YMMV / Altair: A Record of Battles

aka: Shoukoku No Altair

• Alternative Character Interpretation: Türkiye is not universally accepted as the good guys by all readers, with some arguing that they're just doing the same thing Balt-Rhein is doing, imperializing other countries for the benefit of their own, the only difference being they're doing it more insidiously, by making the other countries reliant on Türkiye for protection. On the other side of the spectrum, supporters of Türkiye insist that if nothing else, the Turks aren't being unnecessarily violent and cruel about it, and that the world would be better under their more even-handed rule.
• Americans Hate Tingle: Türkiye is far less likely to be accepted as the "good guys" in Europe due to the historical context of the story, especially in countries that have had historically poor relations with the Ottoman Empire. It's especially present in Austria and Germany, the real-world model for Balt-Rhein.
• Base-Breaking Character: The protagonist Mahmut is one, as he's presented as an extremely capable military commander, diplomat, and hand-to-hand combatant despite being fairly young for one so extraordinarily world-savvy, and most importantly, managing to always grasp victory in the end, even when outnumbered or seemingly outsmarted, and never losing faith in his worldview, even when facing setbacks or losing people important to him. For some, it's an endearing and relatable character, but others are not so kind, viewing his victories as contrived and lacking in tension, and don't consider him the hero the story would have you believe he is, even though there's room for ambiguity.
• Designated Hero: Many fans believe that Türkiye is guilty of the very things Balt-Rhein is accused of, including excessive militarism, aggressive expansion, human rights abuses, and imperialism at the expense of the city-states that surround them.
• Ensemble Dark Horse: Shara is one of the most popular characters, to the point newer viewers are surprised (and disappointed) that she is not ont of the main characters.
• Fridge Brilliance: If you're familiar with Turkish and European history, you would notice that many things in this work are recycled/revamped versions of real history, that can sometimes give the readers hints about what's going to happen next..
• Rooting for the Empire: Aside from the above mentioned Eastern-European readers who root for Balt-Rhein for their own reasons, as the series progressed, and the roles switched (Balt-Rhein becoming the underdog against the invading Turks), some root for the Empire through their display of Villainous Valour. There is also the fact that there are legitimately good, likable Imperials who seek to reform the Empire and bring peace.

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