J.C.1387, his father, John Paleologus, who replied, that not

to 1389.

Heg. 789, only he fhould not fend him any troops, but even,

to 791.

The em

peror Pale

into the

Weft.

that, if he appeared before Conftantinople, the gates fhould be fhut 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 striking a blow.

Paleologus, penetrated with shame and grief, ologus goes left the government of his dominions to his fons, to go and entreat fuccours of the Christian princes of the West 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 distant from his frontiers. The French king refused 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 arrested at Venice for debts

that

to 1389.

to 791.

that he had contracted there, and which his fons J.C.1387, 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, Paléologus 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 Romish priest, on a portable altar which the fovereign pontiff had given him.

makes fe

quefts,both

and arms.

into Eu

rope, enga

s an ar federates,

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 returns gociations, procured him two Muffulman ftates in Afia. The emir Ierman Ogli gave his daughter to Bajazet, Amurath's fecond fon, and his fucceffor on the throne, for Contufus was heard ed, after ha no more of after the putting out of his eyes, the victory. This princefs 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 still more important conqueft, which he owed only to his addrefs and acquired reputation. Ahmid 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 1389.7

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 janiffaries and spahis, had reduced almoft 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 progress of the Ottomans, Lazarus, prince of Servia, had formed an army of Walachians, Hungarians, Dalmatians, Triballians, and those Albanians that had not been fubjugated. 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 fpahis, armed with long lances adorned with ftreamers, made great flaughter of the Hungarian cavalry, who, not being covered with defenfive arms, feemed to prefent themfelves to the strokes of the vanquisher. At length victory declared for the Turks; which when thought certain, Amurath alighted from his horse, 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.

Karatinę,

Heg. 791.

Karatine, his general of the army, replied to him J.C. 1389. on this occasion, that it could not be expected any others than rafh young men would risk themfelves against the fwords of Muffulmen. Whilst 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 sultan, 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 seventy-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 subjects: his extreme feverity had introduced admirable order, both into his army and the administration of juftice. The refpect too which Amurath affected for religion, did not a little contribute to make him refpected 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 ufelefs 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;

F2

which

Heg. 791.

J.C. 1389. which he had no fooner done, than the janiffaries. recommenced the affault, and carried the place: this fuccefs still paffes for a miracle among the Turks. Moreover, Amurath fignalized his zeal by several 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.

BAJAZE T I.

FOURTH REIGN.

AMURATH was no fooner dead, than the

foldiers proclaimed Bajazet, his eldest son, 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 em-. peror. He was beheaded before the dead body of that prince. Bajazet, in the very beginning

of