Patricia Taylor
Stories
11
Chapters
3,604
Words
1.6 M
Comments
0
Reading
5 d, 16 h
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The following day, after dawn, the Ottoman army is packed and ready to march. Mehmed stands on a mobile platform carrying his golden tent, pulled by forty oxen, facing his soldiers. He looks happier than any days he has been, donned in a well embroidered Kaftan, with a cloth armour mintan on the outside. Behind him flies the flag of white crescent and the flag of the white horse. He has a vibrant colour on his face and smiling with a wide grin, ready to give his men a speech before they set off. In…-
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The Red Apple, Kizil Elma. Predicted by the Great Prophet Muhammad a millennium prior to today. There is a famous record in "Al-Sahifah al-Sadiqah" or "The Truthful Script" of Abd Allah ibn Amr ibn al-As asking The Great Prophet. He asked, "Which city shall be liberated first by us, is it Constantinople or Rome?" He got an reply from The Great Prophet, it says. "The city of Heraclius will be liberated by us first." Taking in note that the Eastern Roman emperor in reign when he said this is Flavius…
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Two weeks later. One Roman Mile away from the city of Constantinople. A group consisting of around fifty wood cutters are outside in the dense forest trying to seek some twigs, chop down some woods to be sell to the citizens as firewood to last them through this harsh winter, while they can also earn a few copper to buy bread and feed their own family and children, it is there only hope of surviving. Situation has been growing tense recently, occasional stand offs between Roman and Ottoman scouts take…
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The sound of canon firing by the Galata lasted an entire morning till noon. In the end Antonius received no protection fee, he received an official complaint from the residents and governor of Galata from the constant sound of bombardment, a warning letter from the emperor who spilt his cup after the rounds are fired. And a bunch of rotten eggs accompanied with lettuce leaves for causing such a nuisance in the early morning when they re-enter the city. Antonius replied a letter of explanation and…
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As the world enters the year 1453, nothing seems to have changed from the previous year, at least for Antonius and his men. Merchant ships still sailing in and out of the various ports and harbors, taverns filled with drunk sea-fares and young lass dancing around sending winks to folks. It remains a busy day for Antonius and his ships, going out with blades, crossbow and other stuff, returning with loads of gold, silver, human power, silk, alcohol, precious metal and other stuff. Every time these boys…
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"Constantinople… A mighty city she has always been, legacy beginning with a Constantine, and her fate shall end with a Constantine…" - Greek Folklore Antonius had a dream last night. He dreamed that he is in a triumph parade before the temple of Jupiter on Capitoline hill in the old Rome, donned in Laurel Crown, hugging an ancient Roman Galea helmet, wearing a purple garment with golden linings and scarlet cloak, standing on an armoured cart of war, waving and smiling to the people by the sides of…
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"I should have chopped off his old goat head with a butcher knife for this!" Constantine slashed and swept across a table in his room, filled with rage as he curses the Mega Doux Loukas Notaras in Greek vulgarities, totally unlike an emperor. Before him kneels the supposed 'beggar' whom Loukas just gave money to the previous week. "What does he want? Who he thinks he is? Going in and out enemy territory? Meeting with the Grand Vizier of the Ottomans? What does he have in mind? Depose me? Kill me?…
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On the road to Edirne, Loukas gradually began seeing things he had tried his best to prevent for years being the Roman head of state. Last time, the road from Constantinople is always donned in a bright blue sky, clouds are like marshmallows floating in skis getting carried away by the cosy Mediterranean breeze. The trees before the coast waves and dances in the wind, forming the souls and spirit of this beach, casting the environment in a natural green providing home and shelter to hundreds of other…
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The carriage stopped before the side gate of Loukas' manor. Instead of his predecessors, who loved to built their manors beside the Palace of Blachernae or the Palace of the Porphyrogenitus so that they can acquire information from the palace and their Basileus fast. Loukas built his manor in an interesting location. It is in the Deuteron district, close to the Gate of Charisius. This spot is interesting is because it is neither close to the two palaces nor close to the Grand hall or the senate; it is…
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The Mega Doux called out for an imperial council election in the senate. The Praefectus Urbi Germanus Laskaris, or the Prefect of Constantinople, carefully approached the emperor Constantine sitting on the throne, the later whispered something and waved his hands. Germanus nodded, bowed, walked onto the stage, cleared his throat and yelled. "His Majesty declares this Eklogés valid! And his majesty shall not use his divine rights of Veto!" A Kontoubernion of ten palace guards soon marched into the hall…
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