[Footnote48:AftertheconquestofSmyrnabytheLatins，thedefenceofthisfortresswasimposedbyPopeGregoryXI。ontheknightsofRhodes，seeVertot，l。v。]
[Footnote49:SeeCantacuzenus，l。iii。c。95。NicephorusGregoras，who，forthelightofMountThabor，brandstheemperorwiththenamesoftyrantandHerod，excuses，ratherthanblames，thisTurkishmarriage，andallegesthepassionandpowerofOrchan，Turkish，l。xv。5。Heafterwardscelebrateshiskingdomandarmies。SeehisreigninCantemir，p。24—30。]
InthetreatywiththeempressAnne，theOttomanprincehadinsertedasingularcondition，thatitshouldbelawfulforhimtosellhisprisonersatConstantinople，ortransportthemintoAsia。AnakedcrowdofChristiansofbothsexesandeveryage，ofpriestsandmonks，ofmatronsandvirgins，wasexposedinthepublicmarket；thewhipwasfrequentlyusedtoquickenthecharityofredemption；andtheindigentGreeksdeploredthefateoftheirbrethren，whowereledawaytotheworstevilsoftemporalandspiritualbondage^50Cantacuzenewasreducedtosubscribethesameterms；andtheirexecutionmusthavebeenstillmorepernicioustotheempire:abodyoftenthousandTurkshadbeendetachedtotheassistanceoftheempressAnne；buttheentireforcesofOrchanwereexertedintheserviceofhisfather。Yetthesecalamitieswereofatransientnature；assoonasthestormhadpassedaway，thefugitivesmightreturntotheirhabitations；andattheconclusionofthecivilandforeignwars，EuropewascompletelyevacuatedbytheMoslemsofAsia。ItwasinhislastquarrelwithhispupilthatCantacuzeneinflictedthedeepanddeadlywound，whichcouldneverbehealedbyhissuccessors，andwhichispoorlyexpiatedbyhistheologicaldialoguesagainsttheprophetMahomet。Ignorantoftheirownhistory，themodernTurksconfoundtheirfirstandtheirfinalpassageoftheHellespont，^51anddescribethesonofOrchanasanocturnalrobber，who，witheightycompanions，exploresbystratagemahostileandunknownshore。Soliman，attheheadoftenthousandhorse，wastransportedinthevessels，andentertainedasthefriend，oftheGreekemperor。InthecivilwarsofRomania，heperformedsomeserviceandperpetratedmoremischief；buttheChersonesuswasinsensiblyfilledwithaTurkishcolony；andtheByzantinecourtsolicitedinvaintherestitutionofthefortressesofThrace。AftersomeartfuldelaysbetweentheOttomanprinceandhisson，theirransomwasvaluedatsixtythousandcrowns，andthefirstpaymenthadbeenmadewhenanearthquakeshookthewallsandcitiesoftheprovinces；thedismantledplaceswereoccupiedbytheTurks；andGallipoli，thekeyoftheHellespont，wasrebuiltandrepeopledbythepolicyofSoliman。TheabdicationofCantacuzenedissolvedthefeeblebandsofdomesticalliance；andhislastadviceadmonishedhiscountrymentodeclinearashcontest，andtocomparetheirownweaknesswiththenumbersandvalor，thedisciplineandenthusiasm，oftheMoslems。Hisprudentcounselsweredespisedbytheheadstrongvanityofyouth，andsoonjustifiedbythevictoriesoftheOttomans。Butashepractisedinthefieldtheexerciseofthejerid，Solimanwaskilledbyafallfromhishorse；andtheagedOrchanweptandexpiredonthetombofhisvaliantson。
[Footnote50:ThemostlivelyandconcisepictureofthiscaptivitymaybefoundinthehistoryofDucas，c。8，whofairlydescribeswhatCantacuzeneconfesseswithaguiltyblush!]
[Footnote51:Inthispassage，andthefirstconquestsinEurope，Cantemirp。27，&c。givesamiserableideaofhisTurkishguides；noramImuchbettersatisfiedwithChalcondyles，l。i。
p。12，&c。Theyforgettoconsultthemostauthenticrecord，theivthbookofCantacuzene。Ilikewiseregretthelastbooks，whicharestillmanuscript，ofNicephorusGregoras。
Note:VonHammerexcusesthesilencewithwhichtheTurkishhistorianspassovertheearlierintercourseoftheOttomanswiththeEuropeancontinent，ofwhichheenumeratessixteendifferentoccasions，asiftheydisdainedthosepeacefulincursionsbywhichtheygainednoconquest，andestablishednopermanentfootingontheByzantineterritory。OftheromanticaccountofSoliman\'sfirstexpedition，hesays，\"Asyettheproseofhistoryhadnotasserteditsrightoverthepoetryoftradition。\"ThisdefencewouldscarcelybeacceptedassatisfactorybythehistorianoftheDeclineandFall。—M。inQuarterlyReview，vol。xlix。p。293。
Note:Inthe75thyearofhisage，the35thofhisreign。
V。Hammer。M。]
ChapterLXIV:Moguls，OttomanTurkds。
PartIV。
ButtheGreekshadnottimetorejoiceinthedeathoftheirenemies；andtheTurkishcimeterwaswieldedwiththesamespiritbyAmuraththeFirst，thesonofOrchan，andthebrotherofSoliman。BythepaleandfaintinglightoftheByzantineannals，^52wecandiscern，thathesubduedwithoutresistancethewholeprovinceofRomaniaorThrace，fromtheHellesponttoMountHaemus，andthevergeofthecapital；andthatAdrianoplewaschosenfortheroyalseatofhisgovernmentandreligioninEurope。Constantinople，whosedeclineisalmostcoevalwithherfoundation，hadoften，inthelapseofathousandyears，beenassaultedbytheBarbariansoftheEastandWest；butnevertillthisfatalhourhadtheGreeksbeensurrounded，bothinAsiaandEurope，bythearmsofthesamehostilemonarchy。YettheprudenceorgenerosityofAmurathpostponedforawhilethiseasyconquest；andhispridewassatisfiedwiththefrequentandhumbleattendanceoftheemperorJohnPalaeologusandhisfoursons，whofollowedathissummonsthecourtandcampoftheOttomanprince。HemarchedagainsttheSclavoniannationsbetweentheDanubeandtheAdriatic，theBulgarians，Servians，Bosnians，andAlbanians；andthesewarliketribes，whohadsoofteninsultedthemajestyoftheempire，wererepeatedlybrokenbyhisdestructiveinroads。Theircountriesdidnotaboundeitheringoldorsilver；norweretheirrustichamletsandtownshipsenrichedbycommerceordecoratedbytheartsofluxury。Butthenativesofthesoilhavebeendistinguishedineveryagebytheirhardinessofmindandbody；andtheywereconvertedbyaprudentinstitutionintothefirmestandmostfaithfulsupportersoftheOttomangreatness。^53ThevizierofAmurathremindedhissovereignthat，accordingtotheMahometanlaw，hewasentitledtoafifthpartofthespoilandcaptives；
andthatthedutymighteasilybelevied，ifvigilantofficerswerestationedinGallipoli，towatchthepassage，andtoselectforhisusethestoutestandmostbeautifuloftheChristianyouth。Theadvicewasfollowed:theedictwasproclaimed；manythousandsoftheEuropeancaptiveswereeducatedinreligionandarms；andthenewmilitiawasconsecratedandnamedbyacelebrateddervis。Standinginthefrontoftheirranks，hestretchedthesleeveofhisgownovertheheadoftheforemostsoldier，andhisblessingwasdeliveredinthesewords:\"LetthembecalledJanizaries，Yengicheri，ornewsoldiers；maytheircountenancebeeverbright!theirhandvictorious!theirswordkeen!maytheirspearalwayshangovertheheadsoftheirenemies!andwheresoevertheygo，maytheyreturnwithawhiteface!\"^54Suchwastheoriginofthesehaughtytroops，theterrorofthenations，andsometimesofthesultansthemselves。
Theirvalorhasdeclined，theirdisciplineisrelaxed，andtheirtumultuaryarrayisincapableofcontendingwiththeorderandweaponsofmoderntactics；butatthetimeoftheirinstitution，theypossessedadecisivesuperiorityinwar；sincearegularbodyofinfantry，inconstantexerciseandpay，wasnotmaintainedbyanyoftheprincesofChristendom。TheJanizariesfoughtwiththezealofproselytesagainsttheiridolatrouscountrymen；andinthebattleofCossova，theleagueandindependenceoftheSclavoniantribeswasfinallycrushed。Astheconquerorwalkedoverthefield，heobservedthatthegreatestpartoftheslainconsistedofbeardlessyouths；andlistenedtotheflatteringreplyofhisvizier，thatageandwisdomwouldhavetaughtthemnottoopposehisirresistiblearms。ButtheswordofhisJanizariescouldnotdefendhimfromthedaggerofdespair；aServiansoldierstartedfromthecrowdofdeadbodies，andAmurathwaspiercedinthebellywithamortalwound。ThegrandsonofOthmanwasmildinhistemper，modestinhisapparel，andaloveroflearningandvirtue；buttheMoslemswerescandalizedathisabsencefrompublicworship；
andhewascorrectedbythefirmnessofthemufti，whodaredtorejecthistestimonyinacivilcause:amixtureofservitudeandfreedomnotunfrequentinOrientalhistory。^55
[Footnote52:AftertheconclusionofCantacuzeneandGregoras，therefollowsadarkintervalofahundredyears。GeorgePhranza，MichaelDucas，andLaonicusChalcondyles，allthreewroteafterthetakingofConstantinople。]
[Footnote53:SeeCantemir，p。37—41，withhisownlargeandcuriousannotations。]
[Footnote54:WhiteandblackfacearecommonandproverbialexpressionsofpraiseandreproachintheTurkishlanguage。Hicnigerest，hunctuRomanecaveto，waslikewiseaLatinsentence。]
[Footnote*:AccordingtoVonHammer。vol。i。p。90，GibbonandtheEuropeanwritersassigntoolateadatetothisenrolmentoftheJanizaries。IttookplacenotinthereignofAmurath，butinthatofhispredecessorOrchan。—M。]
[Footnote*:Ducashasrelatedthisasadeliberateactofself—devotiononthepartofaServiannoblewhopretendedtodesert，andstabbedAmurathduringaconferencewhichhehadrequested。TheItaliantranslatorofDucas，publishedbyBekkerintheneweditionoftheByzantines，hasstillfurtherheightenedtheromance。SeelikewiseinVonHammerOsmanischeGeschichte，vol。i。p。138thepopularServianaccount，whichresemblesthatofDucas，andmayhavebeenthesourceofthatofhisItaliantranslator。TheTurkishaccountagreesmorenearlywithGibbon；buttheServian，MiloschKohilovischwhilehelayamongtheheapofthedead，pretendedtohavesomesecrettoimparttoAmurath，andstabbedhimwhileheleanedovertolisten。—M。]
[Footnote55:SeethelifeanddeathofMorad，orAmurathI。，inCantemir，p33—45，thefirstbookofChalcondyles，andtheAnnalesTurciciofLeunclavius。Accordingtoanotherstory，thesultanwasstabbedbyaCroatinhistent；andthisaccidentwasallegedtoBusbequiusEpisti。p。98asanexcusefortheunworthyprecautionofpinioning，asifwere，betweentwoattendants，anambassador\'sarms，whenheisintroducedtotheroyalpresence。]
ThecharacterofBajazet，thesonandsuccessorofAmurath，isstronglyexpressedinhissurnameofIlderim，orthelightning；andhemightgloryinanepithet，whichwasdrawnfromthefieryenergyofhissoulandtherapidityofhisdestructivemarch。Inthefourteenyearsofhisreign，^56heincessantlymovedattheheadofhisarmies，fromBoursatoAdrianople，fromtheDanubetotheEuphrates；and，thoughhestrenuouslylaboredforthepropagationofthelaw，heinvaded，withimpartialambition，theChristianandMahometanprincesofEuropeandAsia。
FromAngoratoAmasiaandErzeroum，thenorthernregionsofAnatoliawerereducedtohisobedience:hestrippedoftheirhereditarypossessionshisbrotheremirsofGhermianandCaramania，ofAidinandSarukhan；andaftertheconquestofIconiumtheancientkingdomoftheSeljukiansagainrevivedintheOttomandynasty。NorweretheconquestsofBajazetlessrapidorimportantinEurope。NosoonerhadheimposedaregularformofservitudeontheServiansandBulgarians，thanhepassedtheDanubetoseeknewenemiesandnewsubjectsintheheartofMoldavia。^57WhateveryetadheredtotheGreekempireinThrace，Macedonia，andThessaly，acknowledgedaTurkishmaster:anobsequiousbishopledhimthroughthegatesofThermopylaeintoGreece；andwemayobserve，asasingularfact，thatthewidowofaSpanishchief，whopossessedtheancientseatoftheoracleofDelphi，deservedhisfavorbythesacrificeofabeauteousdaughter。TheTurkishcommunicationbetweenEuropeandAsiahadbeendangerousanddoubtful，tillhestationedatGallipoliafleetofgalleys，tocommandtheHellespontandintercepttheLatinsuccorsofConstantinople。Whilethemonarchindulgedhispassionsinaboundlessrangeofinjusticeandcruelty，heimposedonhissoldiersthemostrigidlawsofmodestyandabstinence；andtheharvestwaspeaceablyreapedandsoldwithintheprecinctsofhiscamp。Provokedbythelooseandcorruptadministrationofjustice，hecollectedinahousethejudgesandlawyersofhisdominions，whoexpectedthatinafewmomentsthefirewouldbekindledtoreducethemtoashes。Hisministerstrembledinsilence:butanAethiopianbuffoonpresumedtoinsinuatethetruecauseoftheevil；andfuturevenalitywasleftwithoutexcuse，byannexinganadequatesalarytotheofficeofcadhi。^58ThehumbletitleofemirwasnolongersuitabletotheOttomangreatness；andBajazetcondescendedtoacceptapatentofsultanfromthecaliphswhoservedinEgyptundertheyokeoftheMamalukes:^59alastandfrivoloushomagethatwasyieldedbyforcetoopinion；bytheTurkishconquerorstothehouseofAbbasandthesuccessorsoftheArabianprophet。Theambitionofthesultanwasinflamedbytheobligationofdeservingthisaugusttitle；andheturnedhisarmsagainstthekingdomofHungary，theperpetualtheatreoftheTurkishvictoriesanddefeats。Sigismond，theHungarianking，wasthesonandbrotheroftheemperorsoftheWest:hiscausewasthatofEuropeandthechurch；and，onthereportofhisdanger，thebravestknightsofFranceandGermanywereeagertomarchunderhisstandardandthatofthecross。InthebattleofNicopolis，BajazetdefeatedaconfederatearmyofahundredthousandChristians，whohadproudlyboasted，thatiftheskyshouldfall，theycouldupholditontheirlances。ThefargreaterpartwereslainordrivenintotheDanube；andSigismond，escapingtoConstantinoplebytheriverandtheBlackSea，returnedafteralongcircuittohisexhaustedkingdom。^60Intheprideofvictory，BajazetthreatenedthathewouldbesiegeBuda；thathewouldsubduetheadjacentcountriesofGermanyandItaly，andthathewouldfeedhishorsewithabushelofoatsonthealtarofSt。PeteratRome。Hisprogresswaschecked，notbythemiraculousinterpositionoftheapostle，notbyacrusadeoftheChristianpowers，butbyalongandpainfulfitofthegout。Thedisordersofthemoral，aresometimescorrectedbythoseofthephysical，world；andanacrimonioushumorfallingonasinglefibreofoneman，maypreventorsuspendthemiseryofnations。
[Footnote56:ThereignofBajazetI。，orIlderimBayazid，iscontainedinCantemir，p。46，theiidbookofChalcondyles，andtheAnnalesTurcici。ThesurnameofIlderim，orlightning，isanexample，thattheconquerorsandpoetsofeveryagehavefeltthetruthofasystemwhichderivesthesublimefromtheprincipleofterror。]
[Footnote57:Cantemir，whocelebratesthevictoriesofthegreatStephenovertheTurks，p。47，hadcomposedtheancientandmodernstateofhisprincipalityofMoldavia，whichhasbeenlongpromised，andisstillunpublished。]
[Footnote58:Leunclav。Annal。Turcici，p。318，319。Thevenalityofthecadhishaslongbeenanobjectofscandalandsatire；andifwedistrusttheobservationsofourtravellers，wemayconsultthefeelingoftheTurksthemselves，D\'Herbelot，Bibliot。Orientale，p。216，217，229，230。]
[Footnote59:Thefact，whichisattestedbytheArabichistoryofBenSchounah，acontemporarySyrian，DeGuignesHist。desHuns。tom。iv。p。336。destroysthetestimonyofSaadEffendiandCantemir，p。14，15，oftheelectionofOthmantothedignityofsultan。]
[Footnote60:SeetheDecadesRerumHungaricarumDec。iii。l。
ii。p。379ofBonfinius，anItalian，who，inthexvthcentury，wasinvitedintoHungarytocomposeaneloquenthistoryofthatkingdom。Yet，ifitbeextantandaccessible，Ishouldgivethepreferencetosomehomelychronicleofthetimeandcountry。]
SuchisthegeneralideaoftheHungarianwar；butthedisastrousadventureoftheFrenchhasprocuredussomememorialswhichillustratethevictoryandcharacterofBajazet。^61ThedukeofBurgundy，sovereignofFlanders，anduncleofCharlestheSixth，yieldedtotheardorofhisson，JohncountofNevers；andthefearlessyouthwasaccompaniedbyfourprinces，hiscousins，andthoseoftheFrenchmonarch。TheirinexperiencewasguidedbytheSiredeCoucy，oneofthebestandoldestcaptainofChristendom；^62buttheconstable，admiral，andmarshalofFrance^63commandedanarmywhichdidnotexceedthenumberofathousandknightsandsquires。Thesesplendidnameswerethesourceofpresumptionandthebaneofdiscipline。Somanymightaspiretocommand，thatnonewerewillingtoobey；theirnationalspiritdespisedboththeirenemiesandtheirallies；andinthepersuasionthatBajazetwouldfly，ormustfall，theybegantocomputehowsoontheyshouldvisitConstantinopleanddelivertheholysepulchre。WhentheirscoutsannouncedtheapproachoftheTurks，thegayandthoughtlessyouthswereattable，alreadyheatedwithwine；theyinstantlyclaspedtheirarmor，mountedtheirhorses，rodefullspeedtothevanguard，andresentedasanaffronttheadviceofSigismond，whichwouldhavedeprivedthemoftherightandhonoroftheforemostattack。ThebattleofNicopoliswouldnothavebeenlost，iftheFrenchwouldhaveobeyedtheprudenceoftheHungarians；butitmighthavebeengloriouslywon，hadtheHungariansimitatedthevaloroftheFrench。Theydispersedthefirstline，consistingofthetroopsofAsia；forcedarampartofstakes，whichhadbeenplantedagainstthecavalry；broke，afterabloodyconflict，theJanizariesthemselves；andwereatlengthoverwhelmedbythenumeroussquadronsthatissuedfromthewoods，andchargedonallsidesthishandfulofintrepidwarriors。Inthespeedandsecrecyofhismarch，intheorderandevolutionsofthebattle，hisenemiesfeltandadmiredthemilitarytalentsofBajazet。
Theyaccusehiscrueltyintheuseofvictory。AfterreservingthecountofNevers，andfour—and—twentylords，whosebirthandricheswereattestedbyhisLatininterpreters，theremainderoftheFrenchcaptives，whohadsurvivedtheslaughteroftheday，wereledbeforehisthrone；and，astheyrefusedtoabjuretheirfaith，weresuccessivelybeheadedinhispresence。ThesultanwasexasperatedbythelossofhisbravestJanizaries；andifitbetrue，that，ontheeveoftheengagement，theFrenchhadmassacredtheirTurkishprisoners，^64theymightimputetothemselvestheconsequencesofajustretaliation。^!Aknight，whoselifehadbeenspared，waspermittedtoreturntoParis，thathemightrelatethedeplorabletale，andsolicittheransomofthenoblecaptives。Inthemeanwhile，thecountofNevers，withtheprincesandbaronsofFrance，weredraggedalonginthemarchesoftheTurkishcamp，exposedasagratefultrophytotheMoslemsofEuropeandAsia，andstrictlyconfinedatBoursa，asoftenasBajazetresidedinhiscapital。Thesultanwaspressedeachdaytoexpiatewiththeirbloodthebloodofhismartyrs；
buthehadpronouncedthattheyshouldlive，andeitherformercyordestructionhiswordwasirrevocable。Hewasassuredoftheirvalueandimportancebythereturnofthemessenger，andthegiftsandintercessionsofthekingsofFranceandofCyprus。