Bajaret the First, surnamed Yilderim, or "The Lightning," from his
impetuosity, after a long, uninterrupted career of victory, during
which he had held all Europe at bay, in a single battle in 1402
succumbed to the irresistible power of Timur the Great, losing
everything but life. Amongst those who fell in the almost
unprecedented carnage of this terrible field was, it is supposed,
Mustapha, the Turkish Sultan's eldest son and heir.
In 1403 Bajaret died, or, according to another authority, brained
himself against the iron bars of the cage in which his conqueror is
stated to have retained him. The remaining sons of the deceased
monarch contrived to elude the vigilance of Tamerlane, and at once
commenced fighting amongst themselves. For eleven years they kept the
tottering empire in a chronic state of intestine warfare, but finally,
Mohammed, the youngest, obtained the reins of power, and speedily
reinstated the nation in its former glory. In 1422, after a short but
successful reign, Mohammed the First died, and was succeeded by his
son, Amurath the Second, who had just attained his eighteenth year.
Up to 1421 no one would appear to have entertained any doubt of the
death of Prince Mustapha at the famous battle of Angora, when suddenly
he, or a claimant to his name, appeared, and demanded the sovereignty
of the empire, by virtue of being Bajaret's eldest son. Who this man
was still remains doubtful. With the single exception of Nectori, who
is, however, a creditable authority, all the Turkish historians declare
this _soi disant_ Mustapha to have been an impostor, whilst Christian
writers, favouring the Greek cause, persistently assert him to have
been the veritable prince himself.
Be the pretender who he may, no sooner did he emerge from obscurity
than he obtained allies and adherents only too willing to share in the
promised plunder of an empire. Joined by the Prince of Walachia, and
by Djouneid, Governor of Nicopolis, whom the too generous Sultan
Mohammed had already twice pardoned for rebellion, the claimant invaded
Thessaly. Defeated and put to flight in the neighbourhood of Salonica,
he took refuge in that city, putting himself under the protection of
the Greek commandant, who justified his confidence by refusing to give
him up to the vengeance of his conquerors. The Emperor Emanuel highly
approved of the commandant's conduct, and to the request of his
powerful neighbour, the Sultan, that he should surrender the fugitive,
responded that no monarch could act so shamelessly as to deliver up a
prince who sought an asylum at the foot of his throne. He promised,
however, that during the lifetime of Mohammed, the _soi disant_
Mustapha should not be permitted to leave the Greek court. The Sultan
contented himself with this promise of the Emperor, and agreed to pay a
pension of three hundred thousand _astres_* to the pretender; thus, it
has been pointed out, tacitly recognizing him as of the royal blood.
The Governor Djouneid and thirty of his companions were included in the
treaty of pardon, but Mohammed invaded and ravaged the dominions of the
Prince of Walachia, in revenge for the aid he had afforded the rebels.
* A Turkish coin value half-a-crown.
The following year Mohammed the First was struck with apoplexy, and
died suddenly, leaving his empire, as before stated, to his son,
Amurath the Second. The new ruler immediately advised the neighbouring
princes of his accession to the Turkish throne, entering into
alliances, and making truces or treaties of peace with such as had been
hostile to the Ottoman power. All but the Greek Emperor appeared to be
friendlily disposed, and he, doubtless thinking to take advantage of
the new monarch's youth, instantly summoned Amurath to place his
brothers in his hands, as hostages for the performance of some clause
in his father's testament. Emanuel, moreover, threatened the youthful
Sultan that unless he complied with the demand, he would release
Mustapha, his uncle, the legitimate heir to the Turkish throne, and
assist him by force of arms to recover his usurped rights.
Amurath's clever minister refused the demand with indignation,
asserting that the law of the prophet did not permit the children of
true believers to be brought up amongst _ghiaours_.* The Greek
Emperor, true to his menace, and all unmindful of the dangerous
vicinity of the Ottoman dominions to his own, set the pretender free,
and gave him every requisite for the commencement of his dangerous
adventure, upon condition that he made over Gallipoli, and several
other towns, to the Greeks.
* Infidels; literally, dogs.
Thus befriended, the royal claimant, accompanied by ten galleys
containing his followers and adherents, proceeded to Gallipoli, where
he no sooner disembarked than the town and suburbs acknowledged his
pretensions, only the garrison of the fortress holding out. Leaving a
small besieging force before the town, he made rapid marches towards
the Isthmus of Athos, his army increasing rapidly as he proceeded, and
several places falling into his hands. The Sultan sent his Vizier to
Adrianople, where he collected an army of thirty thousand men, with
which to oppose the invaders. Several great vassals of the empire
having now declared for Mustapha, he was quite prepared to face the
imperial army, and as soon as it came in view he advanced courageously
towards it, and commanded the troops to lay down their arms. As if by
magic, says one historian, the soldiers obeyed, and the pretender
suddenly found himself master of the situation without having to lose a
single man. The unfortunate Vizier and his brother were captured; the
former was put to death, but the latter released.
On receipt of this intelligence the fortress of Gallipoli capitulated,
and Demetrius, the commander of the Greek forces, was about to garrison
it with his soldiers when Mustapha interposed, and, unmindful of his
treaty with Emanuel, said that he was not making war for the Emperor's
profit. The Greeks, thus beholding all their hopes of aggrandizement
dissipated, sought to renew their alliance with the Sultan, but their
monarch obstinately persisting in his demand for Amurath's brothers
being placed in his hands as hostages, the negotiations fell through.
As soon as the Ottoman sovereign learnt the defection of his army, he
energetically set to work to collect another, and to obtain the aid of
surrounding nations. Encouraged by the promise of victory given him by
the saintly Emir of Bokhara, he proceeded with his hastily improvised
forces to meet the rebels, ultimately taking up a strong position
behind the river Ouloubad. Mustapha, on his side, was advancing
quickly to give battle, when he was suddenly seized with a violent
bleeding at the nose, which weakened him so much that for three days he
was compelled to suspend the attack. The delay was fatal to him.
Taking advantage of the respite, emissaries of Amurath penetrated into
the hostile ranks, and persuaded large numbers of soldiers and officers
to return to their former master, whilst the Arabs, who remained
faithful to Mustapha, having attempted to surprise the imperial troops,
were cut into pieces by the Janissaries. Djouneid, the thrice-dyed
traitor, seeing how matters were going, still further injured the
pretender's cause by passing over to the enemy with all his followers.
Believing themselves abandoned by their chiefs, the soldiers fled in
all directions in disorder, leaving their unfortunate leader in the
company of a few servants. He took refuge in Gallipoli, but seeing the
fleet of his fortunate rival approaching to besiege the place, he
resumed his flight, and took shelter in Walachia. Betrayed, however,
by some of his personal attendants, he was seized, taken to Adrianople,
and put to death, having been hanged, according to some accounts, from
the battlements of the city walls.
When the defeat and death of Mustapha was communicated to the Greek
Emperor, he began to fear for himself. He despatched ambassadors to
the Sultan to make protestations of his friendship, and to leave no
stone unturned to avert his wrath. His efforts were useless: at the
head of twenty thousand men, Amurath, aided by a Genoese fleet, crossed
over to Europe, and advancing to the walls of Constantinople, besieged
Emanuel in his capital. Encouraged by the presence and prophecies of
the Emir of Bokhara, the Mussulmans were impatient for the assault on
the world-famed city. After long meditations, the holy man solemnly
proclaimed that at one hour after midday of the 24th of August, 1422,
he should mount his steed, and thrice waving his scimitar, and thrice
giving the war-cry of "Allah and his prophet," the Mohammedans were to
advance, and the city would be theirs.
Accordingly, on the day and the hour promised, the Emir, mounted on a
magnificent charger, and escorted by five hundred dervishes, advancing
towards the beleaguered city, gave the anticipated signal; his words
were caught up and thrice repeated by the whole invading army.
Uttering defiant war-cries, the Greek soldiery advanced, and in a short
time both armies were hotly engaged. And now was beheld one of the
most wonderful phenomena recorded in the annals of nations, but which
is, unfortunately, so differently stated by the Christian and
Mohammedan chroniclers, that it is difficult to reconcile the two
versions; the better way will be, doubtless, to believe neither.
The sun was sinking below the horizon, without victory having declared
for either side, when suddenly, say the favourers of the Greek version,
in the midst of the golden rays of the setting luminary was beheld a
virgin, clothed in a violet robe, and blinding the eyes of the
besiegers with the supernatural glare which surrounded her. Panic
stricken, the Mohammedans fled, and Constantinople was saved; saved,
the Christians asserted, by the Virgin Mary herself.
As might be expected, the story told by the Mussulmans was very
different, the miracle, if they are to be believed, having been
performed on their behalf, and their withdrawal from before the city
having been caused by a totally different occurrence. Their retreat,
indeed, was the result of the Emperor Emanuel's policy. Seeing all his
plans frustrated by the pretender's death, he hit upon the idea of
resuscitating him. Having obtained a man to suit his purpose, another
Mustapha was started, fresh revolts excited, and Amurath compelled to
raise the siege of the imperial city, in order to make use of his army
to put down the new aspirant to his throne.
The second _soi disant_ Mustapha did not enjoy his borrowed plumes for
long: some towns, it is true, succumbed to him, and others bought his
forbearance, but no sooner had he got within reach of the hostile army
than Elias, a man who had urged him to undertake the imposture, seduced
by the Sultan's gold, betrayed him to Amurath, and he was executed on
the field of battle.