[Footnote52:SeeasplendidandeloquentencomiumofTamerlane，p。36—39ipseenimnovisaysPoggiusquifuereinejuscastris……Regenvivumcepit，caveaqueinmodumferaeinclusumperomnemAsiancircumtulitegregiumadmirandumquespectaculumfortunae。]
[Footnote53:TheChroniconTarvisianum，inMuratori，Script。
RerumItalicarumtom。xix。p。800，andtheAnnalesEstenses，tom。xviii。p。974。Thetwoauthors，AndreadeRedusiisdeQuero，andJamesdeDelayto，werebothcontemporaries，andbothchancellors，theoneofTrevigi，theotherofFerrara。Theevidenceoftheformeristhemostpositive。]
[Footnote54:SeeArabshah，tom。ii。c。28，34。HetravelledinregionesRomaeas，A。H。839，A。D。1435，July27，tom。i。c。2，p。13。]
[Footnote55:BusbequiusinLegationeTurcica，epist。i。p。52。
YethisrespectableauthorityissomewhatshakenbythesubsequentmarriagesofAmurathII。withaServian，andofMahometII。withanAsiatic，princess，Cantemir，p。83，93。]
[Footnote56:SeethetestimonyofGeorgePhranza，l。i。c。29，
andhislifeinHanckiusdeScript。Byzant。P。i。c。40。
ChalcondylesandDucasspeakingeneraltermsofBajazet\'schains。]
[Footnote57:AnnalesLeunclav。p。321。Pocock，Prolegomen。adAbulpharagDynast。Cantemir，p。55。
Note:VonHammer，p。318，citesseveralauthoritiesunknowntoGibbon—M]
Fromtheseoppositepremises，afairandmoderateconclusionmaybededuced。IamsatisfiedthatSherefeddinAlihasfaithfullydescribedthefirstostentatiousinterview，inwhichtheconqueror，whosespiritswereharmonizedbysuccess，affectedthecharacterofgenerosity。ButhismindwasinsensiblyalienatedbytheunseasonablearroganceofBajazet；thecomplaintsofhisenemies，theAnatolianprinces，werejustandvehement；andTimourbetrayedadesignofleadinghisroyalcaptiveintriumphtoSamarcand。Anattempttofacilitatehisescape，bydiggingamineunderthetent，provokedtheMogulemperortoimposeaharsherrestraint；andinhisperpetualmarches，anironcageonawagonmightbeinvented，notasawantoninsult，butasarigorousprecaution。Timourhadreadinsomefabuloushistoryasimilartreatmentofoneofhispredecessors，akingofPersia；andBajazetwascondemnedtorepresenttheperson，andexpiatetheguilt，oftheRomanCaesar^58Butthestrengthofhismindandbodyfaintedunderthetrial，andhisprematuredeathmight，withoutinjustice，beascribedtotheseverityofTimour。Hewarrednotwiththedead:
atearandasepulchrewereallthathecouldbestowonacaptivewhowasdeliveredfromhispower；andifMousa，thesonofBajazet，waspermittedtoreignovertheruinsofBoursa，thegreatestpartoftheprovinceofAnatoliahadbeenrestoredbytheconquerortotheirlawfulsovereigns。
[Footnote58:Sapor，kingofPersia，hadbeenmadeprisoner，andenclosedinthefigureofacow\'shidebyMaximianorGaleriusCaesar。SuchisthefablerelatedbyEutychius，Annal。tom。i。
p。421，vers。Pocock。TherecollectionofthetruehistoryDeclineandFall，&c。，vol。ii。p140—152willteachustoappreciatetheknowledgeoftheOrientalsoftheageswhichprecedetheHegira。]
[Footnote*:VonHammer\'sexplanationofthiscontestedpointisbothsimpleandsatisfactory。ItoriginatesinamistakeinthemeaningoftheTurkishwordkafe，whichmeansacoveredlitterorpalanquindrawnbytwohorses，andisgenerallyusedtoconveytheharemofanEasternmonarch。Insuchalitter，withthelattice—workmadeofiron，Bajazeteitherchoseorwasconstrainedtotravel。Thiswaseithermistakenfor，ortransformedby，ignorantrelatersintoacage。TheEuropeanSchiltberger，thetwooldestoftheTurkishhistorians，andthemostvaluableofthelatercompilers，Seadeddin，describethislitter。Seadeddindiscussesthequestionwithsomedegreeofhistoricalcriticism，andascribesthechoiceofsuchavehicletotheindignantstateofBajazet\'smind，whichwouldnotbrookthesightofhisTartarconquerors。VonHammer，p。320。—M。]
FromtheIrtishandVolgatothePersianGulf，andfromtheGangestoDamascusandtheArchipelago，AsiawasinthehandofTimour:hisarmieswereinvincible，hisambitionwasboundless，andhiszealmightaspiretoconquerandconverttheChristiankingdomsoftheWest，whichalreadytrembledathisname。Hetouchedtheutmostvergeoftheland；butaninsuperable，thoughnarrow，searolledbetweenthetwocontinentsofEuropeandAsia；
^59andthelordofsomanytomans，ormyriads，ofhorse，wasnotmasterofasinglegalley。ThetwopassagesoftheBosphorusandHellespont，ofConstantinopleandGallipoli，werepossessed，theonebytheChristians，theotherbytheTurks。Onthisgreatoccasion，theyforgotthedifferenceofreligion，toactwithunionandfirmnessinthecommoncause:thedoublestraitswereguardedwithshipsandfortifications；andtheyseparatelywithheldthetransportswhichTimourdemandedofeithernation，underthepretenceofattackingtheirenemy。Atthesametime，theysoothedhispridewithtributarygiftsandsuppliantembassies，andprudentlytemptedhimtoretreatwiththehonorsofvictory。Soliman，thesonofBajazet，imploredhisclemencyforhisfatherandhimself；accepted，byaredpatent，theinvestitureofthekingdomofRomania，whichhealreadyheldbythesword；andreiteratedhisardentwish，ofcastinghimselfinpersonatthefeetofthekingoftheworld。TheGreekemperor^60eitherJohnorManuelsubmittedtopaythesametributewhichhehadstipulatedwiththeTurkishsultan，andratifiedthetreatybyanoathofallegiance，fromwhichhecouldabsolvehisconsciencesosoonastheMogularmshadretiredfromAnatolia。
ButthefearsandfancyofnationsascribedtotheambitiousTamerlaneanewdesignofvastandromanticcompass；adesignofsubduingEgyptandAfrica，marchingfromtheNiletotheAtlanticOcean，enteringEuropebytheStraitsofGibraltar，and，afterimposinghisyokeonthekingdomsofChristendom，ofreturninghomebythedesertsofRussiaandTartary。Thisremote，andperhapsimaginary，dangerwasavertedbythesubmissionofthesultanofEgypt:thehonorsoftheprayerandthecoinattestedatCairothesupremacyofTimour；andararegiftofagiraffe，orcamelopard，andnineostriches，representedatSamarcandthetributeoftheAfricanworld。OurimaginationisnotlessastonishedbytheportraitofaMogul，who，inhiscampbeforeSmyrna，meditates，andalmostaccomplishes，theinvasionoftheChineseempire。^61Timourwasurgedtothisenterprisebynationalhonorandreligiouszeal。ThetorrentswhichhehadshedofMussulmanbloodcouldbeexpiatedonlybyanequaldestructionoftheinfidels；andashenowstoodatthegatesofparadise，hemightbestsecurehisgloriousentrancebydemolishingtheidolsofChina，foundingmosquesineverycity，andestablishingtheprofessionoffaithinoneGod，andhisprophetMahomet。TherecentexpulsionofthehouseofZingiswasaninsultontheMogulname；andthedisordersoftheempireaffordedthefairestopportunityforrevenge。TheillustriousHongvou，founderofthedynastyofMing，diedfouryearsbeforethebattleofAngora；andhisgrandson，aweakandunfortunateyouth，wasburntinhispalace，afteramillionofChinesehadperishedinthecivilwar。^62BeforeheevacuatedAnatolia，TimourdespatchedbeyondtheSihoonanumerousarmy，orrathercolony，ofhisoldandnewsubjects，toopentheroad，tosubduethePaganCalmucksandMungals，andtofoundcitiesandmagazinesinthedesert；and，bythediligenceofhislieutenant，hesoonreceivedaperfectmapanddescriptionoftheunknownregions，fromthesourceoftheIrtishtothewallofChina。Duringthesepreparations，theemperorachievedthefinalconquestofGeorgia；
passedthewinteronthebanksoftheAraxes；appeasedthetroublesofPersia；andslowlyreturnedtohiscapital，afteracampaignoffouryearsandninemonths。
[Footnote59:Arabshahtom。ii。c。25describes，likeacurioustraveller，theStraitsofGallipoliandConstantinople。Toacquireajustideaoftheseevents，IhavecomparedthenarrativesandprejudicesoftheMoguls，Turks，Greeks，andArabians。TheSpanishambassadormentionsthishostileunionoftheChristiansandOttomans，ViedeTimour，p。96。]
[Footnote60:SincethenameofCaesarhadbeentransferredtothesultansofRoum，theGreekprincesofConstantinopleSherefeddin，l。v。c。54wereconfoundedwiththeChristianlordsofGallipoli，Thessalonica，&c。underthetitleofTekkur，whichisderivedbycorruptionfromthegenitive，Cantemir，p。
51。]
[Footnote61:SeeSherefeddin，l。v。c。4，whomarks，inajustitinerary，theroadtoChina，whichArabshahtom。ii。c。33
paintsinvagueandrhetoricalcolors。]
[Footnote62:SynopsisHist。Sinicae，p。74—76，intheivthpartoftheRelationsdeThevenot，Duhalde，Hist。delaChine，tom。i。p。507，508，folioedition；andfortheChronologyoftheChineseemperors，DeGuignes，Hist。desHuns，tom。i。p。71，72。]
ChapterLXV:ElevationOfTimourOrTamerlane，AndHisDeathPartIII。
OnthethroneofSamarcand，^63hedisplayed，inashortrepose，hismagnificenceandpower；listenedtothecomplaintsofthepeople；distributedajustmeasureofrewardsandpunishments；employedhisrichesinthearchitectureofpalacesandtemples；andgaveaudiencetotheambassadorsofEgypt，Arabia，India，Tartary，Russia，andSpain，thelastofwhompresentedasuitoftapestrywhicheclipsedthepenciloftheOrientalartists。Themarriageofsixoftheemperor\'sgrandsonswasesteemedanactofreligionaswellasofpaternaltenderness；andthepompoftheancientcaliphswasrevivedintheirnuptials。TheywerecelebratedinthegardensofCanighul，decoratedwithinnumerabletentsandpavilions，whichdisplayedtheluxuryofagreatcityandthespoilsofavictoriouscamp。
Wholeforestswerecutdowntosupplyfuelforthekitchens；theplainwasspreadwithpyramidsofmeat，andvasesofeveryliquor，towhichthousandsofguestswerecourteouslyinvited:
theordersofthestate，andthenationsoftheearth，weremarshalledattheroyalbanquet；norweretheambassadorsofEuropesaysthehaughtyPersianexcludedfromthefeast；sinceeventhecasses，thesmallestoffish，findtheirplaceintheocean。^64Thepublicjoywastestifiedbyilluminationsandmasquerades；thetradesofSamarcandpassedinreview；andeverytradewasemuloustoexecutesomequaintdevice，somemarvellouspageant，withthematerialsoftheirpeculiarart。Afterthemarriagecontractshadbeenratifiedbythecadhis，thebride—groomsandtheirbridesretiredtothenuptialchambers:
ninetimes，accordingtotheAsiaticfashion，theyweredressedandundressed；andateachchangeofapparel，pearlsandrubieswereshoweredontheirheads，andcontemptuouslyabandonedtotheirattendants。Ageneralindulgencewasproclaimed:everylawwasrelaxed，everypleasurewasallowed；thepeoplewasfree，thesovereignwasidle；andthehistorianofTimourmayremark，that，afterdevotingfiftyyearstotheattainmentofempire，theonlyhappyperiodofhislifewerethetwomonthsinwhichheceasedtoexercisehispower。Buthewassoonawakenedtothecaresofgovernmentandwar。ThestandardwasunfurledfortheinvasionofChina:theemirsmadetheirreportoftwohundredthousand，theselectandveteransoldiersofIranandTouran:theirbaggageandprovisionsweretransportedbyfivehundredgreatwagons，andanimmensetrainofhorsesandcamels；andthetroopsmightprepareforalongabsence，sincemorethansixmonthswereemployedinthetranquiljourneyofacaravanfromSamarcandtoPekin。Neitherage，northeseverityofthewinter，couldretardtheimpatienceofTimour；hemountedonhorseback，passedtheSihoonontheice，marchedseventy—sixparasangs，threehundredmiles，fromhiscapital，andpitchedhislastcampintheneighborhoodofOtrar，wherehewasexpectedbytheangelofdeath。Fatigue，andtheindiscreetuseoficedwater，acceleratedtheprogressofhisfever；andtheconquerorofAsiaexpiredintheseventiethyearofhisage，thirty—fiveyearsafterhehadascendedthethroneofZagatai。Hisdesignswerelost；hisarmiesweredisbanded；Chinawassaved；andfourteenyearsafterhisdecease，themostpowerfulofhischildrensentanembassyoffriendshipandcommercetothecourtofPekin。^65
[Footnote63:Forthereturn，triumph，anddeathofTimour，seeSherefeddinl。vi。c。1—30andArabshah，tom。ii。c。36—
47。]
[Footnote64:Sherefeddinl。vi。c。24mentionstheambassadorsofoneofthemostpotentsovereignsofEurope。WeknowthatitwasHenryIII。kingofCastile；andthecuriousrelationofhistwoembassiesisstillextant，Mariana，Hist。Hispan。l。xix。c。
11，tom。ii。p。329，330。Avertissemental\'Hist。deTimurBec，p。28—33。ThereappearslikewisetohavebeensomecorrespondencebetweentheMogulemperorandthecourtofCharlesVII。kingofFrance，HistoiredeFrance，parVellyetVillaret，tom。xii。p。336。]
[Footnote65:SeethetranslationofthePersianaccountoftheirembassy，acuriousandoriginalpiece，intheivthpartoftheRelationsdeThevenot。TheypresentedtheemperorofChinawithanoldhorsewhichTimourhadformerlyrode。Itwasintheyear1419thattheydepartedfromthecourtofHerat，towhichplacetheyreturnedin1422fromPekin。]
ThefameofTimourhaspervadedtheEastandWest:hisposterityisstillinvestedwiththeImperialtitle；andtheadmirationofhissubjects，whoreveredhimalmostasadeity，maybejustifiedinsomedegreebythepraiseorconfessionofhisbitterestenemies。^66Althoughhewaslameofahandandfoot，hisformandstaturewerenotunworthyofhisrank；andhisvigoroushealth，soessentialtohimselfandtotheworld，wascorroboratedbytemperanceandexercise。Inhisfamiliardiscoursehewasgraveandmodest，andifhewasignorantoftheArabiclanguage，hespokewithfluencyandelegancethePersianandTurkishidioms。Itwashisdelighttoconversewiththelearnedontopicsofhistoryandscience；andtheamusementofhisleisurehourswasthegameofchess，whichheimprovedorcorruptedwithnewrefinements。^67Inhisreligionhewasazealous，thoughnotperhapsanorthodox，Mussulman；^68buthissoundunderstandingmaytemptustobelieve，thatasuperstitiousreverenceforomensandprophecies，forsaintsandastrologers，wasonlyaffectedasaninstrumentofpolicy。Inthegovernmentofavastempire，hestoodaloneandabsolute，withoutarebeltoopposehispower，afavoritetoseducehisaffections，oraministertomisleadhisjudgment。Itwashisfirmestmaxim，thatwhatevermightbetheconsequence，thewordoftheprinceshouldneverbedisputedorrecalled；buthisfoeshavemaliciouslyobserved，thatthecommandsofangeranddestructionweremorestrictlyexecutedthanthoseofbeneficenceandfavor。Hissonsandgrandsons，ofwhomTimourleftsix—and—thirtyathisdecease，werehisfirstandmostsubmissivesubjects；andwhenevertheydeviatedfromtheirduty，theywerecorrected，accordingtothelawsofZingis，withthebastinade，andafterwardsrestoredtohonorandcommand。Perhapshisheartwasnotdevoidofthesocialvirtues；perhapshewasnotincapableoflovinghisfriendsandpardoninghisenemies；buttherulesofmoralityarefoundedonthepublicinterest；anditmaybesufficienttoapplaudthewisdomofamonarch，fortheliberalitybywhichheisnotimpoverished，andforthejusticebywhichheisstrengthenedandenriched。Tomaintaintheharmonyofauthorityandobedience，tochastisetheproud，toprotecttheweak，torewardthedeserving，tobanishviceandidlenessfromhisdominions，tosecurethetravellerandmerchant，torestrainthedepredationsofthesoldier，tocherishthelaborsofthehusbandman，toencourageindustryandlearning，and，byanequalandmoderateassessment，toincreasetherevenue，withoutincreasingthetaxes，areindeedthedutiesofaprince；but，inthedischargeoftheseduties，hefindsanampleandimmediaterecompense。Timourmightboast，that，athisaccessiontothethrone，Asiawasthepreyofanarchyandrapine，whilstunderhisprosperousmonarchyachild，fearlessandunhurt，mightcarryapurseofgoldfromtheEasttotheWest。Suchwashisconfidenceofmerit，thatfromthisreformationhederivedanexcuseforhisvictories，andatitletouniversaldominion。Thefourfollowingobservationswillservetoappreciatehisclaimtothepublicgratitude；andperhapsweshallconclude，thattheMogulemperorwasratherthescourgethanthebenefactorofmankind。1。Ifsomepartialdisorders，somelocaloppressions，werehealedbytheswordofTimour，theremedywasfarmoreperniciousthanthedisease。Bytheirrapine，cruelty，anddiscord，thepettytyrantsofPersiamightafflicttheirsubjects；butwholenationswerecrushedunderthefootstepsofthereformer。Thegroundwhichhadbeenoccupiedbyflourishingcitieswasoftenmarkedbyhisabominabletrophies，bycolumns，orpyramids，ofhumanheads。
Astracan，Carizme，Delhi，Ispahan，Bagdad，Aleppo，Damascus，Boursa，Smyrna，andathousandothers，weresacked，orburnt，orutterlydestroyed，inhispresence，andbyhistroops:andperhapshisconsciencewouldhavebeenstartled，ifapriestorphilosopherhaddaredtonumberthemillionsofvictimswhomhehadsacrificedtotheestablishmentofpeaceandorder。^692。
Hismostdestructivewarswereratherinroadsthanconquests。HeinvadedTurkestan，Kipzak，Russia，Hindostan，Syria，Anatolia，Armenia，andGeorgia，withoutahopeoradesireofpreservingthosedistantprovinces。Fromthencehedepartedladenwithspoil；butheleftbehindhimneithertroopstoawethecontumacious，normagistratestoprotecttheobedient，natives。
Whenhehadbrokenthefabricoftheirancientgovernment，heabandonedthemtotheevilswhichhisinvasionhadaggravatedorcaused；norweretheseevilscompensatedbyanypresentorpossiblebenefits。3。ThekingdomsofTransoxianaandPersiaweretheproperfieldwhichhelaboredtocultivateandadorn，astheperpetualinheritanceofhisfamily。Buthispeacefullaborswereofteninterrupted，andsometimesblasted，bytheabsenceoftheconqueror。WhilehetriumphedontheVolgaortheGanges，hisservants，andevenhissons，forgottheirmasterandtheirduty。Thepublicandprivateinjurieswerepoorlyredressedbythetardyrigorofinquiryandpunishment；andwemustbecontenttopraisetheInstitutionsofTimour，asthespeciousideaofaperfectmonarchy。4。Whatsoevermightbetheblessingsofhisadministration，theyevaporatedwithhislife。Toreign，ratherthantogovern，wastheambitionofhischildrenandgrandchildren；^70theenemiesofeachotherandofthepeople。
AfragmentoftheempirewasupheldwithsomeglorybySharokh，hisyoungestson；butafterhisdecease，thescenewasagaininvolvedindarknessandblood；andbeforetheendofacentury，TransoxianaandPersiaweretrampledbytheUzbeksfromthenorth，andtheTurkmansoftheblackandwhitesheep。TheraceofTimourwouldhavebeenextinct，ifahero，hisdescendantinthefifthdegree，hadnotfledbeforetheUzbekarmstotheconquestofHindostan。HissuccessorsthegreatMoguls^71
extendedtheirswayfromthemountainsofCashmirtoCapeComorin，andfromCandahartotheGulfofBengal。SincethereignofAurungzebe，theirempirehadbeendissolved；theirtreasuresofDelhihavebeenrifledbyaPersianrobber；andtherichestoftheirkingdomsisnowpossessedbyacompanyofChristianmerchants，ofaremoteislandintheNorthernOcean。