be said that there were no cannon in Kaniza, his ághás opposed it by
saying, it was improper to mention it to the enemy; “for,” said they,
“if the enemy should happen to be either unwilling or afraid to attack
us, this saying will most assuredly have the effect of inducing them to
do so.” The Páshá replied: “attend you to my orders; there is something
that you do not yet know: I know when to employ the cannon: I reserve
them till then.” But to return. The infidels returned, as on the former
occasions, and informed Ferdinand what they had heard from the Moslems
about there being no cannon in the fortress of Kaniza. Ferdinand,
elated by this intelligence, called a council of his great men. “Let
us,” said he, “send out spies, and if the intelligence which they bring
us correspond to what we have just learned, then we will certainly root
them out. We will, afterwards, order our movements according to any
method which Prince Mathias, now below Yanuk, may see fit to adopt.”
So much for Ferdinand. Some of his counsellors, however, ventured to
think differently. “Let us first,” said they, “lay siege to Sigetwar
and take it: let us, in fact, take every one of the fortresses as far
as Usk, and root out the Turks from everyone of them.” Zerín Oghlí, who
was present in this sage assembly of warriors, was asked to give his
opinion. He did so. It was as follows: “In the reign of Sultán Soleimán
Khán I was shut up in this fortress (Sigetwar). The out-works of the
fortress can be easily taken, but the citadel is peculiarly strong.
It will require forty pieces of cannon for each one of its batteries
before any impression can be made upon it. It was after having thrown
a hundred thousand loads of earth into the lake, by which it is
surrounded, and as much again above its surface, that Sultán Soleimán
was enabled to surround the fortress and take it by force. If your
strength is sufficient for an exploit of that kind, and if the Turkish
troops do not turn upon you, then you may perhaps succeed. One thing
I know, that if you are able this year to deliver Kaniza out of the
hands of the Turks, you will accomplish a feat which will be without
a parallel: for, you must know, there is shut up in it an enchanter
whose artifices elude all detection. For twenty years past we have been
obliged to drink his poisonous draughts. Every time they announce that
he is either sick or dead, he is sure to appear in one or other of
our provinces and perpetrates immense evil. Hitherto no one has been
able to withstand him. He has completely vanquished, by his artifices,
every one who has opposed him.” Zerín Oghlí having finished his long
speech, one of the Frank princes, who had hearkened to it, said: “This
man (Zerín Oghlí) is not acquainted with our method of war, or he is
an ally of the Turks, and tries to intimidate us.” Zerín’s speech
was henceforth disregarded by the council, and Ferdinand said “that
next day, at all events, they would advance upon Kaniza: if the Turks
abandoned it, good and well; if not, we will lay siege to it. Let these
treacherous Hungarians (the inhabitants of Kaniza) see what will be the
fate of the fortress of Kaniza. After Kaniza is once disposed of, then
we shall take vengeance on them. They have every where instigated the
sword of the Ottoman to deeds of blood.”
On the 11th of Rabia II., about mid-day, this vile army of infidels,
with the beating of drums, sounding of cymbals, blowing of trumpets,
and ringing of bells, approached with great pomp, and with inverted
arms, the devoted city and fortress, and took up its position on the
banks of the river Berk, on the road which led to Vienna. A short time
after they had thus taken up their position, they perceived a number
of waggons which happened to be conveying provisions from Perzentcha
to Kaniza, but which the infatuated infidels thought were waggons come
to carry off the population of that city, and therefore gave orders
not to meddle with them in going in; determining to pursue them when
they again came out, and murder the whole of the people they might
find in them. They were, however, completely deceived. It is a curious
fact, but true, that the men who had escorted these waggons went to
the governor, after having safely entered Kaniza, and asked him what
was the meaning of the mighty army they had observed on the banks of
the Berk—for surely, said they, they are not enemies. The governor
pleasantly replied, that they had come on a visit: “but now that you
have all safely got into the fortress,” said he, “they shall be served
with a feast of red-hot melons without delay.”
The wisdom of the páshá in giving orders not to fire on the enemy, as
before observed, appeared most conspicuously to every one: for had he
ordered his guns to be fired at the enemy when they urged him to do so,
it is clear the waggons with provisions would certainly not have been
allowed to enter into Kaniza, but would in all probability have fallen
into the hands of the enemy, as well as the troops which escorted them.
But to return. The páshá called the heads of the artillery, and asked
them how many cannon there were in the place. Nearly one hundred, small
and great, was the answer. “Well then,” said the governor, “let them
all be charged, and as soon as you hear _Allah! Allah!_ discharge the
largest, and immediately afterwards, and at once, let the others be
discharged in the midst of the enemy.” The guns were accordingly loaded,
and the well-known signal waited for.
In the meantime the páshá bowed the knee twice in humble prayer. The
signal was at length given: the largest, and immediately after it
the rest, were fired, the roaring thundering noise of which made the
earth to quake. The enemy, as might well be imagined, were struck with
terror, and perceived when it was too late their mistake. Ferdinand was
standing, at the moment a volley of shot from the batteries of Kaniza
was poured in amongst his army, talking with four of his princes, three
of whom were shot dead on the spot. Many thousands besides perished.
This feast of red-hot melons made the enemy think of retiring across
the river; and whilst in the act of doing so they were hotly pursued
by the Moslem heroes, who fought with them till the night closed upon
them. The enemy having again encamped in the direction of Sigetwar, the
princes came forward and said to King Ferdinand, “Behold, sire, the
stratagem the Turks have laid for us! Let there be no quarter shown to
them: let us destroy them root and branch, and make them a spectacle
to the world.” The king replied, that he would see how they themselves
should act: it was the day of vengeance.
They now put their cannon in order, entered into the trenches, and
from this moment the siege of Kaniza may be said to have been properly
begun. Their first act of hostility, after commencing the siege, was
the discharging of three cannon, none of which did much injury. The
first passed harmlessly over the fortress: the second was not quite so
harmless, for it passed through the páshá’s palace, killed one of his
relations, and then rebounded towards Sigetwar: the third touched the
odá of the ághá of the janissaries, but did no injury. They afterwards,
at once, and from six different places, discharged forty large pieces
of cannon, the noise of which seemed to indicate the total annihilation
of the place.
When the enemy had laid siege to Kaniza, or at least when they first
appeared before it, Hasan Páshá called a council of his grandees, to
whom he observed: that though there was no scarcity of gunpowder,
or any want of water, and though they had abundance of provisions,
yet it was proper, he said, the commander-in-chief, Yemishjí Páshá,
before he removed from Belgrade, should be made acquainted with their
circumstances. Two heads of odás, one called Ahmed and the other
Mohammed, were appointed to accompany Karah Punjeh, a veteran of the
borders, and one who was well acquainted with all languages, with this
intelligence to the commander-in-chief. They left Kaniza by night,
passed through Sigetwar and Shukulwish, and arrived on the fourth day
after leaving the above city at Belgrade, when they laid the passport
of their mission before the commander-in-chief. The latter, after
holding a council, wrote letters to Hasan Páshá, assuring him that
he was on the point of coming to his assistance, and dismissed the
messengers. On the return of these messengers to Kaniza, they found
it so closely besieged that not even a bird could wing its way into
it without being discovered. The two odá báshís remained at Sigetwar
whilst Punjeh disguised himself, and by this means conveyed his
despatches into Kaniza, which had the effect of animating the hopes
of the besieged. But to return. The enemy having commenced, as before
observed, a regular siege, their efforts became unremitting. Every day
witnessed more than a thousand balls directed against the walls of
Kaniza; but the brave veterans within filled up during the night the
gaps which these horrible cannon effected in the day-time, with their
bed-clothes, and such other things as they could find. The heroic páshá
went about every where, and stimulated and encouraged the besieged.
For the space of a whole week they had not shut their gates, and the
foot veterans continued to make regular sorties against the besieging
foe. Their cattle also went in and out regularly, and the enemy did not
succeed in taking even so much as one of them, much less any prisoners.
The enemy having made no speed in their method of operations, thought
proper to change it. They recrossed at a place called the ford of
Mohammed Khetkhodá, and in the direction of Sigetwar effected mounds
and ditches to the number of fourteen, leaving, in the direction to
Vienna, where they had first taken up their position, five pieces of
ordnance and six thousand troops. After having accomplished these
manœuvres, they now began to throw vast quantities of rushes into
the Berk, over which a covering of wicker-work was placed. Over this
again they finally, though it took them more than forty days to
accomplish, made a kind of road or bridge corresponding in breadth to
one of their ditches, with which it communicated. They carried their
materials by means of light barrels made of fir, which were easily
dragged by two men. After having extended this road or bridge to the
walls of Kaniza, to which they firmly fixed it by means of iron rods,
and when all things were nearly in a state of readiness for commencing
an assault, Hasan Páshá, who was no careless observer of their
manœuvres, and who knew when and how to baffle the enemy, sent a few
heroes, who had volunteered their services, in a boat by night, when
the infidels were drowned in sleep, to set fire to their huge labour,
and which they punctually did. The bridge, and every living infidel who
happened to remain on it, perished in the flames.
Some time before this event in the history of this memorable siege,
Hasan Páshá wrote again to the commander-in-chief by the aforesaid
Punjeh. In these communications he urged Yemishjí Páshá to come at
least to Sigetwar, that by doing so he might encourage the spirits of
the besieged. “If this fortress should happen to be taken out of our
hands,” said he, “it will not easily again be retaken, and you will
find some difficulty in exonerating yourself.” Karah Punjeh proceeded
with this message, taking his two former companions along with him from
Sigetwar, where they had stopped, and met the serdár at Usk. Instead of
complying with the earnest request of Hasan, and fulfilling his former
promise, the serdár only sent him an encouraging letter, telling him he
was on his march to Alba Julia, but would, on his return, afford him
the aid he demanded. Karah Punjeh returned to Kaniza, and delivered,
secretly, his dispatches to Hasan Páshá, who, on reading them,
immediately had them copied, and added, as if from the serdár, that
he would soon arrive to the aid of the garrison. Next day he called a
council, made this copy, or rather forged letter, to be read in their
hearing, which produced all the effect the sagacious páshá wished. The
people were overjoyed, and resolved, every man of them, to hold out, at
the expense of life and all that was dear to them, to the very last;
but they anxiously looked for the arrival of the serdár.
The enemy, after the burning of their bridge, tried to repair their
loss by building another, in which labour they spent another twenty
days; but it also met with the fate of the former. Finding themselves
thus a second time foiled in their attempts, they commenced building
boats of fir-wood at the head of the Berk, which they covered over
with boards, over which they again placed cow-hides, with the view of
preventing the small arms of the besieged injuring those on board of
them. After having launched this flotilla, each of which carried one
hundred men, the infidels, on the night on which this took place, began
to make great rejoicings. Hasan Páshá, in the meantime, and on the same
night, sent out a party to try and seize some prisoners, who returned
with two. On their being presented before the páshá, he asked one of
them, privately, the cause of the enemy’s rejoicing; and was answered
that it was owing to the great success which had attended their arms
at Alba Julia. “How comes it to pass,” asked the páshá, “that all the
prisoners which we have hitherto taken belong to your nation (Germany)?
Are there no Hungarians and Croatians among you?” “Why,” answered the
prisoner, “the Hungarians are favourable to the Turks, and therefore
none of them are allowed to straggle from the camp.” The páshá again
asked him what number of Hungarians there might be in the army? He was
told, that besides Croatians, there were about thirty thousand in it.
After having thus questioned the first prisoner, he called the other
and questioned him in the same way, and he returned similar answers to
those given a little before by his fellow prisoner. The páshá, with
a stern voice, ordered the prisoners to be led forth, and to have
their heads struck off; secretly intimating, however, to Karah Omar,
to whom this order was given, to take the prisoners and show them the
one hundred and fifty pandúrs and the five hundred Hungarian horsemen
who had accompanied the waggons of provisions which had entered Kaniza
about the time the siege was begun, and whom the páshá had retained.
“Tell them,” said the páshá to Karah Omar Aghá, “that they are all
Hungarians, and that we expect a thousand volunteers of the same race
to join us in two or three days more. Say to them,” continued the
sagacious páshá, “that you yourself are one of their nation (Germany),
but that you have been in the service of the páshá since your youth;
that you have a thousand men under your command; that you have got so
much property that you cannot think of relinquishing it: that you will
be extremely happy if the German army succeed in taking Kaniza, but
that there are many amongst them who wish for no such thing; that there
is provision in the garrison of Kaniza sufficient for a whole year
to supply the number of inhabitants within it, who amount to thirty
thousand Turks alone; that there is abundance of gunpowder in it also:
then invite them to wait till the ice is formed, when you will let them
away. Our páshá, you will say to them, desired to have your heads,
but I have interceded with him in your behalf: I now release you, and
you may go when you please; but be sure to tell your superiors, when
you reach your own camp, of the kindness I have shown to you.” Karah
Aghá acted his part most masterly, gave them some pieces of white
bread, and sent them away, secretly, as it were, in a boat to their
own army. These two men had no sooner reached their companions, than
they went to inform Ferdinand of the history of their captivity, which
very much grieved him. The intelligence which the two captives seemed
to have in their power to communicate was any thing but pleasing to
King Ferdinand; and it was no less astonishing, when compared with his
former information, than it was unwelcome and distressing.
One morning, about this time of the siege, a voice was heard as if
coming from the enemy’s camp, which said, “Do not fire any of your
guns; we (there were more than one) have something to tell you.” “What
is it?” was the reply. “Why,” said these early visitors, “be it known
unto you that your commander-in-chief, Yemishjí Hasan Páshá, has been
completely defeated and routed at Alba Julia. The heads of Mohammed
Ketkhodá and of Mohammed Páshá, the governor of Buda, have been sent
to our commander-in-chief, thanks be to God. Behold, here they are!”
and then held them up to the view of the besieged Moslems at the end
of long poles. “To-morrow,” continued the early vagrants, “tomorrow
our whole force will be brought to bear upon you. In whom is it that
you place your reliance? Your commander-in-chief has been defeated
and has fled. Deliver up this city and fortress, which belongs to our
king, and save yourselves from certain and inevitable destruction. Your
governor, Hasan Páshá, is a vain man, and seeks to ruin you: pay no
further regard to him. Save yourselves and your property; for the king
promises to secure both if you hearken to our advice. To-morrow, when
Duke Mathias returns to us from Alba Julia, no mercy will be shown to
you. If you stand in doubt with respect to the two heads now exposed to
your view, let any one of your number, who was acquainted with their
possessors, come forth and examine them, and satisfy himself. He shall
sustain no injury: on the contrary, our king will confer favours upon
him.”
These tidings greatly alarmed the inhabitants. “The serdár has been
defeated; our provisions and our gunpowder will fail us if that mighty
army should come against us,” said the frightened inhabitants to Hasan
Páshá, the intrepid governor, who had a mind ready to act in every
emergency. “My brave veterans, you all know,” said he, “that the
accursed enemy has promised us nothing. Do not let the sight of the
heads of the infidels, or their threatenings, by any means terrify you.
I have a few things to say to you—hear me, therefore, patiently. Renew
your engagements with me. Whether the heads which the infidels have
shown you be really the heads of the persons they have said they are,
is yet to be discovered. To ascertain this, let us send Karah Punjeh,
who will bring us correct information on this point. And should it even
turn out that they are the very heads of the two men above-mentioned,
that is no reason why we should be any way discouraged. It is not
on their account we have shut ourselves up in Kaniza. Long live the
emperor! If the meanest slave were desired to sacrifice his life, he
would willingly give his head, as those men gave theirs. We are here
for the defence of our religion, though now cooped up within the narrow
limits of this place. But I have some reason to think that this city
and fortress, God willing, will not fall into the hands of the enemy.
One of my reasons is as follows. When Ibrahím Páshá was, on a former
occasion, employed for the same length of time we have been besieged
in reducing a fortress, he would never have gained the victory, had he
not said: ‘if God will prosper my undertaking, I shall devote this
place to the illuminated city, Medina;’ when shortly afterwards it fell
into his hands. It is hoped that he who has devoted himself to the
Sultán of the prophets will not fall before the infidel. Another reason
is: the enemy commenced the siege on the night of the 12th Rabia I.,
which is the birth-night of our prophet. There is, therefore, hope to
his followers, who have been besieged on the very night which is held
sacred to the memory of him who came into the world on that night to
bless it, and is the rejoicing of all the prophets. Again: you, every
evening, sound the Mohammedan signal or watch-word, _Allah! Allah!_ and
though the enemy were at once to discharge his forty pieces of cannon,
yet God will manifest his care over those who trust in his name. I
pray God, that as he has not permitted us to fall into the hands of
the enemy, so this hateful army may never get away in safety.” This
speech of the páshá had a powerful effect on the minds of the besieged,
who were not only animated by it, but also prognosticated important
good from it. He again counselled them to pay no regard to the words
of their morning visitors, who had no other object, he said, but that
of deceiving them. “Show them your swords,” cried he again, “and these
dastardly fellows will see what metal you are of.”
The páshá, after having delivered the animated speech which we have
here recorded, proposed sinking the two heads into the river, on the
banks of which they were still exposed. He had scarcely spoken, when
a cherí báshí came forward and proposed to direct a cannon against
them. “Do so,” said the páshá, “and God prosper you.” The cherí báshí
immediately pointed the cannon called Bulbul at them, and in a moment
the two heads were at the bottom of the river. The infidels to whom
the charge of the heads had been given, and who spoke in the ears of
the besieged the speech on the occasion of their being first presented
to them, returned to their camp vexed and disgraced. The successful
cannoneer was honoured by the páshá with an annual pension.
When Ferdinand was informed of the result of his messengers’ embassy,
he became enraged, and said he would present ten villages to any one
who would bring him a prisoner from Kaniza. None of the infidels,
however, though they did all they could to accomplish the king’s
wishes, were able to succeed. God prevented them.
_Arrival of the Archduke Mathias._
Early in the morning of the day the events of which we have just
described, a movement was discovered among the enemy’s troops, and
soon after their foot and horse moved in the direction of Komran.
About mid-day the archduke, with his army and heavy baggage, made his
appearance, and soon encamped. His army, one division after another,
took up its position, and displayed immense pomp; no doubt with the
view of inspiring the besieged with an idea of their might, and thus of
dispiriting them.
These manœuvres and movements being over, the duke called a general
council of his great men, in which a variety of matters were discussed.
No one, however, could give him anything like a correct account of
Kaniza. Ferdinand declared, weeping, that in all his life he had
never met nor seen people like the Kanizians. “Whenever we speak in a
friendly manner to them,” said the indignant Ferdinand, “they brandish
their swords.” The duke replied in very harsh terms: accused him of
having acted himself some way or other treacherously, or “you are not,”
said the noble duke, “acquainted with the operations of war. I have
been up the country, and have reduced a city like Alba Julia, and have
contended all this while with Turkish armies. Several of their chief
men I have beheaded. It is now three months since you commenced your
operations, and you have not been able to take so much as one palanka.”
Such were some of the subjects which occupied the noble duke’s great
council. Ferdinand and his officers were indignant at the treatment
they had received from the archduke, and proposed, as they had
nothing, to leave him and his troops to carry on the siege which they
had so inauspiciously begun.
After the dismissal of the above-mentioned diván, the archduke tried
his own skill in manœuvring. He sent a message to the besieged,
the purport of which was: that their commander-in-chief, Yemishjí
Hasan Páshá, after having been defeated by him (the duke), had gone to
Sigetwar; that there were now two mighty armies ready to co-operate
against them; that the seven (European) kings were present, and sent
them their salam (salutations); that if they were determined to
maintain their integrity to their own sovereign, they might do so, and
yet deliver up Kaniza to its legitimate sovereign; that the winter
had arrived, when they would have no chance whatever of being supplied
with provisions. “Leave, then Kaniza,” continued the duke’s messengers,
“in peace and safety; not a hair of your head will we injure;” and
much more in the same strain, and requested a favourable answer. The
besieged, however, appeared to be firm and fearless. They brandished
their swords in token of defiance, which so provoked the messengers
that they cocked their pieces, but afterwards retired expressing their
contempt. It is certainly true, however, that when the Turks in Kaniza
saw the immense number of the enemy’s army they became afraid, and
seemed disposed, through fear, to yield to the enemy. They dreaded
that as soon as the messengers returned to Mathias, he would become so
enraged as never to stop till he reduced the city and fortress, and
killed them all.