Eagle’s Glory

At the moment when Aigron put the crown on Haidee, the Grand Duchess Ioannina was officially announced, and the duchy she ruled was born.

As far as the legal system is concerned, the Duchy of Ioannina is the territory that Aigron seals out, and Heide is also his highest-ranking vassal, and he is also under his protection.

Of course, in the 19th century, when rituals collapsed and music broke down, the so-called legal system was not much sacred anymore, it was just an excuse to fool people. It just needs to temporarily find a shelter for himself and his supporters without angering any party.

On the day of the founding of the country, after Aigron canonized Haidai, he canonized a group of meritorious ministers as vassals. For example, Ney's son Michel Ney, Duke of Erchingen), together formed the core group of his men.

In order to further win over these people, he also deliberately divided some fiefs for them in the principality - although these fiefs are not big, and they have no civil rights, they are just land assets, but this grace is enough for these people to be grateful .

The establishment of the emperor-monarch-vassal, a whole system, means that 12 years after the catastrophic collapse of 1815, the empire has been restored in the faraway region of Ioannina.

Of course, this is not a restoration of the ancient medieval system, and Aigron has no interest in picking up those outdated things again. He just follows the ruling rules established by Emperor Napoleon and temporarily adapts to local conditions.

In this Ioannina region, where wars, religious conflicts and ethnic vendettas are common, his "universal suffrage" and representative democracy are tantamount to asking for fish. The local people have long been accustomed to Sudan's high pressure for thousands of years. Bloody rule, it is impossible to be interested in the revolutionary creeds of freedom, equality and fraternity. In order to establish an effective system, he can only create a hierarchy, and then use his core base to suppress other groups.

After a series of operations, Aigron has stabilized his interior, and the new Duchy of Ioannina has also gained a firm footing. Next, he should go to work outside.

His most important job right now is to gain external recognition for the Principality of Ioannina.

Austria, he doesn't have to worry, as long as he completes the transaction, Metternich will definitely not mind admitting the duchy, and if he intercedes, the British side can easily get it; Turkey doesn't have to worry, the Sultan is struggling, in order to keep the empire alive , he is definitely willing to compromise - since Greece is going to be ceded anyway, he doesn't mind losing one more Ioannina.

In this era, because of its lack of strength, Prussia has followed the same pace with Russia diplomatically, and is even regarded as a half-vassal of the Russians. Their influence on European affairs is very small, and Aigron does not need to care what they think.

The rest is the attitude of France and Russia.

France, ruled by the Bourbon family, gritted his teeth with hatred for Bonaparte, the former usurper rebel, and it is estimated that he would never recognize the Principality of Ioannina no matter what; and Russia is more subtle.

On the one hand, the Romanov family also hated the Bonaparte family; but on the other hand, the Russian Empire must also be happy to see Turkey being further weakened, and at the same time, it is also happy to see the emergence of an independent Orthodox state in the Balkans.

Therefore, on the day of the founding of the country, Aigron wrote a letter in the name of Heide, which he intended to pass to His Majesty Tsar Nicholas I of Russia through the Austrian embassy.

The wording in the letter is very sincere. "Haide" said that after converting to the Orthodox Church, she has felt the mercy of God and the mighty power of Christianity. She will honor the Lord's will and turn Ioannina into a kingdom that will always honor the Orthodox Church. , and in the letter she praised the tsar as the guardian of the orthodox faith, and promised that if one day the Russian Empire needed to fight the Turks again, the Principality, even if it was a small country, would be willing to fight side by side with Russia for the orthodox faith.

The wording in the letter was quite modest, and although Aigron didn't like to use such flattering words to others, he was able to bend and stretch, and since the situation required it, he didn't mind saying it - anyway, nominally, this was what Heide said.

Of course Aigron is not stupid enough to think that the Tsar will change his opinion of him just because of a letter, but he believes that under the current situation, the Russian Empire has already made enough profits, and under the pressure of Western European powers, the Tsar will choose to temporarily retreat. ——In this context, the loss of the Principality of Ioannina is also enough to meet the political needs of His Majesty the Tsar.

Aigron did not ask the Tsar to accept him, but only hoped that he could stabilize him and make everyone look good. As long as the Russian Empire acquiesced to the existence of the duchy, even if it did not establish diplomatic relations, then even if the French of the Bourbon family had any opinion. , will not change the whole situation.

This is the last step of the journey, as long as this step is completed, then he is equal to the accomplishment.

Aegron is full of confidence in this, because since this step has been reached, there will not be too many variables.

Before, he was an unlucky **** who was unfortunately overwhelmed by disasters, but he gritted his teeth and persevered, survived the most difficult times, and finally found his own way along the river of history, and after a lot of hard work. Got a square inch of land.

Thinking of this, he could not help but give birth to self-confidence and pride.

However, he also clearly knew that after the noun of "non-existence" of the Principality of Ioannina changed to "existence", the long river of history had forked in front of him and flowed in an unknown direction, and he had nothing left to do. Used as a guide, from now on he can only rely on himself to fight against the unknown destiny.

He is not afraid, but even very happy-because it means that he is not destined to be unknown from now on, he has already entered the stage of history, even if he is overturned by stormy waves due to bad luck in the future, at least he It can also leave traces in the history books.

For him, that's what his existence means.

No matter what kind of storm he faced, he would only face it with a big smile.

After finishing the affairs of the duchy, Aigron handed over the rest of the affairs to Father Faria, the Count of Monte Cristo and the Duke of Erchingen and other confidants, and then took Teresa south from Ioannina. , heading towards the Peloponnese.

In order not to cause unnecessary commotion, the two of them deliberately kept a low profile, did not release any public information, and the servants around them only brought Chanel alone.

However, all parts of Greece are still very unstable, so they naturally have to follow with a large group of guards. Andre Davout, Marquis of Lepanto, continues to serve as the captain of the guard, responsible for the protection of the unmarried couple.

This group, after a few days of fatigue, they arrived at the port of Methoni by boat.

Last time, Aigron took a boat from Monte Cristo to the Peloponnese, where he landed. Although only a few months have passed since he landed in Methoni, the whole world seems to have changed. appearance.

For Aegron, at least, his world was very different.

The last time he came here, Aigron had someone forcibly requisitioned a hotel as his place of stay, and this time, after he came back, he naturally stayed there again.

Back at the place where he had lived for several months, Chanel happily cleaned the room for the two masters, while Aigron and Teresa also happily moved in.

After they officially stayed, Panos Kolokotronis, who had already been informed by him, also came outside the hotel and asked Aegron and Teresa to visit.

Agron and Teresa were of course happy to meet their allies, so they met him together on the rooftop balcony.

"Mr. Head, congratulations!" Panos congratulated Aegron with a smile on his face as soon as he saw Aegron. "Also please allow me to congratulate Her Royal Highness the Duchy of Ioannina."

When Aegron held the founding ceremony of the duchy, he naturally did not forget to send someone to notify his allies, so Panos of course knew about it at this time.

Although the establishment of the Principality of Ioannina meant taking away some of the land that originally belonged to Greece in history, for Panos, it was not a loss to be able to exchange such a small price for the independence of the Greek state.

And for Greece, which is in ruins after independence, it really has no energy to quarrel with the Bonaparte family over this matter - after all, the mortal enemy Turkey is still alive.

"I also represent the Grand Duchess Haidai, thank you for your congratulations." Aigron replied sternly. "I hereby assure you that the Principality of Ioannina is willing to be friendly with Greece as a close ally from generation to generation - if necessary, after the independence of Greece, the two countries can sign a covenant to advance and retreat together."

"If that's the case then that's the best!" Panos' eyes lit up.

For Panos, what he worries most is that after the success of independence, he will have to face the unwilling Turkish sultan. If he can continue to form an alliance with the Bonaparte family, it will be tantamount to obtaining strong aid to ensure the independence of Greece. security afterwards.

"I will convince my father to agree to this covenant." Panos immediately responded positively, "In addition, he is also willing to discuss with you on a positive standpoint about the border demarcation between the two countries. ."

Greece is not yet officially independent, so its borders with the principality are out of the question, but once it is officially independent, this will become a thorny issue for the two nascent countries.

In the history of the Balkan Peninsula, after countries got rid of the Turks one after another, they fought for the division of the borders. They fought two Balkan wars before and after, and I don’t know how many lives were lost.

In order to avoid this problem, Aegron must solve the problem of demarcation as soon as possible - while his allies are still in control.

Right now, both he and Panos' father, Theodoros Kolokotronis, enjoy great prestige, and if the two of them determine the boundary, it is enough to eliminate the hidden dangers of future disputes to the greatest extent - and, in order to make This negotiation will be concluded smoothly as soon as possible, and Aegron is also willing to make positive gestures and concessions.

For him, ensuring the continuation of the favorable situation is more important than taking a few more poor and dilapidated villages or mountains. Ioannina is not his family's ancestral property anyway.

As long as the border demarcation negotiation is concluded and a covenant is signed at the same time, the friendly relationship between the Principality of Ioannina and the Kingdom of Greece will be enough to be established, and the two new countries will be given a safe and stable external environment.

"Your father, when will you find time to meet me?" Aegron asked.

"Where did you say that!" Panos replied, laughing. "My father would like to see you any time, as long as you are free."

"So, how about we meet in Sparta in five days?" Aegron suggested.

"I am happy to obey." Panos smiled and nodded. "The last meeting in Sparta opened the door to our success, and this time we have to draw a happy ending for this great cause."

"Independence doesn't mean everything is fine, my friend." Aegron kindly reminded him, "People are willing to sacrifice for a great cause, but no one can accept sacrifice all the time, especially after the success of the independent cause, their attention It will definitely be transferred to our daily life, and if we cannot give them peace and prosperity at that time, we will also lose popular support and ultimately lose our prestige and power.”

"Of course, I understand this truth!" Panos nodded heavily, "Don't worry, my father has also planned, he will try his best to serve the well-being of the people after the independence of the country, until each of us enjoys until the time of peace."

In the plan of the Panos father and son, Greece will become a kingdom after independence, and Theodoros Kolokotronis will be the prime minister of the kingdom. Considering that the choice of the king has not yet been decided, he will temporarily act as the head of state.

Hard-won power, no one is willing to lose it easily, and there are still too many things waiting for them to do next.

However, Panos is full of confidence in this - after all, the hardest time has passed, so what's there to be afraid of?

As long as this young man is an ally, all the obstacles in front of them will be able to easily overcome.

"Okay, now that you've set the date, I'll go back later and tell my father the news so he can prepare for it." Panos stood up, then saluted Agron and Teresa Say goodbye.

Finally, he said a blessing.

"Then these are my personal words... Your Majesty, and Your Highness the Princess, I wish you two a long life and a happy life."

Due to various considerations, Panos has been calling Aegron the leader of the regiment officially, but now he doesn't have so many scruples in his personal capacity.

He is full of admiration and love for the young and young girls, and sincerely hopes that they will be happy.

Not long ago, Aigron had announced that Teresa had "arrived" in Greece, and now everyone knows that the unmarried couple has been reunited, and naturally they will be married soon.

"Thank you for your blessing." Aigron and Teresa thanked at the same time.

"My blessings are more than words—" Panos replied with a smile, "don't worry, I have already arranged for them, and once the Turks are withdrawn from Athens, we will send them to the Parthenon. Preparing the temple ruins will definitely satisfy Her Royal Highness…”

Teresa was naturally elated. "I'm sure you can do it all, sir! And you'll be the guest of honor at the wedding."

"His Royal Highness, this is my honor." Panos bowed slightly to Teresa, then turned and left with a big smile.

Soon, only the boy and the girl were left on the balcony.

Aegron looked up at the sky, it was already dusk.

"My dear Teresa, do you know what I miss most about Methoni?" In a moment of silence, Agron suddenly asked Teresa with a smile.

"What?" Teresa asked slightly puzzled.

Then, looking at the playful light flickering in the young man's eyes, she seemed to have reacted. "Yeah! Stop talking!"