Dance of Diplomacy
The stage was set for a historic meeting. Antonius, accompanied by Abdullah, embarked from Constantinople to Albania, responding to an invitation from Lord Skanderbeg, a trusted ally. This occasion marked the first-ever face-to-face meeting between the emperor of Constantinople and the Serene Doge of Venezia. It was a momentous event, signalling a potential new chapter in the relations between these two great powers.
However, the primary negotiations had largely been settled in discussions between Abdullah and the Doge's government well before this meeting. Thus, the gathering in Albania wasn't so much about hammering out the details of the peace treaties, which had been broadly agreed upon. Rather, it was an opportunity for the two leaders to engage in deeper conversations about the broader implications of their agreement and to discuss strategic concerns about the future.