Timeline

The Grand Vizier's Humiliation: An Unforgivable Affront

Rukiye Efendi's audacious attack on Ferhad Pasha and Mercan Kethuda within the Divan has sent shockwaves through the court. The Grand Vizier, publicly wounded and stripped of a symbol of authority, now faces unprecedented humiliation, while Mercan Kethuda's position is gravely compromised.

A Web of Rumors: The Silk and The Sultan's Absence

Rukiye Efendi's public accusation of diverted silk, combined with the attack on the Grand Vizier, ignites a fresh wave of whispers across the capital. The implications of corruption reaching the Sultan's coffers, coupled with the ongoing absence of the Old Lion, fuel dangerous speculation and further destabilize the already fragile court.

Ferhad Pasha Secures 메르잔 케투다's Allegiance

Following persistent overtures and witnessing the Valide's ruthless purge, 메르잔 케투다, Chief Steward of the Inner Court, accepts Ferhad Pasha's offer of alliance. This strategic pact shifts the balance of power, granting the Grand Vizier significant influence within the Inner Court while 메르잔 케투다 gains a powerful protector.

The Old Palace's Last Stand: Prince Cihan's Desperate Gambit

As the Janissary assault on the Old Palace escalates and agents scavenge its ruins, Prince Cihan, trapped within, makes a desperate move. Unaware of the shifting loyalties outside, he dispatches a final, secret message seeking aid, hoping to rally forgotten defenders or expose Gevher Sultan's true ruthlessness.

Gevher Sultan's Purge Deepens, Targets Loyalists to the Old Palace

Following the systematic scavenging of the Old Palace, Gevher Sultan's agents intensify their search for any who might still harbor loyalty to the former residents. The fear of implication spreads, causing many to abandon old allegiances and publicly denounce any connection to the dethroned consorts, as the Valide's grip tightens.

Galata's Economy Stabilizes Amidst Imperial Turmoil

Despite the unfolding chaos in the capital, Galata's merchants, buoyed by recent diplomatic maneuvers and the Bedesten's declaration of autonomy, experience a period of unexpected stability. Bartolomeo Zen leverages the information from Trabzon and the Sultan's secret to secure favorable trade terms for Venetian interests, subtly shifting economic power away from the Divan.

The Sultan's Secret Exposed: A Threat to Edirne

Word of the Sultan's long absence and the concealed truth about his condition begins to spread beyond the Inner Court, fueled by fragments of the intercepted secret. Musa Celebi, realizing his complicity, now faces imminent danger, while Bartolomeo Zen scrambles to control the flow of this explosive information, aware of the deeper implications for the House of Galata.

A Plea Unanswered: Prince Cihan Isolated

As the Janissary roar grows louder, Prince Cihan's desperate pleas for aid from within the Old Palace reach no sympathetic ears. The chaos engineered by Yusuf Aga and Prince Korkut's agents ensures that Cihan remains isolated, his fate seemingly sealed by the encroaching rebellion.

The Bedesten's Merchants Fortify Their Gains

Amidst the escalating chaos in the capital, Kirkor Usta, Hakim, and Leyla, emboldened by their recent victory, solidify the Bedesten's independence. They establish a formal council, issuing proclamations that declare the market a neutral zone and expand its self-governing authority, directly challenging the Divan's weakening grip.

Janissary Discontent Brews as Ulufe Terms are Revealed

The Barracks Scribe, having meticulously recorded Prince Yahya's oath, quietly disseminates the terms throughout the Ocak. While news of the impending ulufe payment brings a flicker of hope, the revelation that it will come from Trabzon's coffers fuels resentment against Prince Cihan and deepens the growing rifts within the Janissary corps, already under the sway of Yusuf Aga and Hasan Corbaci.

Trabzon's Treasury Under Siege: Prince Cihan's Desperate Plea

Word of Prince Yahya's oath, pledging Trabzon's revenues for the Janissary ulufe, reaches Prince Cihan. Feeling betrayed and cornered, the young prince dispatches urgent pleas to any who might offer succor against the encroaching demands, fearing the total depletion of his treasury and the ruin of his province.

Trabzon's Treasury Under Threat

Word of Elif Hatun's demand for Trabzon's revenues to pay the Janissary ulufe reaches Prince Cihan's court. This unexpected threat, coupled with his already vulnerable position, sparks alarm and fuels resentment among his advisors.