1621 Winter(December)

Richard, my eldest son and the Prince of Wales - who’s currently in Madrid - has sent 400,000 volunteers who wished to immigrate to the New East Roman Empire from Iberia. And I’ve deployed them in the inner Greek region, western coasts of the Anatolia peninsula - where Iberian nobles were bestowed as their fief – and Constantinople, metropolitan area(Eastern Thracia) - which is my(Basileus’ domain) domain.

Needlessly to say, it was to suppress the natives’ resistance by increasing the number of the ruling class.

“Welcome, my dear Hildegard. It's sure nice to see you again. And Arthur, my boy, you’ve sure grown a lot!”

And I’ve summoned my late-born son Arthur and my 3rd(trophy) wife and his mother Hildegard to Constantinople, who was in London till now.

‘Since Arthur will inherit the title, Basileus of the New East Roman Empire - while Richard will be the Imperator of the New West Roman Empire - he should be raised in his fief as early as possible for a stable rule.’

“O...oh my god...I...I can’t believe it, Imperator!”

The moment she spotted the golden laurel wreath on my head, Hildegard gasped, becoming speechless.

Meanwhile

“Mother, who’s this grandfather? Didn’t you say you come from Germany? Why are we in Constantinople?”

Well, since I didn’t watch young Arthur(*He was born in 1617 December – King of Greece) grow, no wonder he’s unfamiliar with me, pointing me with his finger and asking Hildegard who I am.

“A...Arthur! How could you say that to your...”

‘Smile’

“It’s okay, my dear.”

As Hildegard gasped, trying to scold him, I held her back, bending my right knee, seeing Arthur eye to eye, and answered his question with a warm smile.

“I am the one and only emperor of the New Roman Empire, Arthur, my son.”

“Roma? You mean roam?”

Not yet knowing what the New Roman emperor means, Arthur frowned, tilting his head.

‘Chuckle’

“Hahahahaha!”

I was so amused that I hugged him in my arms and laughed.

1622 Spring(March-May)

I’ve established the Mediterranean Company via joint ventures of the Constantinople and Iberian merchants and Military Orders that settled in Cyprus - Sovereign Military Order of Malta, Ordem Militar de Cristo.

Basically, it was similar to West India and East India Company, given exclusive rights in their field – Mediterranean trade.

‘Yes. It will be the cash cow for the Basileus, who has full control of the Mare Nostrum.’

To add icing on the cake, I’ve permitted the City of London to establish a Constantinople branch – The Central Bank of Constantinople, Constantinople Bank for short.

I’ve ordered the Constantinople bank to issue £, which will be circulated across the New East Roman Empire and its vassal states.

“And is this worth 3 billion ￡ that I borrowed from you in 1620?” (*Hyenas and War Chest)

“I...it’s more than enough! T...thank you for your benevolence, Imperator!”

And that’s how I repaid my debt.

“Hahahahahahahaha!”

“Now entire Europe is one, bound by £!”

I laughed with pleasure.

1622 Summer(June –August)

Crimean Khanate has been annexed by the Tsardom of Rus(Russia), which was no surprise since it was a vassal state of the Ottoman.

“As the 1st Imperator and Basileus of the New Roman Empire, I command the Tsardom of Rus to become the New Roman Empire’s vassal state!”

And their answer was

“Go to hell! Unlike an upstart like you, we’re the legitimate heir of the Byzantine Empire, with Anna Porphyrogenita – the sister of the Basil II and wife of the Vladimir the Great’s wife - ’s blood running in our veins!”

“Nasty. But it’s not my job. I will subcontract teaching Russia’s lesson to Prussia.”

And I’ve written a letter to my current father-in-law, John Sigismund - the King of Prussia and Margrave of Brandenburg and father of my 3rd wife, Hildegard.

"Well, as they always say, 'After the feast comes to the reckoning.' Now it’s time for Prussia to pay the price!"

And Prussia had no choice but to follow suit. Soon, it sided with Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth(Poland) and started a war with Russia, while the New Roman Empire aided Prussia and Poland via providing war supplies and purchasing their war bonds.

Needlessly to say, Prussia’s economic dependence on the New Roman Empire increased during this process.

1622 Fall(September – November)

Coptic rebels which stood up against the Mamluks in Egypt sided with military orders in Cyprus - Sovereign Military Order of Malta, Ordem Militar de Cristo – achieving astonishing victory in suburbs of Alexandria. And I deigned the Egyptian crown - which I had it made by the Italian goldsmith – to the leader of the Coptic rebel, Theodore.

“Long live Basileus! Deus lo Vult! Death to Muslims!”

“Long live Theodore I!”

“Long live the legitimate king of Egypt!”

“Death to Mamluks!”

Needlessly to say, he accepted my gift, resulting in thousands of Copts joining his army. Copts were both tired of persecution by the Muslims and fascinated by the authority of the ‘Legitimate king of Egypt, approved by the 1st New Roman Imperator & Basileus’.