Open Letter to the States and Nations of Europe
Good gentlemen of Europe, great Leaders of the States,
There was once a time when European honour was the beacon of light in a dark world. There was a time when Christian leaders of this Continent put aside differences of nationality and politics and stood together in holy service against a terrible foreign enemy. That enemy was the rampaging empire of the Ottoman Turks, who in their bloodlust and drive for conquest once threatened the whole of Europe, and all its peoples. These Turks once seemed invincible; they swept aside Constantinople with arrogant ease, and plunged their cruel curved knives into the very heart of Christian Europe. But the Turks were and are not invincible. No, they were defeated -- when Christian men put aside language and rivalry, and stood together on the fields of Vienna to turn back the tide of Saracen domination. Our countrymen stood shoulder to shoulder with your own on that blood-soaked battlefield; they gave their lives in defense of that city, as did so many noble Germans and brave Pole, so that Europe would never know the sting of Ottoman dominion. But even as the tide was stayed, and the Turks denied the heartland of Europe, our people fell under their whips and into their chains. For three hundred years the Hungarian nation suffered under the Ottoman yoke, bearing the full burden of servitude from which the bravery of those intrepid men at Vienna had spared the nations of the north and west. Now at last we have the strength and the courage to rise up against our oppressors; now at last men who have been whipped and beaten for three centuries show that they still hold in the chests stout hearts and brave wills. But courage and valour alone cannot be enough to throw off the shackles locked down by the weight of a mighty imperial army. No, it will take more than determination to best the forces of the Sultan, better men though my people may be. So we ask you, Christian gentlemen, brave and good men of Europe, to stand with us now as you did at Vienna -- to fight once more against the abuses and depredations of the abominable Turkish horde. By God, if there is any bravery left in the hearts of European men, or any love of justice left in the souls this Continent's people, you will rise to this occasion and fight, for God and for that freedom which all peoples covet and rightly deserve! No longer can we tolerate the hated red crescent flying above those hallowed grounds where patriots and heroes once sold their lives so dearly for that idea which they called Europe. We ask for your help, and your recognition.
Sincerely and in faith,
Chancellor Lajos Kossuth
Kingdom of Hungary
EDIT: Das, I've looked through the Alt Hist thread, and can't seem to locate this timeline, so I'd appreciate it if you could please confirm or deny the Siege and Battle of Vienna, and/or explain briefly how Hungary was conquered.
I'm going to kick some Portuguese behind until they realize that my lands are just not worth the trouble to conquer... and MjM has fallen neatly into my trap.
You are a fine NESer.
ersia
