, who agreed with my proposal to exclusively distribute my Bible to the Holy Roman Empire and the kingdom of Hungary. The diplomatic aspect of this deal was even more important to me than the trade agreement itself. I hope future tight economic bonds with Venice will secure that I have to deal only with the Ottomans for a while.
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With significant cashflow and economic reports indicating substantially economic growth every few months, I kept pushing in developing my infrastructure and recruit skilled personnel. With an astronomical monthly payment of four hundred Gold ducats, I enlist the king of Portugal's master shipbuilder and two of his best craftsmen. Together with another recruit, a Venetian architect, they supervise the build of a new naval Arsenal combined with a considerable expansion of the port. Glarentza port is busting of life with traffic ten times bigger than the previous year. Aside from the book business, trade and the exports of Wool, wine, and oil are booming. To attract more wealthy merchants, make a pit stop on their way back and forth from the Eastern Mediterranean sea, and spent some of their gold here, I build a hotel, probably the first in the world, a theater, and two coaching inns for the inland travelers and merchants. I also construct a Hospital and medical train facility/school with a small pharmaceutical distillery department. By early October, I started recruiting people to feel the ranks of my new standing army. Its time to introduce to the world a new type of warfare...
(1) Around this time, Zakynthos had some 25,000 inhabitants bringing Leonardo III Tocco's state more than 12,000 ducats a year, according to the Spanish historian G. Curita.
(2) "Ieros skopos"(Holy cause) or often called "Renaissance " (Greek: Ιερός Σκοπός or Αναγένεση) was a secret organization-secret service founded in 1430 AD in Glarentza Morea. Its purpose was to overthrow the Ottoman/Muslim rule of ex Byzantine empire lands and re-establish the empire in its former glory. Early members were mainly young Greeks from Morea, Constantinople, and several Orthodox Christian priests from Balkan and Anatolia. Two of its founding leaders were the Byzantine prince, future emperor, Constantinos Palaiologos, and the prominent scholar Gemistus Pletho. The Society initiated the Orthodox Reconquista in the spring of 1431. The "Οι αγώνες μας"(Our fights) the famous propaganda text that helped the "Renaissance" to recruit thousands of members, was composed by Gemistus Pletho