to 1389.

to 791.

J.C.1387, his father, John Paleologus, who replied, that not Heg. 789, only he should not fend him any troops, but even, that, if he appeared before Conftantinople, the gates fhould be shut against him. Manuel haftened to make ufe of his only remaining refource: on receiving this answer from the emperor his father, he furrendered Theffalonica to the Turkish general, and going himself to Adrianople, he prefented himself as a fuppliant before the fultan, who, after a fevere reprimand, willingly pardoned Manuel the occafion that he had given him to take Theffalonica without ftriking a blow.

The emperor Pale

into the

Weft.

Paleologus, penetrated with shame and grief, ologus goes left the government of his dominions to his fons, to go and entreat fuccours of the Chriftian princes of the Weft against the barbarians. He defigned to abjure the Greek fchifm at the feet of the catholic chief. Pope Urban V. loaded him with prayers and benedictions; but that was all. He advised him to feek fuccours in the courts of the other Christian princes. The emperor began with France. Charles V. who fo justly merited. the furname of Wife, received Paleologus with honor; but he was too much engaged against his real enemies to feek others fo diftant from his frontiers. The French king refufed the Greek emperor forces which he could better employ elsewhere; and the latter, difcouraged by this refufal, made no other effort. In returning through Italy, he was arrefted at Venice for debts

that

to 791.

that he had contracted there, and which his fons J.C.1387, to 1389. did not pay 'till fome time after, with the fubfi- Heg. 789, dies that they were obliged to gather from the fubjects of the empire. After this humiliation, Paleologus returned to his dominions, bringing with him, as the fole fruit of this painful journey, the pope's benediction, and the liberty of having mafs faid by a Ròmish priest, on a portable altar which the fovereign pontiff had given him.

makes-fe

quefts,both

and arms.

into Eu

rope, enga

my of con

and is kill

ving gained

Whilft Paleologus was making vain efforts to Amurath repair the misfortunes of his empire, Amurath veral confecured and extended his. His policy ferved him by alliances as much as his arms. An alliance, and fome ne- He retur gociations, procured him two Muffulman ftates in Afia. The emir Ierman Ogli gave his daugh- ges an ar ter to Bajazet, Amurath's fecond fon, and his federates, fucceffor on the throne, for Contufus was heard ed, after ha no more of after the putting out of his eyes. the victory. This princess had for portion three towns, fituated in the Upper Phrygia, contiguous to the dominions of Amurath, namely: Cutaia, Agrigos, and Touchanlik. Soon after, the fultan made 'a ftill more important conqueft, which he owed only to his address and acquired reputation. Ahmiḍ Ogli, emir of a province, to which he had given his name, zealous for the advancement of the Muffulman faith, fancied that he ought to refign his dominions to the envoy of God; he voluntarily made himself tributary to the fultan Amurath, and, dying without children, the province

J.C.1387, of Ahmida was indiffolubly united to the Turkish

to 1380.

Heg. 789, empire.

to 791.

J.C. 1389.

Amidst all these fucceffes, Amurath learned Heg. 791. that Karatine, whom he had left in Europe at the head of the janifssaries and spahis, had reduced almost all Albania. The prodigious number of women and children that were fent across the straits of Gallipoli to repeople Afia, convinced this prince of the folidity of his conquefts. In order to oppose the progrefs of the Ottomans, Lazarus, prince of Servia, had formed an army of Walachians, Hungarians, Dalmatians, Triballians, and those Albanians that had not been subjugated. Amurath repaffed the fea, and, without lofs of time, placed himself at the head of his troops; he met the confederates in the plains of Caffovia, and voluntarily accepted battle, which they had the affurance to offer him. The conflict was terrible on both fides; the janiffaries gave proofs of that courage and difcipline on which Amurath had counted: the spahis, armed with long lances adorned with streamers, made great flaughter of the Hungarian cavalry, who, not being covered with defenfive arms, feemed to prefent themselves to the strokes of the vanquisher. At length victory declared for the Turks; which when thought certain, Amurath alighted from his horfe, and walked on the field of battle. He remarked, with astonishment, that most of the dead bodies of the enemy were young men without beards.

Karatine,

Heg. 791.

Karatine, his general of the army, replied to him J.C. 1389.
on this occafion, that it could not be expected
any others than rafh young men would risk them-
felves against the fwords of Muffulmen. Whilft
he was yet fpeaking, a wounded Albanian, who
was biting the ground near them, collected all
his force, or rather all his rage, to ftrike at the
fultan, whom he knew by the magnificence of his
arms, and the profound refpect paid him by his
followers. The wretch was hacked in pieces on
the spot, and the emperor died about two hours
after, in the middle of his chiefs, who fincerely
curfed this bloody victory.

Amurath lived feventy-one years, of which he
reigned thirty. He contributed, as much as his
predeceffors, to the elevation and splendor of the
Ottoman empire. This prince was equally feared
by his enemies and fubjects: his extreme feverity
had introduced admirable order, both into his
army and the administration of juftice. The re-
fpect too which Amurath affected for religion,
did not a little contribute to make him respected
in his turn. This prince never undertook any
thing important, without having implored aloud
the fuccour of Heaven. One day, Amurath was
befieging Bolina or Appollonia, a town of Thrace,
regarded as impregnable. After feveral useless
affaults and much blood fpilt, the fultan fell on
his knees, and befeeched God to manifeft his
power and the truth of Mahomet's worship;

Heg. 791.

J.C.1389. which he had no fooner done, than the janiffaries recommenced the affault, and carried the place : this fuccefs ftill paffes for a miracle among the Turks. Moreover, Amurath fignalized his zeal by feveral useful establishments; he founded, in almost every large town which he defolated, medreffes or public schools, and imarets or hofpitals. He was embalmed and carried to Burfa, where the princes of the reigning family had thus far been interred. Bajazet, his fon, honored him with a magnificent tomb.

J.C. 1389,

to 1401. Heg., 791, to 804.

BAJA ZET I.

FOURTH REIGN.

AMURATH was no fooner dead, than the

foldiers proclaimed Bajazet, his eldest fon, emperor. Iacub Thelebi, Amurath's fecond fon, attempted to make himself a party in the army; but his revolt was foon punished, and he himself ftrangled, before the new emperor had thought, even of the obfequies of his father. Lazarus, defpot of Servia, the author of the war, and who had been taken prifoner in the last battle, was likewife facrificed to the manes of the old emperor. He was beheaded before the dead body of that prince. Bajazet, in the very beginning

of