"Io Mihailŭ, Împĕratul Românilor" - A Michael the Brave Romania Wank

Part One: The Birth and Growth of Romania

Zagan

Donor
Io Mihailŭ, Împĕratul Românilor

Io Michael, Emperor of the Romanians

A Michael the Brave Romania Wank

a.k.a. RomaniaWank Version 2.



Part One

The Birth and Growth of Romania


Misu_Popp_-_Mihai_Viteazul.jpg


(Very) Short Synopsis:
On 9 August 1601, Michael the Brave (Mihai Viteazul) had a dream that changed the World (and the fate of the Romanians) for ever.
He unleashed one of the greatest top-to-bottom revolutions the World had ever seen.

Notes:
1. The short (and translated) Romanian pieces of text will be written in TTL Romanian language using TTL Romanian Alphabet / Diacritics. (mostly old Romanian Letters). Thus, Io Mihailŭ, Împĕratul Românilor, is in OTL Romanian ortography Io Mihai, Împăratul Românilor. As you can see, the differences are actually small enough that any Romanian speaker will easily understand TTL written Romanian.

2. I decided to write TTL, because of the numerous negative comments received in RomaniaWank (Original Version). Most negative comments had to do with some unaccounted for lepidoptera issues.

3. This will be still a Wank, with definitely low plausibility, but not (almost) impossible like the original RomaniaWank.


Dedicated Wiki: Io Mihailŭ, Împĕratul Românilor
Feel free to contribute.


Part One: The Birth and Growth of Romania

Introduction: The Dream that Forged an Empire
Chapter 1. The List That Shaped the Future
Chapter 2. Diplomatic Letter Send to Poland
Chapter 3. Romanian Language Standardization
Chapter 4. Dealing with Treason
Chapter 5. Alba Iulia
Chapter 6. The Romanian Lands
Chapter 7. Reactions in the Romanian Lands
Chapter 8. And Reactions Abroad
Chapter 9. The Prague Storm
Chapter 10. The Making of a Country
Chapter 11. Overview of 1601 Romania
Chapter 12. The Path to War
Chapter 13. The Romanian-Habsburg War
Chapter 14. The End of the War
Chapter 15. Pressburg Peace Conference
Chapter 16. The Aftermath of Pressburg
Chapter 17. A Period of Peace
Chapter 18. The Tatar Question
Chapter 19. The Tatar War
Chapter 20. Treaty of Perekop
Chapter 21. Sigismund III Vasa
Chapter 22. Poland-Lithuania (Sarmatia)
Chapter 23. Holy Roman Empire
Chapter 24. The German War
Chapter 25. Europe in 1622
Chapter 26. Tensions in the Balkans
Chapter 27. Mihai's Speeches, 1622
Chapter 28. The Anti-Ottoman Crusade
Chapter 29. First Romanian-Ottoman War
Chapter 30. Peace of Alba Iulia
Chapter 31. The Second German War
Chapter 32. About Measures and Weights
Chapter 33. Europe after the Wars
Chapter 34. The Imperium
Chapter 35. Europe before the Great Powers Conference
Chapter 36. Mihai before the Great Powers Conference
Chapter 37. Romanian Historiography
Chapter 38. The Great Powers Conference
Chapter 39. Mihai and Christine
Chapter 40. Ups and Downs
Chapter 41. Annus Horribilis
Chapter 42. Empress Cristina
Chapter 43. The Greek-Ottoman War
Chapter 44. The Second Romanian-Ottoman War
Chapter 45. The Horrors of Modern Warfare
Chapter 46. The End of the Ottoman Empire
Chapter 47. The Imperial Family
Chapter 48. Remapping the Middle East
Chapter 49. The Unofficial Regency
Chapter 50. The Powder Keg
Chapter 51. The Fall of Greece
Chapter 52. The Italian Imbroglio
Chapter 53. The Chaos
Chapter 54. In the Holy Land
Chapter 55. Still in the (Un)Holy Land
Chapter 56. Requiescat in Pace
Chapter 57. The Working Anarchy
Chapter 58. The Little Princess
Chapter 59. Iulia Imperatrix
Chapter 60. The Warrior Empress
Chapter 61. The Romanian Revolution
Chapter 62. Peace in Europe
Chapter 63. War in the Orient
Chapter 64. Half a Century after Mihai's Dream
Epilogue: Watching from the Heavens
[End of Part One]


Part Two: The Empire of the Orient


Part One: The Birth and Growth of Romania

Romanian Flag: Waving, Flat.
The Romanian Lands in September 1601: Post, Map.
Romanian-Habsburg War of 1601: Post, Map.
Pressburg Peace Treaty: Post, Map, Map (result).
Romania after the Pressburg Peace Treaty: Post, Map.
The Tatar War: Post, Map.
Partition of the Crimean Khanate: Post, Map, Map (result), Map (detail).
Romania after the Tatar War and the Treaty of Colomeea: Post, Map.
Europe in 1604: Post, Map.
Poland-Lithuania (Sarmatia) in 1619-1622: Post, Map, Map (result).
Germany in 1612, just before the start of the German War: Post, Map.
Germany during the War: Post, Map.
Germany During the Ceasefire Period: Post, Map.
Lisbon Treaty: Post, Map.
Semaphores Chart: Post, Image.
The Anti-Ottoman Crusade: Post, Map.
Administrative Map of Romania after the Anti-Ottoman Crusade: Post, Map.
Romania and Neighbouring Lands after the Alba Iulia Peace Conference: Post, Map.
Alba Iulia Peace Conference Aftermath: Post, Map.
Europe in 1626: Post, Map.
1625 Census Data: Ethnicity: Post, Table.
1625 Census Data: Religion: Post, Table.
1625 Census Data: Status / Occupation: Post, Table.
1625 Census Data: Citizenship: Post, Map.
Brussels Peace Treaty Map: Post, Map.
Germany after the Brussels Peace Treaty: Post, Map.
The Iberian Empire, the Italian Confederation and Croatia in 1627: Post, Map.
Flags I: Post, Iberia1, Iberia2, Iberia3, France1, France2, Britain1, Britain2, Germany, Sarmatia, Romania1, Romania2.
Flags II: Post, Scandinavia, Russia, Slovakia, Croatia, Greece1, Greece2, Italy1, Italy2, Italy3, Hungary.
Flags III: Post, Georgia, Armenia, Ottoman, Persia, Morocco, Egypt, Arabia, Israel, Peace-Truce, Europe.
Northern Europe around 1630: Post, Map.
World Map ~1630: Post, Map.
European Countries in 1627: Post, Table.
Pie Charts: Post, Ethnicity, Religion, Citizenship, Europe by Population, Europe by Area.
The Political Structure of the Population of Romania: Post, Venn Diagram.
Europe during the Great Powers Conference (1626-1627): Post, Map (overlay), Map (plain).
Family Tree of Emperor Mihai: Post, Image.
Old Map of Europe: Post, Thumbnail, Full Map.
Exclusive Colonial Rights for the Great Powers I: Post, Thumbnail, Full Map.
Exclusive Colonial Rights for the Great Powers II: Post, Arctic, NW Africa, N America.
Territorial Evolution of Romania (1601 - 1630): Post, Map.
Territorial Evolution of Greece (1625 - 1630): Post, Map.
The Ottoman Empire in 1630-1631: Post, Map.
The Ottoman State and Its Neighbours in 1635: Post, Map.
Romanian Theatre of the 1629-1630 Romanian-Ottoman War: Post, Map.
The Orient in 1635: Post, Map.
Administrative & Ethnographic Map of Romania: Post, Map.
Romanian Colonies in the Middle East around 1640: Post, Map.
Comparison of Romania in 1625 and in 1640: Post, Table 1625, Table 1640, Map 1625, Map 1640.
The Italian War: Post, Map (before), Map.
Michaelia Iulia - Capital City of Romania: Post, Map.
Second European War - Greek Theatre: Post, Map.
Europe in 1640: Post, Map (overlay), Map (plain).
The Second European War: Post, Animated Map.
Summary of Europe's Countries around 1650: Post, Table.
Administrative Units of the Romanian Imperium: Post, Huge Table, Text Version.
Romania and its Empire around 1650: Post, Thumbnail, Full Map (overlay), Full Map (plain).
The Wars and Voyages of Empress Iulia during the 1640's: Post, Map.
Territorial Evolution of France: Post, Map.
Territorial Evolution of Iberia / Spain: Post, Map.
Territorial Evolution of Germany: Post, Map.
Territorial Evolution of Italy: Post, Map.
Territorial Evolution of Sarmatia: Post, Map.
Europe in 1650: Post, Thumbnail, Full Map.
Territorial Evolution of Romania, Minor Powers: Post, Map.
Decline and Disolution of the Ottoman Empire: Post, Map.
Europe in 1650 (plain & labeled): Post, Thumbnail, Full Map.
The World in the Second Half of the 17th Century: Post, Thumbnail, Full Map (overlay), Full Map (plain).
Population of Romania (1602 - 1652): Post, Table.
European Countries and Their Dependencies in 1652: Post, Table.
Relative Military Strength of the World's Countries: Post, Table.
Flag Maps of Europe (1652): Post, FlagMap.
Animated Map of Romania (1600 - 1652): Post, Animated Map.
Family Tree of Emperor Mihai (version 2): Post, Image.
Coat of Arms of Romania: Post, Coat of Arms, Half Size, Quarter Size, Vertical Flag, Defaced Flag, Vertical Defaced Flag, Flag of the Orient.
1652 Wiki-Like Summary Posts: Mihai, Cristina, Nicolae, Flora, Iulia, Maria, Spain, France, Britain, Germany, Scandinavia, Sarmatia, Russia, Italy, Greece, Armenia, Georgia, Slovakia, Oriens, Turkey, Levant, Bosphorus, Hungary, Croatia, Dalmatia, Persia, Egypt, Arabia, Morocco, Romania.

[End of Part One]


Part Two: The Empire of the Orient


Diacritics: . Â . â . Ê . ê . Î . î . Ô . ô . Û . û . Ă . ă . Ĕ . ĕ . Ĭ . ĭ . Ŏ . ŏ . Ŭ . ŭ . Ḑ . ḑ . Ș . ș . Ț . ț . Ä . ä . Ö . ö . Ü . ü . ß .

Icons:
BigGrin | [IMG]https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/attachments/biggrin-gif.275106/[/IMG]
Confused | [IMG]https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/attachments/confused-gif.275107/[/IMG]
Cool | [IMG]https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/attachments/cool-gif.275108/[/IMG]
Eek | [IMG]https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/attachments/eek-gif.275109/[/IMG]
Frown | [IMG]https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/attachments/frown-gif.275110/[/IMG]
Mad | [IMG]https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/attachments/mad-gif.275111/[/IMG]
RedFace | [IMG]https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/attachments/redface-gif.275112/[/IMG]
RollEyes | [IMG]https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/attachments/rolleyes-gif.275113/[/IMG]
Smile | [IMG]https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/attachments/smile-gif.275114/[/IMG]
Tongue | [IMG]https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/attachments/tongue-gif.275115/[/IMG]
Wink | [IMG]https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/attachments/wink-gif.275116/[/IMG]
 
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I.Introduction: The Dream that Forged an Empire

Zagan

Donor
It does not matter if our Emperor's dream was sent by God or not.
What matters is the fact that his people wholeheartedly believed that.


The Dream that Forged an Empire



8 August 1601
Mihai was tired. He had to fight wars, to administer Transylvania and Wallachia, to plan the reconquest of Moldavia now again in Polish hands, to curb the power of the Hungarian nobles, to keep his own boyars happy, to keep an eye on that scheming Basta, to worry about intrigues in Vienna and Prague and to prepare for the unavoidable future war with the Turks.
But all he could think about was that Restitutio Daciae thing and the interesting historical discussion with that young but very learned priest, Valerian.
It was well after midnight when Mihai finally went to sleep in his tent on a field near Turda, where he camped after the recently won Battle of Guruslău.
He only removed his boots and lay in bed fully clothed and with his hand on his sword's grip.
It could have been the last day of his life.

9 August 1601
He standed on the top of an hitherto unknown mountain somewhere in the middle of the lands inhabited by the people who spoke his language.
An Angel of God trumpeted and people started to come towards him from all directions.


First came forth the Turks headed by their Sultan, the Khalif of all Mahomedans. And the Sultan offered him a very small crown, while the one on his own head was truly enormous. And they were speaking Turkish.

And second came forth the Pope, Emperor Rudolf and General Basta followed by masses of Italians, Germans and Hungarians. And the Emperor offered him a golden crown. But the yellow of the gold had visible dark spots. And they all spoke their languages.

And third came forth his handful of boyars. And they offered him a small but decent silver crown. Because the Romanians were poorer. But at least they spoke his language. And the other peoples were not happy.

He looked around him. The Angel has left. His people were few and the Mahomedans and Catholics were at least tenfold. He wanted to take the silver crown of his own people but he knew he could not.
And then he saw them coming. From all over the Romanian Lands. Countless peasants and shepards and crafters and traders coming and coming from behind the horizon, filling the valleys and mountains with neverending human waves.


And fourth came forth his own Wallachians and a soldier dropped his broken sword. And he raised the Blue banner of Wallachia with its Eagle, on a pole by his right side.

And fifth came forth the Transylvanians and an Orthodox priest gently placed on the ground an old iron cross. And he raised the Yellow banner of Transylvania with its 7 castles, on the same pole.

And sixth came forth the Moldavians and a peasant threw his rusted old plough. And he raised the Red banner of Moldavia with the aurochs, on the same pole as well.

And seventh came forth the Aromanians from the Lands on the other side of the Danube, from whom his own mother descended. And a shepard contributed his now silent cowbell. As they had no country and flag of their own, he added a Black cloth in sign of grief, again on the same very pole.
And he looked again and the flags blended into one.


And eights came forth a blacksmith from elsewhere and melted the sword and the plough and the cross and the cowbell and forged an Iron Crown out of them.
And all of them were speaking Romanian like he did, for they were not strangers, but his own people.


And ninth returned the Angel of God and blew cold air onto it to cool it down. And then the Angel splashed it with Holy Water from the Heavens and blessed it.

And he took the Iron Crown, kissed it with deep reverence, crossed himself, thanked the Lord and put the Iron Crown on his head. And the mountains and the forests and the hills and the valleys of his Lands thundered with his name from hundreds of thousands of chests of proud, free Romanians which for the first time in their history stood straight with their heads up.
And the foes trembled at this sight. And all of them vanished from view.
Because the Romanians were as many as the trees in the forests and the stones in the mountains.


But somehow, it seems that Basta had managed to get unnoticed behind him and attacked him with a knife. But he was quick enough to draw his sword and chop the traitor's head off, his flowing blood soaking him wet...

Only it wasn't a dream anymore. Mihai quickly regained all his senses and realised much to his dismay and horror that a blood leaking body still holding a knife was fallen onto his bed.
Now fully awake, Mihai jumped in the middle of his tent just in time to see three other men vanishing into the night.
His own trusted men were now coming towards him. The immediate danger was over.
A new era was bound to begin.
 
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GdwnsnHo

Banned
The Iron Crown - Very Nice.

I hope that in the future the Romanians try and claim the Iron Crown of Lombardy, always good to have a matching pair :D
 

Zagan

Donor
Well. This should be interesting. :D

Subscribed!

:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

Cooooool! I look forward to this!

Super-cool. Can't wait to read more!

I will also read this timeline.

The Iron Crown - Very Nice.

I hope that in the future the Romanians try and claim the Iron Crown of Lombardy, always good to have a matching pair :D

Thank you all for your interest and kind words.

I will try to do my best, but I have to warn you in advance that some events will strech the suspension of disbelief, especially in the first years.
Let's be honest. It is not very plausible to actually get a Romanian state in the 17th century with all those powerful enemies all around.
Ahead of the time proto-national consciousness and overall modernisation in some aspects are at least needed in order to get it.

About the Iron Crown of Lombardy... I simply forgot about it. So, it is only a coincidence. It was meant to be a reference to the future Iron / Steel Crown of Carol I of Romania forged out of a cannon after the Romanian War of Independence against the Ottoman Empire (1877-1878).

I do not think that TTL Romania will claim Lombardy...
However since here they have a much earlier headstart here than in RomaniaWank (original version), some adventures in other parts of the World will probably happen.
 
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I.1. The List That Shaped the Future

Zagan

Donor
This document is so momentuous in our history that even if it were Emperor Mihai's only deed,
it would still be enough to earn him a high rank among the Greatest Romanians that ever lived.

It is probably the most revolutionary manifesto ever written by a royal head of state.


The List That Shaped the Future



There is no doubt that, if it were authentic, the List would have been one of the most fenomenal pieces of written text ever discovered, with its importance impossible to be overstated. Reading it now, with our benefit of hindsight, it really looks like God or another prescient being had actually dictated it.
It was that prescient aura as well as some old Romanian language idiosyncrasies that led some scholars to doubt its authenticity as early as the middle of the 18th century.
Now, especially after it has been radiocarbon tested, the prevalent opinion in the scientific community (but not quite the consensus) is that the List is probably a late 17th century forgery.
However, its widespread dissemination and almost mythical status in the collective ethos of the Romanian Nation ensure its continuing presence in the Romanian History textbooks as well as its proeminent display in the main lobby of the Museum of National History of Alba Iulia.
In fact the List may even give us an insight into Emperor Mihai's early plans. Even if it is a forgery, it is a very good one and Emperor Mihai actually achieved most of it during the following years.

The List is written in a rather odd kind of Renaissance Latin, punctuated by mistakes and lots of shorthand, mixed with a few Old Romanian words and phrases (written in Latin alphabet as well, the complete lack of standardization notwithstanding). The original is thus quite difficult to understand even by those with a good command of both Latin and Romanian. In fact, the actual meaning of several phrases is still subject to interpretation.
It is supposed that the List was written with the help of his trusted advisor, Valerian.
Here is a common English translation of the text with some adaptations and completion of missing parts of words and phrases.


A.D. 1601, 9 August, Turda, Romanian Lands

I. Thwart the conspiracy and execute the traitors, including Basta.
II. Take control of Basta's army or force it out of Transylvania.
III. Create a personal guard of brave and faithful warriors.
IV. March to Alba (modern Alba Iulia) and take full control of Transylvania. Dissolve the Diet and arrest the traitors.

V. Free the Romanians and give them land taken from the Hungarian nobles. Raise oastea cea mare (The Great Army, composed af peasants).
VI. Send embassies to the Turks and Poles and seek to avert war for the time being.
VII. Drive the Movilești out of Moldavia and establish our administration there.
VIII. Forever unite these three Romanian Lands in one and completely destroy all markers of their separate nature.
IX. Prepare for war with Imperator Germanicorum. (Rudolf II; this bold statement was a great insult, by not recognizing his title of Imperator Romanorum, since for Mihai, the Romans were his people, not Rudolf's)

X. Sort out the relations with the Church, with the Wallachian and Moldavian boyars.
XI. Get scholars to write Romanian history and educate the people.
XII. Make a Romanian Alphabet with Latin letters only. Use the Romanian language inside and Latin outside. Drop Slavonic, Greek, Hungarian, German.
XIII. Take inspiration from the Ancient Romans and Greeks. Democracy, citizenship, the Senat, Agora, Legions et al.
XIV. Use the printing press to quickly disseminate knowledge. Make a school by each church. Get scholars and crafters from Europe. Modernize and improve the country.
XV. If invaded fight back or retreat in the mountains or forests. Never surrender and never accept the separation of our lands. Always remember that God is by our side.
XVI. Use diplomacy if possible, war if not.
XVII. Do not irritate the Turks until we are strong enough to fight them south of the Danube.
XVIII. The Turks must be eventually thrown out of Europe. This will liberate our Romanians there, get land for our boyars and peasants, end the heathen menace and win the good will of the West.
XIX. Make the flag as seen in the Dream. Make a new Coat of arms for all Romanians. Make a new Seal written in Romanian with the new ortography in Latin letters. Something like Io Mihailu Mare Voevodu si Domnu Terrilor Romanesci Unite ale Valahiei, Ardealului si Moldovei. Prin mare mila lui DumneDeu si vrerea poporului. (Io Michael, Great Voivode and Lord of the United Romanian Lands of Wallachia, Transylvania and Moldavia. Through the very Grace of God and the will of the people.)

XX. Yes, I shall be the Voivode of my people. It is better like this. Like in the Dream, when I took my Crown from my people. And have someone forge that Crown, now.

How to accomplish all this?
In which order?
How to stiffle internal discontent? Especially the boyars. Execute the dissenters? What to do with Wallachian peasants? They will demand to be freed as well, like the Transylvanian ones.
How to keep the Poles and Turks away while fighting the Germans? Bribe them? With what?
How to get the people to learn when their lifes are so hard? Maybe the children.
And finally, the most important question? Should I tell everybody about the Dream sent by God? When to tell? Whom to tell? What will the Church say?
God be with me.
 
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Zagan

Donor
And now I really need some help.
Please comment on the List.
Thank you.

Note: The members who know that they are on my Ignore List do not need to post since I can not see their comments.

EDIT: Are there any historical characters which you would want to appear (even if only a cameo) in TTL? I do take requests, if sensible enough.
 
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Notes:
1. The short (and translated) Romanian pieces of text will be written in TTL Romanian language using TTL Romanian Alphabet / Diacritics. (mostly old Romanian Letters). Thus, Io Mihailŭ, Împĕratul Românilor, is in OTL Romanian ortography Io Mihai, Împăratul Românilor. As you can see, the differences are actually small enough that any Romanian speaker will easily understand TTL written Romanian.
Do they drop the "-lu" at the end of "Michael" in modern Romanian, or is that a typo?
 

Zagan

Donor
It is not a typo.
There are OTL and will be TTL significant but not fundamental differencies in Romanian ortography during the centuries.
U with breve is a sign making the previous consonant soft. Many soft consonants were subsequently dropped altogether.
Also E with breve becomes A with breve in OTL modern Romanian ortography.

For the linguists out there, there will be a post with details about OTL / TTL, Old / Modern Romanian alphabet, ortography and other stuff like that.
 
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It is not a typo.
There are OTL and will be TTL significant but not fundamental differencies in Romanian ortography during the centuries.
U with breve is a sign making the previous consonant soft. Many soft consonants were subsequently dropped altogether.
Also E with breve becomes A with breve in OTL modern Romanian ortography.

For the linguists out there, there will be a post with details about OTL / TTL, Old / Modern Romanian alphabet, ortography and other stuff like that.

Cool! Looking forward to it.
 
This document is so momentuous in our history that even if it were Emperor Mihai's only deed,
it would still be enough to earn him a high rank among the Greatest Romanians that ever lived.
It is probably the most revolutionary manifesto ever written by a royal head of state.


The List That Shaped the Future*


* There is no doubt that, if it were authentic, the List would have been one of the most fenomenal pieces of written text ever discovered, with its importance impossible to be overstated. Reading it now, with our benefit of hindsight, it really looks like God or another prescient being had actually dictated it.
It was that prescient aura as well as some old Romanian language idiosyncrasies that led some scholars to doubt its authenticity as early as the middle of the 18th century.
Now, especially after it has been radiocarbon tested, the prevalent opinion in the scientific community (but not quite the consensus) is that the List is probably a late 17th century forgery.
However, its widespread dissemination and almost mythical status in the collective ethos of the Romanian Nation ensure its continuing presence in the Romanian History textbooks as well as its proeminent display in the main lobby of the Museum of National History of Alba Iulia.
In fact the List may even give us an insight into Emperor Mihai's early plans. Even if it is a forgery, it is a very good one and Emperor Mihai actually achieved most of it during the following years.

The List is written in a rather odd kind of Renaissance Latin, punctuated by mistakes and lots of shorthand, mixed with a few Old Romanian words and phrases (written in Latin alphabet as well, the complete lack of standardization notwithstanding). The original is thus quite difficult to understand even by those with a good command of both Latin and Romanian. In fact, the actual meaning of several phrases is still subject to interpretation.
It is supposed that the List was written with the help of his trusted advisor, Valerian.
Here is a common English translation of the text with some adaptations and completion of missing parts of words and phrases.


A.D. 1601, 9 August, Turda, Romanian Lands

I. Thwart the conspiracy and execute the traitors, including Basta.
II. Take control of Basta's army or force it out of Transylvania.
III. Create a personal guard of brave and faithful warriors.
IV. March to Alba (modern Alba Iulia) and take full control of Transylvania. Dissolve the Diet and arrest the traitors.
V. Free the Romanians and give them land taken from the Hungarian nobles. Raise oastea cea mare (The Great Army, composed af peasants).
VI. Send embassies to the Turks and Poles and seek to avert war for the time being.
VII. Drive the Movilești out of Moldavia and establish our administration there.
VIII. Forever unite these three Romanian Lands in one and completely destroy all markers of their separate nature.
IX. Prepare for war with Imperator Germanicorum. (Rudolf II; this bold statement was a great insult, by not recognizing his title of Imperator Romanorum, since for Mihai, the Romans were his people, not Rudolf's)
X. Sort out the relations with the Church, with the Wallachian and Moldavian boyars.
XI. Get scholars to write Romanian history and educate the people.
XII. Make a Romanian Alphabet with Latin letters only. Use the Romanian language inside and Latin outside. Drop Slavonic, Greek, Hungarian, German.
XIII. Take inspiration from the Ancient Romans and Greeks. Democracy, citizenship, the Senat, Agora, Legions et al.
XIV. Use the printing press to quickly disseminate knowledge. Make a school by each church. Get scholars and crafters from Europe. Modernize and improve the country.
XV. If invaded fight back or retreat in the mountains or forests. Never surrender and never accept the separation of our lands. Always remember that God is by our side.
XVI. Use diplomacy if possible, war if not.
XVII. Do not irritate the Turks until we are strong enough to fight them south of the Danube.
XVIII. The Turks must be eventually thrown out of Europe. This will liberate our Romanians there, get land for our boyars and peasants, end the heathen menace and win the good will of the West.
XIX. Make the flag as seen in the Dream. Make a new Coat of arms for all Romanians. Make a new Seal written in Romanian with the new ortography in Latin letters. Something like Io Mihailu Mare Voevodu si Domnu Terrilor Romanesci Unite ale Valahiei, Ardealului si Moldovei. Prin mare mila lui DumneDeu si vrerea poporului. (Io Michael, Great Voivode and Lord of the United Romanian Lands of Wallachia, Transylvania and Moldavia. Through the very Grace of God and the will of the people.)
XX. Yes, I shall be the Voivode of my people. It is better like this. Like in the Dream, when I took my Crown from my people. And have someone forge that Crown, now.

How to accomplish all this?
In which order?
How to stiffle internal discontent? Especially the boyars. Execute the dissenters? What to do with Wallachian peasants? They will demand to be freed as well, like the Transylvanian ones.
How to keep the Poles and Turks away while fighting the Germans? Bribe them? With what?
How to get the people to learn when their lifes are so hard? Maybe the children.
And finally, the most important question? Should I tell everybody about the Dream sent by God? When to tell? Whom to tell? What will the Church say?
God be with me.
No. XII could clash with no. XIV. He won`t get skilled craftsmen from the West, if these craftsmen are not allowed to speak their mother tongues and participate in the self-administration of their towns using their mother tongue.

Schools are a good idea, but how do church and/or state afford them? Some idea on how to organise efficient taxation might be helpful, too.

Also, if Mihailu wants to take on the German Emperor, perhaps there are some allies in the West who also have problems with Rudolph? (We`re on the eve of the Thirty Years War...)
 

Zagan

Donor
No. XII could clash with no. XIV. He won`t get skilled craftsmen from the West, if these craftsmen are not allowed to speak their mother tongues and participate in the self-administration of their towns using their mother tongue.

Schools are a good idea, but how do church and/or state afford them? Some idea on how to organise efficient taxation might be helpful, too.

Also, if Mihailu wants to take on the German Emperor, perhaps there are some allies in the West who also have problems with Rudolph? (We`re on the eve of the Thirty Years War...)

There are many printing presses using Latin letters all over Transylvania, way more numerous than the few in Wallachia and Moldavia (which are the only ones using the Slavonic Alphabet).

The Churches have lots of money. They are more wealthy than the state by a wide margin. They may be happy to have the opportunity to indoctrinate more people more thouroughly (and they will be giving them some useful knowledge too).

Mihai does not want to take on the German Emperor. OTL (and TTL) Rudolf II ordered Basta to kill him. OTL he succeeded, TTL he failed (the POD).
Now he knows that Rudolf does not want to accomodate him and a future confrontation will be inevitable.
Mihai does not want to invade HRE. The idea is preposterous.
He want to unite the Romanian Lands and consolidate his power.
Rudolf wants these lands for himself. After Basta will be out of the picture, he will sent another mercenary or the imperial army itself.

After the German Civil War (30 Years War) will start (and it will start anyway, independent of what happens in Eastern Europe, it was long overdue anyway), Mihai may get involved, marginally. No, again, he will not conquer the HRE! I am not that absurd.
 
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Now wait a second,the second unifier of the Romanian lands,the first one was Bathory,the man that introduce serfdom to Wallachia,decides that he is a man of the people. Interesting

And how will he succeed with out allies,
 
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