Annals of the Turkish Empire, from 1591 to 1659Naima, Mustafa
History
Annals of the Turkish Empire, from 1591 to 1659
Naima, Mustafa
Turkey -- History -- 1453-1683
The heretical sháh, in addition to all the other enormities he and
his despicable soldiery committed, violated also the chastity of the
females of Tabríz, without ceremony and without compunction.
After Tabríz had fallen into the hands of these heretics, its
inhabitants robbed and made slaves, and the women ravished, the sháh
turned his thoughts towards vanquishing other cities, and accordingly
sent off troops in all directions. The sháh himself determined on the
reduction of Nakhcheván, and therefore made every preparation for
the attempt. Two days were spent in the plains of Tabríz in making
them, during which time the heretics enjoyed themselves in eating and
drinking.
One of those detachments sent out by the sháh was headed by a vile
person of the name of Kesáb Hájí, a noted heretic of Urdúbád, his
native city, and famous from ancient times for its heresy and atheism.
When the Osmánlís first conquered this city, for it was at the time we
are speaking of under the Ottoman dominion, it was wonderfully raised
and exalted by means of the self-evident and convincing doctrines of
the Koran, which were introduced amongst its inhabitants; but the
wicked people, notwithstanding, turned again to their beloved heresy.
Kesáb Hájí, with the troops committed to his charge, marched upon this
city. His thorough acquaintance with the people, and his knowledge of
the country round about, pointed him out as the most fit person for
the undertaking. When this corrupted fellow, and his no less corrupted
soldiery had crossed the river near Urdúbád, and appeared before the
walls of the city, the hypocritical and disaffected inhabitants came
forth to meet them with demonstrations of joy, and hastened to show
them all the honour and respect they were able. As a proof of the
sincerity of their joy they garnished their houses and streets, shaved
their under-beard, and changed the make of their garments. In this way,
and by these means, the city of Urdúbád, or otherwise called Sawed
Kallah, was taken.
For a day or two the Ottoman garrison in the fortress showed some
disposition to maintain the place and respect the honour of the sultán;
but the inhabitants of the country came forward to the aid of the
invaders, and with their assistance the walls were thrown down, the
arms of the garrison and also their property, whatever it was, the
conquerors distributed among themselves, and afterwards gave themselves
up to eating and drinking.
Another, of the name of Cherak Sultán, commanded a second of those
companies or cohorts sent out by the heretical sháh, and was ordered to
attack a village called Gelha, which, with the aid of its inhabitants,
he took without opposition. Mustafa Aghá, who had been sent thither by
the court of Constantinople for the purpose of collecting and managing
grain and fruit, with difficulty escaped with his head.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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