THE
HISTORY
OF THE
MARITIME WARS OF THE TURKS,
TRANSLATED FROM
THE TURKISH OF HAJI KHALIFEH
BY JAMES MITCHELL.
CHAPTERS I. TO IV.
LONDON:
PRINTED FOR THE ORIENTAL TRANSLATION FUND.
BY A. J. VALPY, RED LION COURT, FLEET STREET.
SOLD BY J. MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET; AND MESSRS. PARBURY, ALLEN, AND CO.,
LEADENHALL STREET; MESSRS. THACKER AND CO., CALCUTTA; MESSRS. TREUTTEL
AND WÜRTZ, PARIS; AND MR. ERNEST FLEISCHER, LEIPSIG.
1831.
TO
THE RIGHT HONORABLE
GEORGE JOHN EARL SPENCER, K.G. F.R.S. M.R.A.S.
&c. &c. &c.
THIS TRANSLATION
OF THE
HISTORY OF THE MARITIME WARS OF THE TURKS
IS, WITH HIS LORDSHIP’S PERMISSION,
MOST RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED,
BY
HIS LORDSHIP’S GRATEFUL AND OBEDIENT SERVANT,
THE TRANSLATOR.
TRANSLATOR’S PREFACE.
The work of which the following pages contain a translation was some
time since recommended to the notice of the Oriental Translation
Committee, by the venerable nobleman to whom this performance is
inscribed, as being calculated to throw considerable light on the naval
history of the Turkish nation.
It is entitled تحفة الكبار في اسفار البحار _A gift to the Great
concerning Naval Expeditions_. The author, Haji Khalifeh,[1] is known
to all Oriental scholars as a deliberate and impartial historian, and
a man of extensive learning. In the present work, however, he has
confined himself to a simple narration of events as they occurred,
leaving to his readers the task of philosophising on their influence on
the political affairs of the empire in general. Of his youthful days
nothing is known, except that he was the son of a Sipahi, and that at
an early age he was taught to read and write. In his twenty-fifth year
he entered as student into the office of the chief historiographer;
and while in this capacity, was present in the Persian campaigns of
Hamadan and Baghdad. On his return to Constantinople, he attended the
lectures of Kazi-Zadeh. Whilst the army was wintering at Aleppo he
made the pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina, whence his title of Haji,
or Pilgrim. He was also at the siege of Erivan. He now commenced
“the greater holy warfare,”—that against ignorance, by indefatigable
study. He attended the principal professors of the capital, and after
ten years application to the study of languages, the law, logic, and
rhetoric, and the interpretation of the Koran and the traditions, he
applied himself to the mathematics and geography, to which latter
science the Cretan war particularly attracted his attention. At length,
beginning to suffer from ill health, he devoted himself to the study of
medicine and the mysteries of religion. So ardent was he in the pursuit
of knowledge, that he frequently sat up whole nights reading some
favourite author; and when he first commenced his literary labours, he
expended the whole of his little patrimony in the purchase of books;
but some time afterwards a rich relation died, leaving him a legacy,
which enabled him to enjoy more of the comforts of life, and to make
some additions to his library.
The fruits of his thirty years study are the following excellent
works:—a translation of the “Minor Atlas”, under the title of “Rays
of Light,” which he translated from the Latin by the assistance of
Shaikh Mohammed, a renegade Frenchman; “The View of the World,”
which contains the geography of Asia; and a “Description of European
Turkey.” These are the three best geographical productions of the
Ottomans. They were succeeded by five historical works: two bearing
the title “Fezliké;” the one in Arabic being an universal history
from the creation of the world, till within three years of his death;
the other, a similar history, in Turkish, from the year 1000 of the
Hejirah (about which time he must have been born), also continued till
three years before his death, being a period of sixty-five years; the
“History of the Maritime Wars;” a “History of Constantinople;” and the
well-known “Chronological Tables.” Then, his great Bibliographical and
Encyclopædical Dictionary, which forms the groundwork of D’Herbelot’s
“Bibliotheque Orientale.” Besides these, he wrote several smaller
treatises, one of which, his last work, he entitled “True Scales
for the Detection of Truth.” This contains some curious essays on
smoking, dancing, singing, &c., and concludes with a short account of
himself.[2] He died at Constantinople in the month of Zilhijeh, A.H.
1068, (A.D. 1657.)
This work was the second which issued from the imperial
printing-office, established at Constantinople in the year 1726, under
the superintendence of Syed Effendi and Ibrahim Effendi; the latter a
Hungarian, who had embraced the Mohammedan faith, and on whom the more
immediate direction of the establishment seems to have devolved. The
types, which were cast by him at Constantinople, are very neat, and the
execution of the whole, considering that printing in Turkey was then
only in its infancy, is highly creditable to the ingenuity of Ibrahim.
Unfortunately, however, it abounds in typographical errors, which
have frequently occasioned the translator considerable difficulty.
In addition to a list of upwards of two hundred errata appended to
the work, he has detected as many more, which were not corrected in a
second impression which was subsequently printed.
The volume is a small folio, consisting of 149 pages, exclusive of the
table of contents, the list of errata, and the printers dedication,
and is accompanied by five neatly executed plates, the first of
which represents the two terrestrial hemispheres; the second, the
Mediterranean and Black Seas; the third, the islands subject to the
Ottoman empire; the fourth, the Adriatic; and the fifth, two mariners
compasses, one having the names of the winds in Turkish, the other
both in Turkish and Arabic.
The translator has endeavoured to render his version as literal as
possible. In some few instances, however, owing either to the errors
of the press, or to the use of obsolete nautical terms, of which the
most diligent inquiries made during a residence of some months in
the capital of Turkey, failed to obtain him the explication, he may
not have hit upon the precise signification: but these are few in
number, and of such a nature as not to affect the general sense of the
narrative.
He takes this opportunity of acknowledging his obligations to Omer
Effendi, an officer of the pasha of Egypt, now in London, for the
valuable assistance he has rendered him during the progress of the work.
London,
August 12th, 1831.
CONTENTS.
Page
Author’s Preface 1
Introduction 3
Explanation of the Globe 4
Explanation of the Map ib.
The Venetian Islands on the Coast of the Morea 5
The Towns of the Arnaout Shores ib.
The Hersek and Bosnia Shores 7
Description of the Christian Towns 8
Venice ib.
The Italian, French, and Spanish Coasts 10
CHAPTER I.
Of the Ottoman Capudans, and the Expeditions and Battles
of several Sultans and Admirals, to the time
of Khair-ad-din Pasha 12
The Expedition to Enos 13
The Expedition to Amassra, Sinope, and Trebisond 14
The Expedition to Mitylene 14
The Expedition to the Negropont 15
The Expedition to Kafa and Azak 16
The Expedition to Puglia 17
The Expedition to Mota ib.
The Fortifying of Boosja 18
The Expedition to Rhodes ib.
The Expedition to Avlona 19
The Expedition to Lepanto ib.
The Expedition to Metone and Corone 21
The Expedition to Mitylene 23
Preparation of a Fleet for Rhodes 24
The Expedition to Rhodes 25
The Expedition of Salman Reis 26
The Expedition of Keman-Kesh 27
CHAPTER II
Respecting the Affairs of Khair-ad-din Pasha 28
The Engagements of Oruj and Khair-ad-din 29
The Engagements of Khair-ad-din 30
The Expedition to Bejaia and the Capture of Sharshal ib.
Departure of Oruj Reis to Algiers 31
Attack of the French upon Tunis ib.
Defeat of the Infidel Fleet and the Arab Tribes
at Algiers 32
The Capture of Tunis 33
The Capture of Tilmisan ib.
Attack of the Infidels upon Algiers 34
The Capture of Tunis 35
Execution of the Infidel Chiefs at Algiers ib.
The Government of Khair-ad-din at Algiers ib.
Insurrection of the People of Tunis and Tilmisan 36
The Capture of Mustaghanim 36
The second Capture of Tilmisan 37
Rebellion of Kazi-Zadeh ib.
Departure of Khair-ad-din Beg to Jijeli 38
Operations of Khair-ad-din at Jijeli 39
The Defeat of Kazi-Zadeh ib.
Return of Khair-ad-din Beg to Algiers 40
The Engagement with Abdullah ib.
The Wars of Aidin Reis 41
Appearance of Andrea Doria, and Attack of Khair-ad-din 42
The Flight of Andrea 43
Attack of Andrea Doria upon Corone, and Rebellion
of the Governor of Tilmisan 44
State of the Mudagils of Spain 45
The Stratagems of Andrea and of Khair-ad-din ib.
Execution of the Infidel Chiefs 46
Departure of Khair-ad-din for the Capital 47
Arrival of Khair-ad-din at the Sublime Porte ib.
Khair-ad-din goes to Aleppo 48
CHAPTER III
Respecting the Affairs of Khair-ad-din, from the time
of his being made Capudan of the Fleet 49
The First Expedition of Khair-ad-din Pasha ib.
Khair-ad-din’s Expedition against Tunis, and the Attack
of the Infidels upon that City 50
Khair-ad-din’s Return to Algiers 52
Capture of the Castle of Minorca 53
Cause of the Cowardice of the Infidels 54
Return of Khair-ad-din to the Porte ib.
The Expedition to Puglia 55
Sultan Soleiman’s Expedition to Corfu ib.
Account of the Treachery of the Venetians 56
Siege of Corfu 57
Attack of Khair-ad-din upon the Venetian Islands 58
The Capudan Pasha’s Present to the Sultan 59
Third Expedition of Khair-ad-din Pasha ib.
The Grand Battle of Khair-ad-din Pasha 61
The Number of the Infidel Ships 62
Attack and Flight of the Infidels 63
Capture of Castel Novo by the Infidels 65
Expedition of Soleiman Pasha to India ib.
Expedition of Khair-ad-din to Castel Novo 67
Attack of the King of Spain upon Algiers ib.
France craves Assistance of the Porte 68
Death of Khair-ad-din Pasha ib.
CHAPTER IV.
Of the Expeditions of the Capudans, from the time
of Khair-ad-din Pasha till that of Pialeh Pasha 70
The Expeditions of Mohammed Pasha ib.
The Capture of Tripoli by Senan Pasha ib.
Expedition of Piri Reis to the Eastern Ocean 71
Second Expedition of Piri Pasha to the Eastern Ocean ib.
Expedition of Murad Pasha to India 72
Account of Seidi Ali, Capudan ib.
Expedition of Seidi Ali to the Eastern Ocean 73
The Engagement between Seidi Ali and the Portuguese 74
Second Expedition of Seidi Ali against the Capudan
of Goa ib.
The Result of Seidi Ali’s Expedition to the Indian Ocean 75
Account of a Whirlpool ib.
The Expedition of Senan Pasha 77
The Appearance of Torghudjeh Beg ib.
The Occurrence at Jarba 78
Capture of Infidel Vessels 79
The Visit of Torghudjeh to Moghreb, &c. ib.
The Expedition of Torghudjeh to Bastia 80
HISTORY
OF
THE MARITIME WARS OF THE TURKS.
AUTHOR’S PREFACE.
_In the Name of the Compassionate and Merciful God,—and on him we rely._
In commencing the History of the Conqueror of the World, it is proper
that all due praise should be ascribed to the Lord of the Earth
and Time, who, according to the signification of the sacred verse,
“_Certainly my Hosts shall be victorious_,” hath strengthened the
armies of the Faithful: and having by his revealed decree and promise,
“_I will fill with awe the hearts of the Unbelievers_,” terrified the
enemies of the Faith: has also by his command, “_When ye meet them
be steady_,” rendered permanent the power and victory of the True
Believers.
And salutations of joy and songs of peace be ascribed to our Prophet,
the Lord of Creation, Mohammed Mustaffa, (upon whom be the peace of
God!) who, by the divine Oracle, “_The cities shall be opened to
you_,” preached his glorious religion, which he has bequeathed as an
invaluable treasure to his illustrious household and posterity till
the day of the resurrection. Thus, in confirmation of his divine
prediction, in the year one thousand and fifty-five from the flight
of the Prophet (A.D. 1645), amongst other victories, he vanquished
the island of Candia; so that in the space of ten years its capital
and all the other forts and towns came, one by one, into the hands of
the Faithful. By these means several circumstances having transpired,
which on some occasions, through negligence and want of management,
tended to the advantage of the Infidels, the author of these pages,
Haji Khalifeh, according to the verse of Muttanabbi, the prince of
poets, “Thou hast no squadrons to bring forward, nor property to
present; if therefore thy state is not happy, let at least thy words
be acceptable,” in order to manifest a zeal for religion, and the
defence of the Faithful; and having in view the establishment of the
Ottoman power, and the destruction of the Unbelievers, has related how
the ancient kings spoke with maledictions on this subject, and the
reasons of their rage and hatred; the battles of celebrated admirals
and captains; the opinions and deliberations of the experienced and
wise; and several other matters pertaining to expeditions and fleets.
These he called, “A Gift to the Great respecting Naval Expeditions;”
and having completed it, he presented it at the feet of the Lord of
Munificence, the Illustrious of the World, the Sovereign of the Land
and Ocean, Attendant of the two Holy Cities (Mecca and Medina), Sultan
Mohammed Khan, son of Sultan Ibrahim Khan, (may God perpetuate his
kingdom, and continue his power to the end of time!) with the hope
that, considering its usefulness, he would be pleased to bestow his
approbation.
This Epitome then consists of an Introduction, two parts, and a
Conclusion.
INTRODUCTION.
Respecting the difficulties we have had in this work, the fixing of the
boundaries, and drawing the maps of places:
Be it known, that to those engaged in the affairs of state, no science
is so necessary as that of geography. If they are not acquainted with
the whole surface of the earth, they ought at least to know the figure
of the Turkish empire and the neighbouring states; that, when it may be
necessary to undertake a journey, or to send an army into any country,
they may be properly directed; and by this knowledge it will be easy to
enter the enemy’s territory, and defend their own frontiers. Persons
ignorant of this science are not competent to be counsellors, even
should they be natives; for there are many natives who are ignorant
even of the figure of their own country and its boundaries.
Of the necessity of this science the following will be a sufficient
proof; that the Infidels by application to it have discovered America,
and become masters of India: and even the despicable Venetians, a
nation the chief of which among the Christian kings is confined to the
title of Duke, and is known by the epithet of _the Fisherman_, coming
to the frontiers of the Ottoman empire, have opposed their power to
that of our august Monarch, who rules from east to west.
In order therefore to illustrate this history of voyages, we shall in
the first place give a map of the whole figure of the globe; then of
the Mediterranean and Black Seas; and then of the countries of Venice
and Germany. Thus, at first sight, a person may obtain a summary
knowledge of the figure of the globe and the Turkish dominions; and
being able to tell where the city of Venice, the castle of Zadra
(Zara), or the island of Corfu, is situated, he will find it useful
in commencing the perusal of travels and voyages. All the land and
water of the globe are, according to the map, contained in two
circles. The first circle represents half of the globe, and the
ancient four quarters; and the other circle is the other half, or more
recently-discovered part which they call the new world.
EXPLANATION OF THE GLOBE.
The different portions of land on the surface of the globe, which by
attraction or repulsion are found projecting through the element of
water, are, according to the rules of geography, marked by red and
yellow. The yellow represents the continent, the little red spots are
islands, and the white shows the water. The line drawn across the two
circles is the equator, and the double red line on each side of it
is the ecliptic, showing the sun’s extreme ascension and declension.
Besides these are the zones, and the lines of latitude and longitude,
by which the latitude and longitude of towns and the situation of
places are ascertained. These I have explained at full length in my
work called the _Jehan Nemah_,[3] which is the translation of an atlas.
Here it will be sufficient to know, that every line is divided into
three hundred and sixty degrees, and each degree into three stages
(munzil), so that the whole circumference of the globe is 1080 stages;
and a person going west and moving forward will return by the east.
This assertion has been corroborated by proof. To proceed: geographers
divide the whole earth into four regions. They draw an imaginary line
from the Mediterranean, the Strait of Constantinople, the Strait of
Jenicale, and the south of the river Don as far as the Northern Ocean,
and the region that remains on the west of this line they call Europe;
that on the east, Asia; and the districts of Ethiopia and Egypt, which
divide the Mediterranean and Red Seas, they call Africa. The new world
they call America. The Ottoman power, then, has a share in each of the
three regions. To exhibit these portions and their boundaries, I have
drawn a map of the European portion and the Mediterranean and Black
Seas, and described their boundaries. I have also marked the names of
the Christian towns, and the Bosnia shores. When necessary it will be
sufficient to show their situations.
EXPLANATION OF THE MAP.
The Mediterranean which is drawn on this map is, excepting the ocean,
the largest of the six seas in the four quarters. It extends over
ten degrees of latitude and thirty of longitude. From the Straits of
Gibraltar in the east to the Syrian coast, it is computed to be
seventy degrees. On its southern coast are, Fez, Tilimsan, Algiers,
Tunis, Mahdiah, Jarba, Tripoli West, Alexandria of Egypt, and Damietta.
Its western and Arabian coast terminates at Arish. On the east are,
Gaza, Acca, Bairut, Tripoli Sham, and Pias. On the north, Selfeka,
Anemur, Alanieh, Antakia, and proceeding by Cape Teker and Smyrna as
far as the Strait (of the Dardanelles) are the coasts of Anatolia.
It terminates at the island of Boosja. From within the Strait as far
as the Strait of Constantinople is a small sea (Marmora) of about
seven hundred miles in circumference. On the coasts of this sea are,
Kaputagh, Mikhalij, Moudania, Bay of Gemlik, Constantinople, Chekmejeh,
and Gallipoli. Within it are the islands of Marmara, Amar-Ali, and
Kuzil. Beyond the Straits on the Rumelian shores are, the plain of Aja,
Enos, Cavalla, Aianur, Zlonkur, Kesendreh, Gulf of Salonica, the Gulfs
of Koolur and Azdin, the Negropont; and in the Morea, Capes Napoli and
Menkesheh (or St. Angelo), which, as Cape Teker in Anatolia, form an
angle and passage (with Candia). Projecting from the land into the sea,
they extend nearly to the east and west points of Candia, and most of
the islands of the Mediterranean being within this centre, they call
it (Candia) the central island. All these islands have been taken from
the Venetians and Genoese, except Istandil (Tino) in the middle, which
remains in the hands of the Venetians. That also was formerly captured,
but for the sake of policy it was given in exchange for the castle of
Menkesheh (St. Angelo).
The names and situations of these islands are marked; but to avoid
prolixity, I do not enter into a minute account of them, for my purpose
is to explain the Bosnia and Arnaout (Albanian) coasts. Leaving Cape
Menkesheh and going round the Morea, we pass Capes Manieh (Matapan),
Modon, and Helomej. The coast terminates at Badra (Patras). The whole
of it is computed to be two hundred miles.
THE VENETIAN ISLANDS ON THE COAST OF THE MOREA.
The principal islands near this coast, subject to the Venetians, are
these: Choka (Cerigo), fifteen miles south of Cape Menkesheh, and
sixty miles in circumference; it has a strong castle. Zaklisa (Zante),
fifteen miles west of Helomej, is a rocky island, and has a strong
fortress.
THE TOWNS ON THE ARNAOUT SHORES.
In the Atlas this country is called Albania. Fifty-six miles from the
mouth of the Gulf of Lepanto is Prevesa; eighty miles from thence is
the posterior part of Delvino; sixty beyond that Avlona; a hundred
farther Duraj (Durazzo); and a hundred miles beyond that is Nuovo. On
these shores, turning round from Port Injeer, in the island of Aiamur
(Lefcathia) to the mouth of the Gulf of Narda (Arta), we first meet
the castle of Prevesa. Next Parga, which is a castle belonging to the
Venetians, situated on an elevated spot near the sea. Behind it is
Mount Mizarak: to the east the country is rocky, and is interspersed
with villages and water-mills.[4] Then, the port of Chinak, opposite
the island of Corfu, is a celebrated harbour. It has lately been
strengthened by having a fortress built in it. Next, passing a small
arm of the sea, is Lake Dalianli, at the mouth of which is a castle
belonging to the Venetians, rendered famous from its having been
lately captured by one of the princes of that nation. To the north of
Cape Durazzo are the castles of Lemesh, Eskanderieh, Oulkoun, Bar,
Boudou, and Nuovo. The latter, which is situated in the Bay of Coutour
(Cattaro), is called Castel Nuovo, which signifies a new castle.
Eighteen miles farther, at the extreme end of the bay, is the castle
of Cattaro, situated in the Ottoman dominions, but subject to Venice.
It is built at the foot of a mountain, and a river passes it on both
sides. Being a very strong castle, its capture has hitherto been found
impracticable. The islands near these are, the two islands of Kefalonia
(Cephalonia), situated opposite the mouth of the Gulf of Lepanto.
Great Cephalonia is one hundred and fifty miles in circumference,
and is a well-populated island. Its castle was once captured, but
after the taking of Modon the Venetians again took possession of it.
It is twenty miles east from Zante. Little Cephalonia (Theaki) is a
small island to the north: it has no castle. Port Injeer in Aiamura
(Lefcathia), is about six miles from Cephalonia. Then, opposite Parga
is Bahshilar (Paxu), a pleasant little island of about thirty miles
in circumference, and eighteen from the shore. We next come to the
island of Corfu, which extends from Delvino along the Mizarak shores.
It is about forty miles from Parga, and its castle is six miles from
Port Chinak. It is one hundred and ninety miles in circumference, is a
celebrated and well-populated island, and has a strong fortress built
in the sea, but connected on one side with the land. In former times
this island passed by right of inheritance from one of the Christian
princes who governed Albania into the hands of a woman, but in A. H.
803 (A. D. 1400), the Venetians becoming victorious, succeeded by
stratagem in wresting it from her, and having fortified the castle,
they made it a guard island for the Gulf, and a general rendezvous
for their army and navy. Near to it, in the mouth of the Gulf, is a
watch-tower, and Kemal Reis observing that the Venetians had their
eye upon it, repeatedly suggested to the late Sultan Soleiman Khan
the necessity of capturing it; in consequence of which, in 943 of the
Hejra (A. D. 1536), the illustrious emperor proceeded thither by sea
and land, and completely besieged it. What followed shall be related
in its proper place. The castle of Corfu, as described in the Bahria,
is nearly three miles in circumference, is a very strong fort, and has
within it and in the suburbs about eighteen thousand houses. Within the
walls the Venetians have built, upon two hills, two towers of stone,
with a subterraneous passage between them, so that when necessary they
are able to render assistance to each other. Its walls are surrounded
by the sea, and it has also a harbour, into which the smaller vessels
enter, but the galleys lie outside. Between this island and the coast
there is a small strait, by which when necessary an army may pass.
The above-mentioned islands are the principal ones belonging to the
Venetians, but there are besides them numerous little islands in the
Gulf. Sixty miles below Corfu is Avlona, which is opposite Kara Beroun
(in Anatolia) and Cape St. Maria (C. di Leuca) on the Polia shores, and
from this place the sea is called the Gulf of Venice. It extends as far
as the city of Venice in the north, is seven hundred miles in length,
and about one hundred and fifty in breadth. On its eastern coast are
the districts of Arnaout, Hersek (Herzegovinia), Bosnia, and Croatia.
On the west, Lombardia, Ancona, and Poliapiana.
THE HERSEK AND BOSNIA SHORES.
Having passed Castel Nuovo, situated as before described on the Bay
of Cattaro, and proceeding eighteen miles to the north, we come to
the castle of Dobra-Venedik (Ragusa), situated in a district the
inhabitants of which are an independent people, and whose territory
extends from Hersek to Ghabla and Mostar. From this castle, Sebeneco
is distant two hundred miles, and between them on the river Mostar is
Ghabla, a harbour which has its Capudan. On the opposite side are two
long islands belonging to the Venetians which are called Braj (Brazza),
and Lesina. Beyond Ghabla is Ispalat (Spalatra), which also belongs
to the Venetians, and is a well-known port and harbour. Near that, on
an elevated spot on the land, is Kelis, a strong citadel, which has
lately been taken by the Venetians; but means must be used to recover
it. Beyond this, on the coast, is Shebenic (Sebenico), a strong castle,
with a spacious harbour, into which falls a great river that flows from
the north. Near this castle is a rocky eminence where Tekeli Pasha was
once routed. Zadra (Zara), twenty miles beyond Sebenico, is a strong
fortress, almost entirely surrounded by the sea, being only on one
side slightly connected with the land. Between these two castles, at
the place where the river Darmah falls into the sea, is the fort of
Iskaradin. The above river divides the districts of Kerka and Kelis,
all the forts of which have been taken by the Venetians. Here the
Bosnia shore terminates.
DESCRIPTION OF THE CHRISTIAN TOWNS.
Along the coast beyond Zara are the forts of Nodi and Sein (Zeng),
belonging to the Germans. Behind them, on the land, are Abrutisa,
Bahka, Todornoi, Bamaluka, and Kostanitza. These are the frontiers of
Croatia. Then, between Zara and Venice, which is a space of one hundred
and fifty miles, lies the country of Istria. It is in the form of a
square, and three sides of it are surrounded by the sea. It has in it,
and on the shores, many towns and forts, some of which are governed
by the Venetians, and some by the German princes. Farther on is the
district of Friuli, called also Forum Julii, which signifies the market
of Julius Cæsar. It is a very large district, and part of it borders on
the city of Venice. The sources of the rivers Save and Drave are in it,
and it contains numerous towns and forts, most of which are governed
by the Venetians, though they are all tributary to the Emperor (of
Germany). In travelling to Venice we go through this country. All its
towns and forts are marked in my translation of the Atlas Minor.
VENICE.
Venedik, as described in the Atlas, has various significations: it
is also called Venechia and Venetia. It is a large city, built upon
sixty small islands in a corner of the sea like a lake. Its waters
ebb and flow every six hours; and some of the isles are raised like
ramparts to prevent the water from overflowing. This city has three or
four passages to the sea; and although it is not guarded by walls and
towers, its being so completely surrounded by water renders it quite
safe and free from all danger. Between the houses there are roads and
passages by which passengers and boats may pass from house to house.
Over these waters there are about four hundred and fifty bridges,
both of stone and wood. The largest of these roads they call a canal;
it divides the city into two parts, and over it there is a wonderful
bridge. Eight thousand vessels are constantly in motion, some of
which are ornamented with covers, and these they call gondolas. The
circumference of the city is nearly eight miles; and its principal
streets are sixty-four in number. The public and private buildings are
excessively grand and ornamental, especially the church dedicated to
the Four Evangelists, which is called St. Marco, and is an astonishing
building. It is adorned with the most valuable and expensive stones,
and its interior is gilt with pure gold. In the treasury, which they
say is a sacred deposit, there are kept the most costly and precious
articles; and affirming that the city with all its castles and ships
belongs to it, the priests have shackled these fools, and by this
artifice have brought under their power all the Christians, small and
great. The city has three fine market-places, all adjoining each other:
in the square of the principal one is the above-mentioned church; and
close to the quay there are two massy columns; upon one of which is
set up the standard of St. Marco, and upon the other the image of St.
Theodorus. On the flag is represented a lion with wings; by which,
and on their coins also, they celebrate the valour of St. Marco, who
is said to have been a brave and valiant person. The space between
the two columns is the Hall of Justice. The centre of the city they
call the Arsenal; which has a spacious building, and being two miles
in circumference, it forms a strong castle. Here naval armaments and
cannons are daily manufactured and repaired; and the wrecks of fleets,
the arms taken from pirates, old vessels, and colours, being deposited
in this place, are exhibited to visitors.
The population of Venice is estimated to be three hundred thousand,
and it is divided into three classes. Those of the first are called
Patricii, and correspond to our _Meshaiékh_. To these belong the
management of the state, and the affairs of government. Their principal
is called _Doge_, which signifies Duke. He enters into all questions
of law, but has not power to act until he has the voice of the people.
Amongst the Christians a Duke corresponds to the _Begler Beg_ of the
Mussulmans, except that the former has his own coin. Those constituting
the second order are called _Istadinū_,[5] and to them are committed
civil affairs, customs, and education. The third class is composed of
merchants and artisans. In former times the power of this people was
vested in a consul, but in the year 555 from the birth of Christ (upon
whom be peace!) it was committed to a tribune or chief of a tribe; and
this government continued two hundred and fifty-two years, till, in
A. D. 707, it became a dukedom: so that from the commencement of the
dukedom to the time of the writing of this book, which is A. H. 1067
(A. D. 1656), is a period of nine hundred and fifty years. To proceed:
Mercator, the author of the Atlas, describing this city, speaks very
highly of it, and says that it is the most celebrated city in the
world; and being the common port of the universe, merchants of all
sorts, and from the most distant countries, trade in it. The number of
its inhabitants, and the extent of their wealth, are beyond
conception. On this account the Christians call it the Paradise of
the Earth: for although during a period of one thousand years it
suffered much, yet it never was under a foreign power. For this reason
the Venetians represent their city by the figure of a virgin holding
a sword; and this figure they place in all their offices: for they
state that her still holding the sword, signifies her having continued
a virgin down to the present time. The above-mentioned book, which
is an European work, in describing this city, gives the following
statement: “that the first founding of Venice was, according to several
historians, in A. D. 421, when the inhabitants of Patavia, being
attacked by the Hungarians, left that town, and settling on these
islands, commenced the building of Venice.” Several rivers from the
territory of Lombardy fall into the Gulf near it; and the greatest part
of the provisions consumed in the city are brought down these rivers.
Here terminates the description as given in European books; but Piri
Reis in his Bahria says, that ships bound for Venice first touch at
Parenza, which is a fort in the territory of Istria, and distant about
one hundred miles from Venice. They cannot proceed without a pilot on
account of the shallows; they therefore engage one to conduct them from
this place. They then proceed till they come in sight of Iskandil and
Marco-chaklik: the latter is a high castle, which appears first, and
then when they can see the city they cast anchor. Soon after another
pilot comes from the city with a small boat, which takes the vessel in
tow; and thus they proceed to the harbour. It is forbidden to pilot
foreign vessels. The quays are always kept open on account of the
tides. In the city there are also water-boats; these they fill with
water, and going about the streets they sell it by measure. Fish is
plentiful here. The fishermen have boats like skimmers, in which they
keep the fish alive; and carrying them through the streets, sell them.
On the east side of the city is an island, which they call Muran, where
crystal vessels and other glass articles are manufactured.
THE ITALIAN, FRENCH, AND SPANISH COASTS.
Having passed the city of Venice, we come to Ancona, Bashtia,
Manfredonia, Brindisi, Cape Otranto, and Cape St. Maria, where the Gulf
of Venice terminates. Turning thence to the west, we pass Taranto,
Rossano, Cape Cotrone, Spartivento, and Cape Reggio: opposite which, in
the island of Chichlia (Sicily), is Cape Messina; and the space between
forms the Strait of Messina, which, like the Strait of Constantinople,
is very narrow. Beyond these are Naples, Cape Gaeta, the river Rooma
(Tiber), upon which a little farther in the land is the city (of Rome),
Pantan, Leghorn, which is in the district of Florence, an independent
dukedom bordering on the pope’s dominions. Farther on is the state of
Genoa, which is also an independent government, bordering on Milan.
In the French dominions are, Savona, Nice, Afwamort, and Marseilles.
Perpignan, Davina, Barcelona, Tortosa, Cape Carthagena, Malaga, and
Jabl-al-Fat’h (Gibraltar), on the Strait of Sabta, are on the Spanish
coast. In the Atlas they are called Catalonia, Aragonia, Valencia,
and Andalusia. According to computations in several histories, the
Rumelian and European coasts are reckoned to be 8047 miles in length;
and the Anatolian, Arabian, and western coasts, 5010 miles: in all
13,057 miles. The principal islands are Sardinia, Corsica, Minorca,
Miorca, Ivica, Malta, Crete (or Candia), Cyprus, and Rhodes. In former
times all these, except Rhodes, were captured; and how this was done,
I have fully explained in my works called the Fezliket Tarikh and the
Jehan Nemah. At present they are all, except Cyprus and Rhodes, in the
possession of the Infidels; and even the subjugation of Candia has not
yet been fully accomplished. God grant that it may soon be effected!
Here our Introduction ends: we shall now proceed to our First Part.
PART FIRST.
Concerning the ancient fleets, victories, and naval wars;
accounts of which have, for the sake of example, been
arranged and collected from historical books. This Part
consists of several Chapters.
CHAPTER I.
_Of the Ottoman Capudans, and the expeditions and battles of several
Sultans and Admirals, to the time of Kheir al Deen Pasha._
Be it known that before the time of the late illustrious and
victorious Sultan Mohammed, the Ottomans had not ventured to undertake
naval expeditions, or to engage with the European nations. It is
indeed related that in the time of Sultan Murad the Second, they
occasionally made excursions to the neighbouring shores and islands;
but these expeditions are not worth enumerating. After the taking of
Constantinople, when they spread their conquests over land and sea, it
became necessary to build ships and make armaments, in order to subdue
the fortresses and castles on the Rumelian and Anatolian shores, and in
the islands of the Mediterranean.
When they first besieged Constantinople on the land side, and saw the
little success they had, they found the necessity of raising a proper
fleet in order to attack the city by sea; and to the management of this
affair, Soleiman Beg, son of Balta, was appointed. According to one
account he built the vessels behind Sūdlūja; but, according to the Tāj
al Tuarikh, behind the castle of Rumeili.
This Soleiman Beg then, it appears, was the first Capudan of this
nation, for before the capture of Constantinople no mention is made in
any history of the harbour of Gallipoli, or its capudan, whereas there
is at present, near that castle, a port named after this Soleiman Beg.
It is related in the above-mentioned work, that a chain being drawn
across the bay which separates Galata from Constantinople, it was found
utterly impossible to bring up the vessels to attack the city on that
side; but orders being given to move from Galata, they conducted the
ships to Iengi Hissar, where, by a novel and surprising contrivance of
raising weights, they lifted them out of the water, and placing them on
oiled rollers, thus carried them over the land, and again lowered them
into the sea. These vessels were filled with the most valiant warriors;
and parapets being erected, they fought bravely, completely discomfited
the Infidels, and at last vanquished the city.
The various expeditions that succeeded this distinguished victory, and
the account of their leaders, shall now follow in order.
THE EXPEDITION TO ENOS.
Soon after the capture of Constantinople, the cazy and inhabitants of
Ferra having represented that they were much annoyed by the wickedness
of the Infidels of Enos, his Majesty (Sultan Mohammed) instantly
resolved on subjugating those rebels; in consequence of which, Khass
Ionas was summoned to the Sublime Porte, and his Majesty having
communicated his design, ordered him to collect all the troops that
were at hand; to fit out ten triremes, and sail with all possible
haste to the appointed place. He further charged him not to disclose
the place of their destination to any one, till they reached it;
whilst he himself would lead on his victorious army by land. Ionas
Beg, in conformity with his instructions, put out to sea, and with
favourable winds, in a short time arrived at the castle, to which he
laid siege. The imperial banners of victory, being equally expeditious,
were also raised; and the Infidels, being filled with terror, offered
stipulations, and surrendered the fortress. Ionas Beg after this, by
the sultans command, attacked another castle on the island of Tashūz
(Tasse), opposite Enos, which he reduced, and returned.
THE EXPEDITION TO AMASSERO, SINOPE, AND TREBISOND.
In the year of the Hejra 864 (A. D. 1459), the victorious sultan,
Mohammed Khan, proceeded by land to reduce Amassero, a castle on the
shores of the Black Sea; and at the same time sent forward other
forces by sea. Being again crowned with success, he turned his
attention to Sinope, then occupied by Ismael Beg, son of Isfendiar;
and the grand vizier, Mohammed Pasha, having fitted up a fleet of one
hundred vessels, manned by warlike heroes, set sail, and on his way to
Trebisond touched at Sinope, where the land forces having also arrived,
they besieged the castle both by sea and land. The helpless Emir Ismael
surrendered without resistance, and delivered the castle to the Sublime
Porte. Having, besides this, subjugated Kastamouni, the victorious
fleet proceeded towards Sinope, whither the imperial forces also
marched; and after a short siege, the enemy stipulated, and surrendered
the city.
In the European history, which I translated from the Latin into
Turkish, I have mentioned that at this time Ismael Beg built a very
large ship of nine hundred tons. This vessel the Emperor sent to
Constantinople. About the same time Alfonso, the king of Aragonia,
built a vessel which held four thousand tons; and soon after built two
others, which in point of size had never been equalled, but they could
not use them; and striking against each other in the harbour, they were
dashed to pieces.
The Venetians also at this period, having made peace with the Genoese,
began to build immense vessels. Sultan Mahommed at the same time built
one of three thousand tons, but, as they were launching it, it sunk in
the harbour, and the builders were obliged to fly. _Ton_ (_fouchi_) is
a phrase peculiar to ships of the ocean, and is used to designate their
size.
THE EXPEDITION TO METYLINI.
In the year of the Hejra 866 (A. D. 1461), the emperor having returned
from an expedition to Wallachia, he made preparations for the
capture of Meddeli (Metylini); for which purpose he proceeded to the
neighbourhood of Gallipoli, and there gave orders for the preparing
of the fleet. When the Constantinople ships had also arrived, they
set sail; whilst his Majesty, with the Imperial and Anatolian troops,
having passed the Strait at Gallipoli, proceeded to Ayazmend; and the
ships, tall as mountains, anchored opposite Metylini. When the forces
were about to commence an attack, the governor of the island came
out, offered stipulations, and surrendered the garrison. His private
property they returned to him, and sent him to his own country. Having
established laws, and divided the island, they left the natives as
subjects, registered the houses, and returned.
THE EXPEDITION TO THE NEGROPONT.
In the year 872 (A. D. 1467), the army having returned from an
expedition into Caramania, a complaint was made that the Venetian
general with upwards of sixty vessels had made an attack upon Enos;
taken prisoners the cazy, the khatib (priest), and several Mussulmans;
and had plundered the neighbouring district. In consequence of this,
Mahmood Pasha was ordered to proceed to Gallipoli to collect the fleet;
and on this occasion all the vessels on the Ottoman coasts were given
in charge to him. Among the Greek islands, the Negropont still remained
in the hands of the Christians; and from its channel the Mussulmans
received much harm; whereas the general, from his avarice, exacted a
great revenue from the inhabitants of the island.
In 873, therefore, the victorious forces proceeded both by land and
water towards the island; and the pasha having made all preparations
for its attack, besieged it with upwards of one hundred ships. The
bridges, which had been cut down, were supplied by suspending temporary
ones from the vessels, by means of which the soldiers ascended the
castle and mounted the battlements. Just at this time the general,
with eighty vessels, arrived, to give assistance to the besieged; but
when he saw the Mussulman forces, he cast anchor and looked on with
despair. His intention was, that whilst the Mussulman vessels were
cruising about the island, he also would approach it on one side, and
thus prevent its capture; and for this purpose he sent out several
caicks to endeavour to take some one from whom they might learn the
day of the intended attack. One of the Mahommedan men who had deserted
went over to the ships of the Infidels, and being found by the spies
was immediately taken before the general, who ascertained from him that
the criers had announced that the attack was to take place in three
days. The general anxiously waited for that day, and began to make
preparations for the combat; but those on the other side having learned
that the enemy was informed of their designs, resolved to attack the
castle without further delay; and the same night the criers raising
their voices to the stars, proclaimed that the morrow should be the
day of plunder, and admonished the soldiers to be in readiness. As
soon as it was morning, and long before the Infidels had opened their
eyes, the soldiers, in the hope of plunder, assaulted the castle, and
entered it by the breaches they had made. Those who were considered
fit for service were made captives, and the rest were killed; whilst
the victors were enriched with money and property beyond compute. In
the forenoon the colours hoisted on the tower caught the eyes of the
Infidels, who were so mortified that they spread their sails, and
turned their helms. After this fine fortification was reduced, the
victors proceeded to the small fort called Kuzil Hissar, situated on
the banks of the island, and in which the treasury of the Infidels was
deposited. This they also subjugated, and the property they found in it
they transferred to the royal treasury; and with cheerfulness of mind
returned to the seat of dominion.
THE EXPEDITION TO KAFA AND AZAK.
The territory of Kafa, lying on the shores of the Black Sea, having for
many ages been in the possession of the Genoese, the Turkish and Tartar
princes, though united by their proximity to each other, had never,
as yet, on account of its strong fortifications, been able to reduce
it. In 880 (A. D. 1475), the victorious sultan Mohammed Khan, having
resolved upon its subjugation, gave orders to Keduk Ahmed Pasha to
prepare the fleet. The pasha immediately collected a number of galleys,
triremes, &c., amounting in all to three hundred vessels, and having
prepared his Janissaries and Azabs,[6] kissed his hand, and according
to custom bowed to the princes and nobles; after which he left the
divan, went down to the harbour and embarked. With favourable winds
he arrived in a short time on the shores of Kafa, where he landed and
laid siege to the castle.[7] The Christians not daring to stand against
the arms of the Faithful, delivered up the castle with stipulations,
and left it. The castle being taken, they proceeded to subjugate
its dependencies; and Azak, which is the boundary of the Sakalaba
kingdoms,[8] being also reduced, by proper management they subjugated
all the disaffected. The people of Kafa had their rights restored to
them, and the place became subject to the Ottoman power. The date of
this victory was called _A Favour_.[9]
THE EXPEDITION TO PUGLIA.
Keduk Ahmed Pasha, having been dismissed from the office of grand
vezier and imprisoned, was by some circumstance brought before the
Sultan Mohammed Khan on his return from an expedition to Eskenderia.
On this occasion the Sultan was pleased to bestow the _sanjak_ of
Avlona on the pasha. In 884 he came to court, and having represented
the facility with which Puglia, a district of Italy opposite Avlona,
might be conquered, he petitioned for forces, and accordingly orders
were issued to prepare a fleet. The necessary provisions were given
him, and having collected a select troop of the bravest men of Roumelia
and Anatolia, and some thousands of janissaries and Azabs, the pasha
sailed for the coast of Puglia. In his first attack he took the castle
of Taranto, and reduced by force of arms several other places in the
neighbourhood, in each of which he stationed troops. But the governor
of Puglia, an infidel called Raika, represented his case to the king
of Spain, who immediately sent assistance to him. Of this the pasha
had information, and Sultan Mohammed Khan[10] dying at that time, he
embarked for the Porte under the pretence of paying his respects to the
new Sultan. In 886 the infidel, having arrived with forty vessels and
an army, retook the whole of the fortresses, and put to the sword most
of the troops that were stationed in them. Elated by this success, he
resolved on overtaking the pasha, and for this purpose pursued him at
sea for some time; but the pasha had reached the Porte in safety.
THE EXPEDITION TO MOTA.
In 884 the illustrious Emperor, returning from a journey to Eskenderia,
sent the beg of Koja-eili with thirty _brak kadargas_,[11] to take
Mota, a castle situated on the sea of Azoph, in the neighbourhood of
Kaffa, and which still remained in the possession of the infidels. On a
former occasion, Keduk Ahmed Pasha, being pressed with more important
affairs, did not attempt to take it; but at this time, as soon as it
was blockaded by the noble troops, it was surrendered and evacuated by
the infidel its governor.
THE FORTIFYING OF BOOSJA.
The island Boosja (Tenedos), near the Straits (of the Dardanelles),
being destitute of a fortress, and as the levend[12] were in the habit
of taking up their quarters there, a royal order was issued the same
year, that a fortress should be erected near the shore of the island,
and that those who were willing might reside in the neighbourhood
exempt from taxes. The island of Lemnos, also, which they call _Lemni_,
was fortified about the same time.
THE EXPEDITION TO RHODES.
The Moslems who resided in the island of Rhodes being much molested by
the infidels, the chief commander, Vezier Messih Pasha, was in the year
885 ordered to proceed thither with three thousand janissaries and four
thousand Azabs. Besides the vessels from Constantinople, sixty others
had been built at Gallipoli. With these they set sail, and arrived at
the island of Rhodes. They blockaded the castle both by sea and land,
but first attacked the tower on the west towards the water, because
from this tower the troops had been much annoyed. They made a bridge
from the water, so as to reach the tower; but during a fierce attack
upon the latter, the bridge, owing to the immense crowd, gave way,
and upwards of a thousand men perished in the water. They again took
courage, once more made a brave assault upon the castle, and had even
raised their standard on the walls, which were covered with troops.
These fierce warriors having also whetted the teeth of avarice with
the hope of plunder, were rushing on to seize their prey, when Messih
Pasha, unwilling that the riches of a fortified place like Rhodes
should fall a prey to the soldiery, gave orders that as the treasury
of the place belonged exclusively to the Sultan, no one should dare to
touch it. As soon as this unwelcome intelligence was spread amongst
the soldiers, those on the outside would proceed no farther, whilst
those in the interior remained motionless; and the enemy, having made a
violent rush from one quarter, put to the sword all they met. Soleiman
Pasha Beg of Costamoni likewise shared the fate of martyrdom. Thus the
avarice of Messih Pasha and the selfishness of the troops were the
cause of this ill fortune. At last he withdrew from the castle, and
amidst loud complaints directed his course towards the capital. On his
way he attacked the castle of Bodrun; but being unsuccessful here
also, he returned to the Porte. When he landed at Beshektash the sanjak
of Gallipoli was given to him, and to this district he immediately
proceeded.
THE EXPEDITION TO AVLONA.
In the year 889 the Sultan Bayezid Khan, having sent forward his fleet
by the Black sea and proceeded thither himself by land, completely
reduced Kili[13] and Ak-Kerman. In 897 the beg of Semendreh sent
information that the king of Hungary being dead, the governor of
Belgrade had promised allegiance to the Sultan. In consequence of this
message his majesty directed his course to that quarter; but fearing
it might only be a false promise, and that he might not return empty
handed, he gave orders to Gubegu Senan Pasha to sail for Avlona with
three hundred vessels; so that in case he should not succeed in the
capture of Belgrade, he might as it were turn his forces to that
quarter, and plunder the Arnaout shores. When the preparations for the
expedition were completed, and his majesty was marching towards Sofia,
the new king sent an apology and asked forgiveness: he therefore turned
towards the Arnaout shores, and passed on by Monaster to Dipa-diln,
whilst Davud Pasha laid waste a great part of that district and
returned. The fleet also attacked several places along the coasts, and
plundered the rebels.
THE EXPEDITION TO LEPANTO.
The Sultan Bayezid Khan, contemplating an expedition in order to subdue
the districts of the Morea and Enabekht (Lepanto), began about this
time to build large ships. He appointed Davud Pasha, then a capudan,
his serasker (commander-in-chief). He built two immense _kokas_, the
length of each being seventy cubits and the breadth thirty cubits. The
masts were of several trees joined together, and in the middle measured
four cubits in circumference. The maintop was capable of holding forty
men in armour, who might thence discharge their arrows and muskets. The
builders and other labourers employed were servants of the Sultan; and
the building materials being all the productions of the Ottoman empire,
were valued at twenty thousand florins. According to the statements of
several respectable historians, the builder of these vessels was one
Iani, who having seen ship-building at Venice, had there learned the
art. These vessels had two decks, the one like that of a galleon,
and the other like that of a _mavuna_ (_trireme_); and on the side
of each of these, according to custom, were two port-holes, in which
immense guns were placed. Along the upper deck was a netting, under
which on both sides were four-and-twenty oars, each pulled by nine
men. The sterns were like those of a galleon, and from them boats were
suspended. Each of these ships contained two thousand soldiers and
sailors. The command of the one was given to Kemal Reis, and that of
the other to Brak Reis. The whole fleet consisted of three hundred
vessels of various sorts; and these being filled with the most intrepid
warriors, were sent towards Enabekht. The illustrious Emperor also,
about the end of the month Sheval, in the year 904, (A.D. 1498,)
leaving Constantinople, proceeded to Adrianople, and sent Mustaffa
Pasha, the begler-beg of Roumelia, to besiege Enabekht. When the pasha
arrived at this place, the infidel who had charge of it sent out a
message to say he was ordered not to give up the garrison until the
Moslem fleet had entered the gulf of Lepanto. Upon this Mustaffa Pasha
turned aside into the country to wait the arrival of the fleet, which
by contrary winds had been kept at sea for three months. At last, when
they touched on the shores of the Morea, another contrary gale arose,
and with difficulty they made into the harbour of an island opposite
Motone, in which they remained twenty days. After this they began to
be pressed by the failure of their provisions and water: when they
attempted to go on shore the infidels prevented them, and on the other
side they were continually harassed by the enemy’s ships. At last the
beg of the Morea, Khalil Pasha, made known their situation by sending a
courier to the Sultan Bayezid Khan, who at that time had arrived at the
plain of Chatalaja, in the vicinity of Enabekht. The Sultan immediately
issued orders that Hersek Oghli Ahmed Pasha with the Anatolian forces
should enter the Morea and render assistance to the fleet. Ahmed Pasha
accordingly set out with haste, but before he reached Motone they had
left the harbour, and were on their way to Navarin. The pasha soon
after joined the vessels at Helomej.
The royal fleet having passed Navarin and arrived at Brak island, were
again met by the abject infidels, who sailed directly against them.
On a former occasion the enemy had been much annoyed by Kemal Reis,
and now the enmity in their breasts was without bounds. The beg of
Jeni-sheher, Kemal Beg, being on board the vessel of Brak Reis, they
supposed it to be that of Kemal Reis, attacked it furiously, and many
on both sides fell into the whirlpool of destruction. Two _kokas_, each
containing a thousand men, and a trireme and barge with five hundred
men, succeeded in placing the vessel of Brak Reis in the centre; but in
this position, the two smaller vessels not being able to sustain the
fire of Brak Reis, they both sunk, and most of the infidels on board
were drowned; a few were however taken up by hooks into the other boats
and made prisoners. The two _kokas_ then bore down on Brak Reis, and
the engagement being extended, Brak Reis threw burning pitch into them,
and thus burnt up the rascals with their ships. But all his exertions
to detach his own vessel were fruitless, and at last that also caught
fire. Kemal Beg, Brak Reis, and Kara Hassan, with about five hundred
brave men, perished by this catastrophe. The other heroes who fell into
the sea were taken up into boats, by which means about seven hundred
were saved. The two _kokas_ were also burnt, and of those that were
swimming, besides the drowned and burnt, seven hundred of the enemy
were killed. A galleon which had come to their assistance was also
taken, and the infidels on board were made prisoners. The island near
which this engagement took place was hence called _Brak-atasi_ (the
island of Brak).
After this, one hundred and fifty Venetian vessels having shut up the
entrance of the gulf of Lepanto, and cannons being placed at the mouth
of it, the commanders stood prepared for an engagement. The Moslem
ships then came up, and in attempting to enter the gulf received the
enemy’s fire. Here also a fierce engagement took place, and several
brave men fell. At last the Divine Ruler favoured the armies of
Islamism, so that they completely destroyed the enemy’s fleet. In
short, in the neighbourhood of Motone, after they had left the harbour,
at the island of Brak, and on their entering the gulf of Lepanto, they
had sharp battles with the enemy. At length they passed the strait, and
proceeded towards Lepanto, notwithstanding the great number of cannons
and ships, and although the current was against them. When they reached
the fortress the heroes went out to blockade it; but the besieged,
according to their former promise, sent out the keys to Mustaffa Pasha,
and in the following year evacuated it. The capture of the fortress
being reported to his majesty, Ahmed Pasha left his ship, and the royal
fleet was ordered to winter in the liman of Amar Beg, near Kirma. His
majesty then returned to Adrianople.
THE EXPEDITION TO MOTONE AND CORONE.
Although the greater part of the Morea had been subjugated in the time
of Abul-Fat’h (Mohammed II.), the fortresses of Motone and Corone
on the coast still remained in the hands of the infidels. For the
subjugation of these, the beg of Prevesa, Mustaffa Beg, was directed
to prepare before the approaching spring forty vessels, which were to
be added to the fleet. During the summer he built twenty vessels, and
was just finishing them, when one dark night the infidels came and set
fire to them all. Mustaffa Beg now began to finish the other vessels,
and about this time the combination of the infidel tribes to attack
the Ottoman territory by sea was made known to the Sublime Porte; in
consequence of which Iacub Pasha, and several noble begs, with ten
thousand infantry and twenty thousand cavalry, were sent to assist in
repairing the fleet then wintering at Enabekht, whence they had orders
to sail with the fleet in the spring for Motone. The Khoonkar[14]
also, in the month of Ramazan 905,[15] (A.D. 1499) left Adrianople and
proceeded to the Morea. When the arrival of Iacub Pasha and his fleet
at Motone was announced to his majesty, after having rested twenty
days at Londar, he proceeded to the neighbourhood of the castle of
Motone. The troops then surrounded the castle by land and sea, and with
their cannon razed its walls to the ground. They were on the point of
taking it when the enemy’s fleet arrived, and made preparations for
an engagement. The Moslem troops took two of the enemy’s ships, and
punished the infidels found in them opposite the castle. They also
sunk one of their triremes, and burnt several of their other ships.
While they were thus on the point of victory, four galleys arrived
from Venice, carrying ammunition, and some thousands of artillery-men,
passed through the fleet at a time when the Moslems were off their
guard, and as soon as they had landed their cargo within the castle,
set fire to the four galleys. This being reported to the Sultan, his
majesty in a rage gave orders that as soon as the enemy began to remove
the ammunition that had been taken in, they should make a general
attack. Upon this Senan Pasha, the begler-beg of Anatolia, entered the
castle by a ladder, through a breach which he had made, and the whole
army attacking it furiously, they continued to fight from mid-day till
sunset in a manner that baffles description. At this time fire broke
out in the castle, and the infidels being terrified, the Moslems took
possession of the castle and put the enemy to the sword. This victory
happened on the fourteenth of Moharrem 906.
For the subjugation of Corone Ali Pasha was sent by land, and the
capudan with his fleet by sea. Ali Pasha having announced his intention
of besieging Navarin, the inhabitants gave up the castle on condition
that they should be permitted to go out of it. When the troops arrived
at Corone, the inhabitants of that place also surrendered, and with
their families and property departed to Frankestan.
The Sultan having returned to the capital, Ali Pasha turned his
attention to the capture of Astaffa; but in the mean time the infidels,
by some means or other, retook the castle of Navarin. When the pasha
was informed of this, he reported it to the Divan, and immediately
returned to Navarin. He also sent thither Kemal Reis with thirty
vessels. When they arrived at the castle they attacked the fleet lying
in the harbour, and in their first attack took eight of the enemy’s
ships, and killed the infidels that were in them. Several brave men who
had come with the pasha then scaled the walls, bound the chiefs, and
made about three thousand infidels food for the sword.
THE EXPEDITION TO MITYLENE.
The Venetians, in order to revenge themselves for the loss of Enabekht,
Motone and Corone, sent to beg assistance from the king of France,[16]
who, having equipped some vessels and appointed his nephew commander,
sent them to join the Venetian fleet. The whole, amounting to two
hundred vessels, set sail, and in the month of Rabia-al-Avul 907 (A.D.
1501) came upon Mitylene. The Prince Korkud, being informed of this,
sent one of his agas with eight hundred men to Ayazmend, whence one
dark night they sailed for Mitylene, and with the assistance of Krassi
Beg and his troops, massacring the infidel tribes, they entered the
castle; in doing which the aga was killed. When this unpleasant news
reached the Sultan, his majesty without loss of time filled the vessels
that were at hand with troops, of which Hersek Oghli Ahmed Pasha was
commander; and Senan Pasha, the governor of Anatolia, was also ordered
to join the fleet with the forces of his district. When Ahmed Pasha
arrived in the neighbourhood of Mitylene the infidels had blockaded the
castle; but as the French general was about to enter it he was killed;
and all the troops that had been stationed about the castle seeing this
betook themselves to flight. The Venetians also took refuge in their
ships and went off. The protection of the fortress being left to the
begler-beg of Anatolia, Ahmed Pasha returned to the Porte.
This Ahmed Pasha, after being made grand vezier, was dismissed. In 912
he was made a capudan, which office he held for five years, and in 917
he again became grand vezier.
It is recorded that this expedition gave rise to the levying of taxes
and enlisting galley-men. Formerly these impositions were not made on the
subjects; but from that time to the present they have been authorised
by law, and are raised annually.
As the Venetian and Moslem fleets did not come to an engagement, after
the former were driven from Mitylene, the necessity of silence and of
refraining from their intended revenge, on their part, and various
causes on the part of the latter, induced them to consider an armistice
desirable. After this no attacks were made on any of their districts
either by land or sea, and the fleet was employed only in protecting
the Ottoman dominions. When however the power of the Persian kings in
the East began to increase, the disturbances of the _Rafezis_,[17]
and the retirement of Sultan Bayezid Khan on account of his great
age, produced negligence in the ministers, and tended to injure the
prosperity of the state; and Sultan Selim, after his ascension to the
throne, being occupied in matters that demanded immediate attention,—in
punishing the Persians,[18] and subjugating the countries of Egypt
and Syria,—the possessions of the infidels thus remained unmolested.
The Venetians and Hungarians also, duly appreciating this peace, did
not make the least stir. On the decease of Sultan Selim, Soleiman
Khan coming to the throne, began to subjugate all those places which
he thought proper should be annexed to the Ottoman dominions; and
opening both by land and sea the gates of war, he terminated that
armistice which from necessity had been adopted during the reign of
his illustrious father, and in his second expedition succeeded in the
capture of Rhodes.
PREPARATION OF A FLEET FOR RHODES.
In the year 923 (A. D. 1517), during the reign of Sultan Selim the
First, the countries of Egypt having been subdued and added to the
Ottoman dominions, in 925 it was considered necessary to open a road
for the importation of the productions of that country. For this
purpose the capture of Rhodes, the seat of pirates, was suggested to
the victorious Sultan, who immediately began to prepare a fleet; but
although for a long time reports of an intended expedition were heard
from the ministers and nobles, yet from the movements of the Sultan
nothing to that effect could be perceived, till one day with his nobles
and attendants he went out to visit the tomb of Abi Aiub Ansari, and
standing on his usual spot beside the high dome near his nurse’s tomb,
he read the _Fatihat_.[19] Looking towards the channel, he saw one of
the newly built vessels cruising about, and in a rage demanded to know
by whose authority they had put it to sea, before an expedition had
been determined upon; at the same time giving orders for the execution
of the Capudan Jafar Aga. Piri Pasha with some difficulty satisfied
him, by saying that the vessel had been put to sea merely to try it.
On his majesty’s return he severely reprimanded the veziers, saying,
“Whilst I am accustomed to subdue kingdoms, you waste the means in
taking a single castle, the requisite for which is ammunition. How
many months will your ammunition last? and are the necessary stores
in readiness?” The veziers informed him of what stores they had, but
declined giving any account of their ammunition till the next day, and
thus they departed with many reproaches. The next morning they reported
to his majesty that their ammunition was sufficient for four months.
His majesty in a scornful manner replied, that whilst his grandfather
Sultan Mohammed Khan’s disgrace with respect to Rhodes was not yet
forgotten, they wished to double it on him, especially as four months
ammunition was by no means sufficient for the reduction of a fortress
like Rhodes, which, if it were taken in double that time, would be
highly creditable: that he was determined to undertake no expedition
on such vain counsel, nor by the advice of any one; and concluded by
saying, that for himself he had no voyage in view, except the one to
eternity. According to his prediction, the fortress was with difficulty
taken in the time he specified; and about six months after this
conversation he departed to the world of spirits.
THE EXPEDITION TO RHODES.
Sultan Soleiman Khan, of happy memory, ascended the throne in 926 (A.D.
1519); and the violence and oppression of Capudan Jafar Beg having been
discovered, he was hanged, and his office was given to Iilak Mustaffa
Pasha. After the capture of Belgrade, the subjugation of Rhodes
being considered most important, the emperor, in the month of Rajab
928, came to the capital and issued orders for the preparation of an
immense fleet; and a great number of sailors and azabs being collected,
the second vezier, Mustaffa Pasha, was appointed commander. On an
auspicious day they set out, and with about seven hundred vessels
of various sorts sailed for the Mediterranean. The Capudan Pasha also
joined them with the ships he had prepared at Gallipoli; and in the
month of Rajab 928 the illustrious emperor passed over to Skutari,
whence he pursued his journey by land. The Roumeili troops, having
marched by different routes, joined the royal camp in the vales of
Moghala; and on the third of Rajab his majesty crossed over to a
small island opposite Marmaross. Previously to this, the fleet having
arrived in the vicinity of Rhodes, the commander, Kara Mahmūd Reis,
sent a few vessels to an island called Herka, and reduced its fortress.
After this the fleet touched opposite Jem-Baghche. The heavy vessels
were stationed to guard the channel; whilst the pasha, with three
hundred galleys, proceeded to the fortress of Rhodes, and entered the
harbour of Cape Oghuz. Having arranged their cannon, on the fifth of
Ramazan they blockaded the fortress: a week after, Bali Beg, one of the
Egyptian begs, arrived, and with twenty-four galleys, which had sailed
before him, brought additional ammunition and stores. They continued
to have sharp battles, and to make brave assaults, till the end of
_Sheval_; and the _Arab_ tower being the occasion of much molestation
to the troops, orders were given to attack it. In doing this, although
they succeeded in passing the trench, and raised their flag on the
walls and towers, yet the enemy bore down and repelled them; and
Bâli Beg, the beg of Seké, and Ali Beg, the beg of Avlona, fell as
martyrs. As they could not thus effect any thing, they began, with the
approbation of the experienced among them to raise a mound, and after
five months of continued warfare they raised it to a level with the
walls. The infidels within the castle, helpless and confounded, and
not being able to screen themselves from the cannons and muskets, on
the fifth of Seffer 929, they surrendered the fortress. Its governor,
Mighali Masturi,[20] was permitted to go out, and accordingly he went
over to Malta. The islands subject to Rhodes, such as Takhtalu, Londas,
Istanco, and Bodrum, being also subdued and all necessary arrangements
completed, the victorious emperor, on the fourteenth of the same month,
with honor and dignity proceeded to Mantesha, whence by hasty marches
he returned to the capital.
THE EXPEDITION OF SALMAN REIS.
Before this period the Ottoman Sultans had not sent their victorious
arms to the Indian Ocean. In the year 932, (A. D. 1525,) the Sultan
Soleiman appointed the Corsair Salman Reis a capudan and commander, and
sent him with twenty galleys to that quarter. He proceeded along
the coasts of Aden and Yemen, and plundered the habitations of the
rebellious and such as were not well affected to the Porte; in
consequence of which, the sheikhs and Arabs of those districts came
out to him with numerous presents, offered their services, and bound
themselves to transmit their taxes.
THE EXPEDITION OF KEMAN-KESH.
About this time the office of capudan was held by Keman-Kesh Ahmed
Beg, who in 940 sailed with eighty galleys, on an expedition to the
Mediterranean, and having pillaged several of the infidels coasts,
returned and was employed in the royal arsenal. This capudan was famous
for his great strength, for he could hold an enraged ram with one hand.
He was also a good archer.[21] He held the office of capudan till the
arrival of Khair-ad-din Pasha from Algiers, about which time he died.