Greece to roman road

Three days later, the Tatoi Palace was full of guests, and well-dressed gentlemen gathered together in twos and threes to discuss the preparations for the establishment of a Greek headquarter.

When the time came, Nina led everyone into the conference room.

Constantine, who took care of himself carefully, walked to the conference room.

This was the first time that Constantine publicly faced the Greek elite. Before this, Constantine had avoided close contact with the Greek political and business class.

When everyone saw Constantine walking in, they all bowed and saluted until Constantine motioned for everyone to take a seat. After Constantine took the main seat, everyone sat down on both sides of the long conference table.

"Everyone is here to attend the meeting this time. According to Duke Constantine's proposal, we are here to discuss matters regarding the Greek Congo Corporation." Nina, as the host of the meeting, took the lead in speaking and explaining.

"Excuse me, what is the business scope of this Greek Congo Corporation? If we become a shareholder, how can we guarantee our interests?"

Alexandros asked.

Alexandros came from a prominent Greek family, the Mavrokozatos family, and a Fanarite.

Strictly speaking, he was actually a Greek aristocrat with a well-established background.

The current royal family in Greece is an outsider.

The so-called Fanar people mainly refer to the remnants of the Eastern Roman Empire living in Constantinople.

In 1453, Muhammad II captured Constantinople. After the looting and massacre, the remaining residents of Constantinople were settled in the Fanar district, so they were called Fanar people.

Before Greece became independent from the Ottoman Empire, the Fanar people played an important role in the Ottoman Empire.

For example, the positions of translators or ambassadors to foreign countries are usually held by Fanar people.

One is because the Sultan and his officials were unwilling to learn the languages ​​of the pagans.

Secondly, it was because these well-educated Romans at that time were indeed indispensable and good helpers.

The culture of the Ottoman Turks themselves is very backward, because they are descendants of the Turks, nomadic tribes, and later came to Asia Minor from Central Asia, gradually rose up, established their own country, and converted to Islam.

The most obvious feature of cultural backwardness is that the Ottomans did not have their own written language.

The government documents of the Ottoman Turks and the missionaries' missionaries were all in Arabic, and the Ottoman Turks themselves spoke Turkic.

People who have seen Arabic will have a very deep impression of Arabic.

Arabic is difficult to pronounce and difficult to write. It is not suitable for spoken Turkish and is also very difficult to learn.

To the Ottoman Turks, these Fanar people were similar to the Han ministers after the Manchus entered the country. The Sudan also needed educated talents to help him rule the country.

Since the Ottomans captured Constantinople and destroyed the Eastern Roman Empire, Mohammed II regarded himself as the emperor of Rome and called himself Caesar of Rome.

The Ecumenical Patriarch of the Orthodox Church has since been controlled by the Ottomans and has become a management tool for them to rule Christian areas.

These Fanar people gradually rose to prominence under the rule of the Ottomans.

For example, the Ottoman financial industry was controlled by them before Greece became independent in the early 19th century.

Or they pay for an official position for a pasha (the name of a high-ranking Turkish official) in exchange for a lucrative tax contract, and work as a tax collector (tax collector).

Even later, the important granary of the Ottoman Empire, the governors of Romanian provinces, were entrusted to these Fanar people.

As some Fanar people participated in the Greek War of Independence in 1821, the angry Ottoman authorities massacred the Greek settlement in Constantinople. From then on, the Fanar people also lost the trust of the Communists.

And Alexandros comes from the Mavrokozatos family, a large family among the Fanar people.

A member of this family was one of the important leaders in the Greek War of Independence, and later served as prime minister of the independent Greek Kingdom (1821-1862, during Otto's reign) many times.

Of course, the War of Independence launched by the Greeks in 1821 was only supported by some Fanar people, and a considerable number of Fanar people were loyal to the Sudan.

After Greece achieved independence, some Fanar people, especially the wealthy families, came to live in Greece.

Therefore, among future Greek politicians, we can always see some surnames appearing repeatedly on the political stage.

The Ottoman Sultan promoted some people from the original middle and lower-level Fanar people to replace the original large Fanar family.

"The Greek Congo Corporation has only one goal. Whatever Greece needs, the Greek Congo Corporation will bring from Congo. In the past, most of the commodities we imported from big countries, such as coffee, cocoa, rubber, ivory, and cane sugar, these commodities, All can be obtained directly from Congolese soil by the Greek Congo Corporation," Nina responded solemnly and generously.

"All these goods had to be imported before, causing Greece to have a large outflow of precious metals every year. Now we can handle these goods ourselves, thank God, thank Duke Constantine." Costeblu took the opportunity to interject and flatter.

No one hates the outflow of gold and silver more than the bankers.

"Your Highness, can we overseas Greeks buy shares?" a man stood up and said.

"Who is this gentleman?"

"Angelis Skage, you can just call me Angelis", Angelis replied respectfully.

"Do you traitors also have the dignity to join in?"

Before Constantine could answer, someone shouted angrily.

Alexandros was furious. These shameless guys who betrayed the country and the nation also wanted to reap benefits, which really made him feel angry.

Angisis was one of the Fanarites who were later promoted by the Sultan, and some people in Greece did not like them.

These people had served in the Ottoman court for a long time or were doing business, and naturally accumulated a lot of wealth.

This time I heard the news about the Greek Congo Corporation and hurried from Constantinople to Athens.

"Your Majesty the Duke, I hope you can treat us Greeks abroad fairly."

Angel Hisili's face turned red and she defended herself to Constantine.

"Facing God, I asked myself, if I were a Russian, let me be born in Russia (Russia is also an Orthodox country)."

"But those of us who were born in Turkey, if we fled, we would have to explain to God why we betrayed our emperor?"

"If our escape leads to new crimes of massacre of Christians, our conscience will be condemned."

"Those MSLs who have long been dissatisfied with us (referring to the Fanar people still living in Constantinople) will use the topic to claim that all Christians cannot be trusted."

Angelis expressed her grievances in an emotional voice, her voice trembling with a cry, she took a deep breath, calmed down her emotions, and continued:

"Even we humble slaves who have subjugated our country hope to serve our country and nation."

"Just like the Duke of Wellington (the famous British general who defeated Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo), he made important contributions to Britain and was praised by his own people."

"But if Wellington had been in our position, if he had served a non-Christian people who were suspicious of Christians, he could have endured everything, faced all the misunderstandings and attacks, and he would still have achieved what he has now His achievements?"