At the confluence of the Danube and the Save stands the city of
Belgrade, the capital of Servia; its advantageous situation upon a
hill, the excellence of its port, the strength of its castles, the
soundness of its ramparts, caused it for a long time to be considered
one of the best bulwarks of Hungary against Turkey; whilst its position
and its wealth made it a continual object of desire for the Ottoman
monarchs. The first sultan who attacked it was Amurath II. Followed
by the flower of his armies, he crossed the Danube in 1439, halted
before Belgrade, and thundered against it, night and day, from cannons
throwing balls of a hundred pounds weight. In the first attacks the
grand seignor battered down a great part of the fortifications, but
nothing could intimidate the inhabitants, who were resolved to bury
themselves under the ruins of their city rather than surrender;
they presented themselves firmly at every breach, and repulsed the
Mussulmans with arquebuses and arrows. For several days the Turks did
not dare to approach the ramparts; but at length one of their best
captains having placed himself at the head of the troops, succeeded in
gaining the edge of the ditch; from this advantageous position he drove
in the besieged, pursued them through the breach, and gave a vigorous
assault; the Turks spread themselves through the city, and believed
themselves masters. But all at once the inhabitants rallied in despair,
fell upon the Turks close-handed, and killed the greater part of them.
Discouraged by this reverse, Amurath raised the siege and returned to
his own dominions.