[Footnote35:HewasthesonofCaesarJohnDucas，brotheroftheemperorConstantine，Ducange，Fam。Byzant。p。165。NicephorusBryenniusapplaudshisvirtuesandextenuateshisfaults，l。i。
p。30，38。l。ii。p。53。YetheownshisenmitytoRomanus。
Scylitzesspeaksmoreexplicitlyofhistreason。]
Aslongasahopesurvived，Romanusattemptedtorallyandsavetherelicsofhisarmy。Whenthecentre，theImperialstation，wasleftnakedonallsides，andencompassedbythevictoriousTurks，hestill，withdesperatecourage，maintainedthefighttillthecloseofday，attheheadofthebraveandfaithfulsubjectswhoadheredtohisstandard。Theyfellaroundhim；hishorsewasslain；theemperorwaswounded；yethestoodaloneandintrepid，tillhewasoppressedandboundbythestrengthofmultitudes。Thegloryofthisillustriousprizewasdisputedbyaslaveandasoldier；aslavewhohadseenhimonthethroneofConstantinople，andasoldierwhoseextremedeformityhadbeenexcusedonthepromiseofsomesignalservice。
Despoiledofhisarms，hisjewels，andhispurple，Romanusspentadrearyandperilousnightonthefieldofbattle，amidstadisorderlycrowdofthemeanerBarbarians。InthemorningtheroyalcaptivewaspresentedtoAlpArslan，whodoubtedofhisfortune，tilltheidentityofthepersonwasascertainedbythereportofhisambassadors，andbythemorepatheticevidenceofBasilacius，whoembracedwithtearsthefeetofhisunhappysovereign。ThesuccessorofConstantine，inaplebeianhabit，wasledintotheTurkishdivan，andcommandedtokissthegroundbeforethelordofAsia。Hereluctantlyobeyed；andAlpArslan，startingfromhisthrone，issaidtohaveplantedhisfootontheneckoftheRomanemperor。^36Butthefactisdoubtful；andif，inthismomentofinsolence，thesultancompliedwiththenationalcustom，therestofhisconducthasextortedthepraiseofhisbigotedfoes，andmayaffordalessontothemostcivilizedages。Heinstantlyraisedtheroyalcaptivefromtheground；andthriceclaspinghishandwithtendersympathy，assuredhim，thathislifeanddignityshouldbeinviolateinthehandsofaprincewhohadlearnedtorespectthemajestyofhisequalsandthevicissitudesoffortune。Fromthedivan，Romanuswasconductedtoanadjacenttent，wherehewasservedwithpompandreverencebytheofficersofthesultan，who，twiceeachday，seatedhimintheplaceofhonorathisowntable。Inafreeandfamiliarconversationofeightdays，notaword，notalook，ofinsultescapedfromtheconqueror；butheseverelycensuredtheunworthysubjectswhohaddesertedtheirvaliantprinceinthehourofdanger，andgentlyadmonishedhisantagonistofsomeerrorswhichhehadcommittedinthemanagementofthewar。Inthepreliminariesofnegotiation，AlpArslanaskedhimwhattreatmentheexpectedtoreceive，andthecalmindifferenceoftheemperordisplaysthefreedomofhismind。\"Ifyouarecruel，\"saidhe，\"youwilltakemylife；ifyoulistentopride，youwilldragmeatyourchariot—wheels；ifyouconsultyourinterest，youwillacceptaransom，andrestoremetomycountry。\"\"Andwhat，\"continuedthesultan，\"wouldhavebeenyourownbehavior，hadfortunesmiledonyourarms?\"ThereplyoftheGreekbetraysasentiment，whichprudence，andevengratitude，shouldhavetaughthimtosuppress。\"HadIvanquished，\"hefiercelysaid，\"Iwouldhaveinflictedonthybodymanyastripe。\"TheTurkishconquerorsmiledattheinsolenceofhiscaptiveobservedthattheChristianlawinculcatedtheloveofenemiesandforgivenessofinjuries；andnoblydeclared，thathewouldnotimitateanexamplewhichhecondemned。Aftermaturedeliberation，AlpArslandictatedthetermsoflibertyandpeace，aransomofamillion，anannualtributeofthreehundredandsixtythousandpiecesofgold，^37themarriageoftheroyalchildren，andthedeliveranceofalltheMoslems，whowereinthepoweroftheGreeks。Romanus，withasigh，subscribedthistreaty，sodisgracefultothemajestyoftheempire；hewasimmediatelyinvestedwithaTurkishrobeofhonor；hisnoblesandpatricianswererestoredtotheirsovereign；andthesultan，afteracourteousembrace，dismissedhimwithrichpresentsandamilitaryguard。Nosoonerdidhereachtheconfinesoftheempire，thanhewasinformedthatthepalaceandprovinceshaddisclaimedtheirallegiancetoacaptive:asumoftwohundredthousandpieceswaspainfullycollected；andthefallenmonarchtransmittedthispartofhisransom，withasadconfessionofhisimpotenceanddisgrace。Thegenerosity，orperhapstheambition，ofthesultan，preparedtoespousethecauseofhisally；buthisdesignswerepreventedbythedefeat，imprisonment，anddeath，ofRomanusDiogenes。^38
[Footnote36:Thiscircumstance，whichwereadanddoubtinScylitzesandConstantineManasses，ismoreprudentlyomittedbyNicephorusandZonaras。]
[Footnote*:Elmacingives1，500，000。Wilken，GeschichtederKreuz—zuge，vol。l。p。10。—M。]
[Footnote37:TheransomandtributeareattestedbyreasonandtheOrientals。TheotherGreeksaremodestlysilent；butNicephorusBryenniusdarestoaffirm，thatthetermswerebadandthattheemperorwouldhavepreferreddeathtoashamefultreaty。]
[Footnote38:ThedefeatandcaptivityofRomanusDiogenesmaybefoundinJohnScylitzesadcalcemCedreni，tom。ii。p。835—843。
Zonaras，tom。ii。p。281—284。NicephorusBryennius，l。i。p。
25—32。Glycas，p。325—327。ConstantineManasses，p。134。
Elmacin，Hist。Saracen。p。343344。Abulpharag。Dynast。p。227。
D\'Herbelot，p。102，103。DGuignes，tom。iii。p。207—211。
BesidesmyoldacquaintanceElmacinandAbulpharagius，thehistorianoftheHunshasconsultedAbulfeda，andhisepitomizerBenschounah，aChronicleoftheCaliphs，byAbulmahasenofEgypt，andNovairiofAfrica。]
Inthetreatyofpeace，itdoesnotappearthatAlpArslanextortedanyprovinceorcityfromthecaptiveemperor；andhisrevengewassatisfiedwiththetrophiesofhisvictory，andthespoilsofAnatolia，fromAntiochtotheBlackSea。ThefairestpartofAsiawassubjecttohislaws:twelvehundredprinces，orthesonsofprinces，stoodbeforehisthrone；andtwohundredthousandsoldiersmarchedunderhisbanners。ThesultandisdainedtopursuethefugitiveGreeks；buthemeditatedthemoregloriousconquestofTurkestan，theoriginalseatofthehouseofSeljuk。
HemovedfromBagdadtothebanksoftheOxus；abridgewasthrownovertheriver；andtwentydayswereconsumedinthepassageofhistroops。ButtheprogressofthegreatkingwasretardedbythegovernorofBerzem；andJosephtheCarizmianpresumedtodefendhisfortressagainstthepowersoftheEast。
Whenhewasproducedacaptiveintheroyaltent，thesultan，insteadofpraisinghisvalor，severelyreproachedhisobstinatefolly:andtheinsolentrepliesoftherebelprovokedasentence，thatheshouldbefastenedtofourstakes，andlefttoexpireinthatpainfulsituation。Atthiscommand，thedesperateCarizmian，drawingadagger，rushedheadlongtowardsthethrone:
theguardsraisedtheirbattle—axes；theirzealwascheckedbyAlpArslan，themostskilfularcheroftheage:hedrewhisbow，buthisfootslipped，thearrowglancedaside，andhereceivedinhisbreastthedaggerofJoseph，whowasinstantlycutinpieces。
Thewoundwasmortal；andtheTurkishprincebequeathedadyingadmonitiontotheprideofkings。\"Inmyyouth，\"saidAlpArslan，\"IwasadvisedbyasagetohumblemyselfbeforeGod；todistrustmyownstrength；andnevertodespisethemostcontemptiblefoe。Ihaveneglectedtheselessons；andmyneglecthasbeendeservedlypunished。Yesterday，asfromaneminenceI
beheldthenumbers，thediscipline，andthespirit，ofmyarmies，theearthseemedtotrembleundermyfeet；andIsaidinmyheart，Surelythouartthekingoftheworld，thegreatestandmostinvincibleofwarriors。Thesearmiesarenolongermine；
and，intheconfidenceofmypersonalstrength，Inowfallbythehandofanassassin。\"^39AlpArslanpossessedthevirtuesofaTurkandaMussulman；hisvoiceandstaturecommandedthereverenceofmankind；hisfacewasshadedwithlongwhiskers；andhisampleturbanwasfashionedintheshapeofacrown。TheremainsofthesultanweredepositedinthetomboftheSeljukiandynasty；andthepassengermightreadandmeditatethisusefulinscription:^40\"OyewhohaveseenthegloryofAlpArslanexaltedtotheheavens，repairtoMaru，andyouwillbeholditburiedinthedust。\"Theannihilationoftheinscription，andthetombitself，moreforciblyproclaimstheinstabilityofhumangreatness。
[Footnote39:ThisinterestingdeathistoldbyD\'Herbelot，p。
103，104，andM。DeGuignes，tom。iii。p。212，213。fromtheirOrientalwriters；butneitherofthemhavetransfusedthespiritofElmacin，Hist。Saracenp。344，345。]
[Footnote40:Acriticofhighrenown，thelateDr。Johnson，
whohasseverelyscrutinizedtheepitaphsofPope，mightcavilinthissublimeinscriptionatthewords\"repairtoMaru，\"sincethereadermustalreadybeatMarubeforehecouldperusetheinscription。]
DuringthelifeofAlpArslan，hiseldestsonhadbeenacknowledgedasthefuturesultanoftheTurks。Onhisfather\'sdeaththeinheritancewasdisputedbyanuncle，acousin，andabrother:theydrewtheircimeters，andassembledtheirfollowers；
andthetriplevictoryofMalekShah^41establishedhisownreputationandtherightofprimogeniture。Ineveryage，andmoreespeciallyinAsia，thethirstofpowerhasinspiredthesamepassions，andoccasionedthesamedisorders；but，fromthelongseriesofcivilwar，itwouldnotbeeasytoextractasentimentmorepureandmagnanimousthaniscontainedinthesayingoftheTurkishprince。Ontheeveofthebattle，heperformedhisdevotionsatThous，beforethetomboftheImamRiza。Asthesultanrosefromtheground，heaskedhisvizierNizam，whohadkneltbesidehim，whathadbeentheobjectofhissecretpetition:\"Thatyourarmsmaybecrownedwithvictory，\"
wastheprudent，andmostprobablythesincere，answeroftheminister。\"Formypart，\"repliedthegenerousMalek，\"IimploredtheLordofHoststhathewouldtakefrommemylifeandcrown，ifmybrotherbemoreworthythanmyselftoreignovertheMoslems。\"Thefavorablejudgmentofheavenwasratifiedbythecaliph；andforthefirsttime，thesacredtitleofCommanderoftheFaithfulwascommunicatedtoaBarbarian。ButthisBarbarian，byhispersonalmerit，andtheextentofhisempire，wasthegreatestprinceofhisage。AfterthesettlementofPersiaandSyria，hemarchedattheheadofinnumerablearmiestoachievetheconquestofTurkestan，whichhadbeenundertakenbyhisfather。InhispassageoftheOxus，theboatmen，whohadbeenemployedintransportingsometroops，complained，thattheirpaymentwasassignedontherevenuesofAntioch。Thesultanfrownedatthispreposterouschoice；buthemiledattheartfulflatteryofhisvizier。\"Itwasnottopostponetheirreward，thatIselectedthoseremoteplaces，buttoleaveamemorialtoposterity，that，underyourreign，AntiochandtheOxusweresubjecttothesamesovereign。\"Butthisdescriptionofhislimitswasunjustandparsimonious:beyondtheOxus，hereducedtohisobediencethecitiesofBochara，Carizme，andSamarcand，andcrushedeachrebelliousslave，orindependentsavage，whodaredtoresist。MalekpassedtheSihonorJaxartes，thelastboundaryofPersiancivilization:thehordesofTurkestanyieldedtohissupremacy:hisnamewasinsertedonthecoins，andintheprayersofCashgar，aTartarkingdomontheextremebordersofChina。FromtheChinesefrontier，hestretchedhisimmediatejurisdictionorfeudatoryswaytothewestandsouth，asfarasthemountainsofGeorgia，theneighborhoodofConstantinople，theholycityofJerusalem，andthespicygrovesofArabiaFelix。
Insteadofresigninghimselftotheluxuryofhisharem，theshepherdking，bothinpeaceandwar，wasinactionandinthefield。Bytheperpetualmotionoftheroyalcamp，eachprovincewassuccessivelyblessedwithhispresence；andheissaidtohaveperambulatedtwelvetimesthewideextentofhisdominions，whichsurpassedtheAsiaticreignofCyrusandthecaliphs。Oftheseexpeditions，themostpiousandsplendidwasthepilgrimageofMecca:thefreedomandsafetyofthecaravanswereprotectedbyhisarms；thecitizensandpilgrimswereenrichedbytheprofusionofhisalms；andthedesertwascheeredbytheplacesofreliefandrefreshment，whichheinstitutedfortheuseofhisbrethren。Huntingwasthepleasure，andeventhepassion，ofthesultan，andhistrainconsistedofforty—seventhousandhorses；
butafterthemassacreofaTurkishchase，foreachpieceofgame，hebestowedapieceofgoldonthepoor，aslightatonement，attheexpenseofthepeople，forthecostandmischiefoftheamusementofkings。Inthepeacefulprosperityofhisreign，thecitiesofAsiawereadornedwithpalacesandhospitalswithmoschsandcolleges；fewdepartedfromhisDivanwithoutreward，andnonewithoutjustice。ThelanguageandliteratureofPersiarevivedunderthehouseofSeljuk；^42andifMalekemulatedtheliberalityofaTurklesspotentthanhimself，^43hispalacemightresoundwiththesongsofahundredpoets。Thesultanbestowedamoreseriousandlearnedcareonthereformationofthecalendar，whichwaseffectedbyageneralassemblyoftheastronomersoftheEast。Byalawoftheprophet，theMoslemsareconfinedtotheirregularcourseofthelunarmonths；inPersia，sincetheageofZoroaster，therevolutionofthesunhasbeenknownandcelebratedasanannualfestival；^44butafterthefalloftheMagianempire，theintercalationhadbeenneglected；thefractionsofminutesandhoursweremultipliedintodays；andthedateofthespringswasremovedfromthesignofAriestothatofPisces。ThereignofMalekwasillustratedbytheGelalaeanaera；andallerrors，eitherpastorfuture，werecorrectedbyacomputationoftime，whichsurpassestheJulian，andapproachestheaccuracyoftheGregorian，style。^45
[Footnote41:TheBibliothequeOrientalehasgiventhetextofthereignofMalek，p。542，543，544，654，655；andtheHistoireGeneraledesHunstom。iii。p。214—224hasaddedtheusualmeasureofrepetitionemendation，andsupplement。WithoutthosetwolearnedFrenchmenIshouldbeblindindeedintheEasternworld。]
[Footnote42:SeeanexcellentdiscourseattheendofSirWilliamJones\'sHistoryofNadirShah，andthearticlesofthepoets，Amak，Anvari，Raschidi，&c。，intheBibliothequeOrientale。]
[Footnote43:HisnamewasKhederKhan。Fourbagswereplacedroundhissopha，andashelistenedtothesong，hecasthandfulsofgoldandsilvertothepoets，D\'Herbelot，p。107。Allthismaybetrue；butIdonotunderstandhowhecouldreigninTransoxianainthetimeofMalekShah，andmuchlesshowKhedercouldsurpasshiminpowerandpomp。Isuspectthatthebeginning，nottheend，ofthexithcenturyisthetrueaeraofhisreign。]
[Footnote44:SeeChardin，VoyagesenPerse，tom。ii。p。235。]
[Footnote45:TheGelalaeanaeraGelaleddin，GloryoftheFaith，wasoneofthenamesortitlesofMalekShahisfixedtothexvthofMarch，A。H。471，A。D。1079。Dr。HydehasproducedtheoriginaltestimoniesofthePersiansandArabians，deReligioneveterumPersarum，c。16p。200—211。]
InaperiodwhenEuropewasplungedinthedeepestbarbarism，thelightandsplendorofAsiamaybeascribedtothedocilityratherthantheknowledgeoftheTurkishconquerors。AnampleshareoftheirwisdomandvirtueisduetoaPersianvizier，whoruledtheempireunderthereignsofAlpArslanandhisson。Nizam，oneofthemostillustriousministersoftheEast，washonoredbythecaliphasanoracleofreligionandscience；hewastrustedbythesultanasthefaithfulvicegerentofhispowerandjustice。Afteranadministrationofthirtyyears，thefameofthevizier，hiswealth，andevenhisservices，weretransformedintocrimes。Hewasoverthrownbytheinsidiousartsofawomanandarival；andhisfallwashastenedbyarashdeclaration，thathiscapandink—horn，thebadgesofhisoffice，wereconnectedbythedivinedecreewiththethroneanddiademofthesultan。Attheageofninety—threeyears，thevenerablestatesmanwasdismissedbyhismaster，accusedbyhisenemies，andmurderedbyafanatic:thelastwordsofNizamattestedhisinnocence，andtheremainderofMalek\'slifewasshortandinglorious。FromIspahan，thesceneofthisdisgracefultransaction，thesultanmovedtoBagdad，withthedesignoftransplantingthecaliph，andoffixinghisownresidenceinthecapitaloftheMoslemworld。ThefeeblesuccessorofMahometobtainedarespiteoftendays；andbeforetheexpirationoftheterm，theBarbarianwassummonedbytheangelofdeath。HisambassadorsatConstantinoplehadaskedinmarriageaRomanprincess；buttheproposalwasdecentlyeluded；andthedaughterofAlexius，whomightherselfhavebeenthevictim，expressesherabhorrenceofhisunnaturalconjunction。^46ThedaughterofthesultanwasbestowedonthecaliphMoctadi，withtheimperiouscondition，that，renouncingthesocietyofhiswivesandconcubines，heshouldforeverconfinehimselftothishonorablealliance。
[Footnote*:Hewasthefirstgreatvictimofhisenemy，HassanSabek，founderoftheAssassins。VonHammer，GeschichtederAssassinen，p。95。—M。]
[Footnote46:ShespeaksofthisPersianroyalty。AnnaComnenawasonlynineyearsoldattheendofthereignofMalekShah，A。D。1092，andwhenshespeaksofhisassassination，sheconfoundsthesultanwiththevizier，Alexias，l。vi。p。177，178。]
ChapterLVII:TheTurks。
PartIII。
ThegreatnessandunityoftheTurkishempireexpiredinthepersonofMalekShah。Hisvacantthronewasdisputedbyhisbrotherandhisfoursons；^!and，afteraseriesofcivilwars，thetreatywhichreconciledthesurvivingcandidatesconfirmedalastingseparationinthePersiandynasty，theeldestandprincipalbranchofthehouseofSeljuk。ThethreeyoungerdynastieswerethoseofKerman，ofSyria，andofRoum:thefirstofthesecommandedanextensive，thoughobscure，^47dominionontheshoresoftheIndianOcean:^48thesecondexpelledtheArabianprincesofAleppoandDamascus；andthethird，ourpeculiarcare，invadedtheRomanprovincesofAsiaMinor。ThegenerouspolicyofMalekcontributedtotheirelevation:heallowedtheprincesofhisblood，eventhosewhomhehadvanquishedinthefield，toseeknewkingdomsworthyoftheirambition；norwashedispleasedthattheyshoulddrawawaythemoreardentspirits，whomighthavedisturbedthetranquillityofhisreign。Asthesupremeheadofhisfamilyandnation，thegreatsultanofPersiacommandedtheobedienceandtributeofhisroyalbrethren:thethronesofKermanandNice，ofAleppoandDamascus；theAtabeks，andemirsofSyriaandMesopotamia，erectedtheirstandardsundertheshadowofhissceptre:^49andthehordesofTurkmansoverspreadtheplainsoftheWesternAsia。