The Eagle of Eastern Europe

The diplomatic corps sent this time consisted of about a hundred people. In addition to the diplomats and entourage, there were also Peter and his personal entourage, as well as members of the Andrei Order, who were sent to preach on the orders of the Patriarch.

Along the way, Peter admired the scenery along the way. After acquiring Bulgaria, there were more merchant ships on the Danube River.

"Your Highness, we will arrive in Vidin soon."

"Um"

Peter looked at the town that was gradually emerging, and he didn't feel any disturbance in his heart. After all, he was only here to replenish fresh water and food, and he wouldn't stay for too long.

"The Archduke's conquest started here last year. It can be said that without Vidin, there would be no current achievements."

Peter talked about the importance of this city, both geographically and politically, as the most important fortress in the Balkans. Relying on its own convenience, trade is also very prosperous.

Peter did not get off the ship. He just returned to the cabin and looked at the map. He was somewhat longing for the first stop, Belgrade. There have been many major battles in this place, especially the one where Osman led an army of 100,000 people, but failed and was hit by an arrow in his thigh.

However, Belgrade at this time was not as strong as it would be decades later. If he led a large army to fight now, he might be able to defeat it.

Soon, supplies were replenished. The fleet continued to Hungary, and soon arrived at the Iron Gate, which is the dividing line between the middle and lower reaches of the Danube River. The current is very fast, and the ship will be destroyed if you are not careful. Fortunately, the sailors are experienced in many battles, so they can No near misses. But Peter was still shaken and vomited.

"Ugh, I didn't expect it to be so bumpy here, uh..."

"Your Highness, it will be fine once you pass here."

After vomiting, Peter felt better. He breathed the fresh air on the deck and thought about where he should see and learn.

Arriving in Hungary, people sent by King Sigismund began to guide them to Buda. They will stop in Belgrade before heading to Buda.

Belgrade is located in the core of the Balkan Peninsula, at the confluence of the Danube and Sava rivers. It is bounded to the north by the plain of the middle reaches of the Danube River, the Vojvodina Plain, and to the south by the Shumadiya Hills, an extension of the Laoshan Mountains. The water and land transportation route with the Balkan Peninsula is an important contact point between Europe and the Near East. It has very important strategic significance and is called the key to the Balkans.

When he arrived in Belgrade, Peter said it was okay, except that the market here was a bit small and the town's function was mainly military. However, due to its geographical location, there is still a lot of business travel and trade from the West and the East.

Peter walked around the market. In addition to ordinary food and daily necessities, there were also some Eastern and Western luxury goods and jewelry. The population was relatively large, about twenty to thirty thousand.

"This place is much bigger than Kemplonga. Relying on the Sava and Danube rivers to develop trade, the future is promising."

Peter sighed while looking for some books to read in front of the bookstall. Most of them are literary books, and very few explain craftsmanship. It seems that we have to recruit craftsmen.

Thinking about it, Peter picked up an atlas with the main cities and countries in Europe written on it.

"This is a nice painting, where did it come from?"

"My lord, this was purchased from Vienna."

There were very few book dealers in this era, and it was already very difficult to meet one in a town. So Peter was quite satisfied.

At night, Peter took Nicholas to have something to eat in a tavern in Belgrade. Fish, meat, wine and more are all available.

"Sir, the dishes have been served."

"Well" Peter took out a silver coin as a tip for the waiter.

"Thank you sir, you are so kind."

Peter looked at the dishes and felt very good.

"Let's eat together and taste the difference between this place and the one in Wallachia."

Nicholas sat down happily. At this time, they were not superiors and subordinates, but friends.

They stayed in Belgrade for two days and then set off again. After all, meeting Sigismund is the most important thing.

----Dividing line----

Sigismund was meeting with various ministers. There were already many wrinkles on his face and his hair had turned a lot white. This was because he had too many things to do and was worried. Especially the nobility, there are too many.

The nobles of the Kingdom of Hungary enjoy a high degree of freedom. Since Andras II promulgated the Golden Bull Act in 1222, the king's power has been relatively restricted. Nobles were not required to pay taxes and could disobey the king if he acted outside the bounds of the law. In addition, nobles did not need to participate in wars outside the borders of the kingdom, and they had equal titles with each other, without an obvious hierarchy. There are many similarities between the Golden Bull Act and the Magna Carta.

Because of this, Sigismund did not concentrate Hungary's power. He was a German and ruled a country dominated by Magyars, so the nobles were naturally dissatisfied. The disastrous defeat in Skopje also caused the loss of all the power he had managed to cultivate.

And this time the Wallachian delegation came to undoubtedly ask Hungary to send troops to help it fight against the Ottomans. He really didn't want to send troops, but he didn't understand the truth of the cold. In this case, let Wallachia persuade the big nobles. As long as they can be persuaded, he will agree to send troops.

"Since the defeat of the war with the Ottomans, thanks to your strong support, the kingdom has been able to tide over the difficulties."

Sigismund first praised the support of various nobles, and then changed the subject and began to propose the reconstruction of the army.

The Hungarian army suffered heavy losses in the Battle of Skopje, and most of these were Sigismund's own troops. The nobles, especially the great nobles, did not suffer much loss. So after I, Sigismund, came back, they started to make trouble to obtain land and other privileges.

In order to appease them, Sigismund agreed to them all. The consequence of this was that the resources occupied by the royal family dropped significantly, but his throne was preserved.

Now that he proposed to rebuild the Hungarian army, he naturally encountered opposition from the nobles, because both personnel and military expenses must be taken from them, so how could he agree.

Sigismund suffered the most difficult time, and all the great nobles turned against him. It was only agreed that the king could build a small army of 4,000 men to protect himself, and nothing else.

Okay, this can be considered a breakthrough. At least there is money to raise an army. But this was not enough, he had to re-establish Hungary's national forces. Relying on these is not enough.

In addition, he did not intend to abide by the agreement he made with Peter, and there was no way he would give up the fat piece of Transylvania. I did say this out of gratitude, but I still couldn't give away my own interests. At worst, we could form an alliance to fight the Ottomans together.