Narrative of Travels in Europe, Asia, and Africa, in the Seventeenth Century, Vol. IEvliya Çelebi
History
Narrative of Travels in Europe, Asia, and Africa, in the Seventeenth Century, Vol. I
Evliya Çelebi
Caucasus, South -- Description and travel; Istanbul (Turkey) -- Description and travel; Turkey -- History
according to the wish he had himself expressed. Tímúr then set out
on his return, and left the field open for Chelebí Sultán Mohammed
to succeed his father Yildirim. He immediately pursued the conqueror
with 70,000 men, and overtaking him at Tashák-óvá-sí, smote his army
with such a Mohammedan cleaver, that his own men sheltered themselves
from the heat of the sun under awnings made of the hides of the slain,
whence that plain received the ludicrous name by which it is still
known. But, by God’s will, Yildirim died that very night of a burning
fever, in the cage in which he was confined. His son Mohammed Chelebí,
eager to avenge his father, continued to drive Tímúr forwards, till
he reached the castle of Tókát, where he left him closely besieged.
He then returned victorious, carrying the illustrious corpse of his
father to Brúsah, where it was buried in an oratory in the court before
his own mosque. His brothers ’Ísá and Músá disputed his right to the
empire; but Mohammed, supported by the people of Rúm, was proclaimed
khalífah at Edreneh (Adrianople), where he remained and finished the
mosque begun by his father. On hearing of these contentions for the
empire, the king (tekkúr) of Islámból danced for joy. He sent round
cryers to make proclamation that, on pain of death, not a Muselmán
should remain in the city of Kostantín, allowing only a single day
for their removal: and he destroyed a great number of them in their
flight to Tekirtágh (Rodostó) and Edreneh (Adrianople). The empire,
after the demise of Chelebí Mohammed, was held first by Murád II.,
and then by Mohammed (II.) the conqueror, who during his father’s
lifetime was governor (hákim) of Maghnísá (Magnesia), and spent his
time there in studying history, and in conversing with those excellent
men ’Ak-Shemsu-d-dín, Karah-Shemsu-d-dín, and Sívásí, from whom he
acquired a perfect knowledge of the commentaries on the Korán and the
sacred traditions (hadís). While he was at Maghnísá, having heard that
the infidels from Fránsah (France) had landed at ’Akkah (Acri), the
port of Jerusalem, on the shore of the White Sea, and in the dominions
of Keláún, Sultán of Egypt, and taken possession of ’Askelán and
other towns, from which they had carried off much plunder and many
prisoners to their own country, he was so much grieved at the thoughts
of thousands of Muselmáns being carried into captivity, that he shed
tears. “Weep not, my Emperor,” said Ak-shemsu-d-dín, “for on the day
that thou shalt conquer Islámból, thou shalt eat of the spoils and
sweetmeats taken by the unbelievers from the castle of ’Akkah: but
remember on that day to be to the faithful an acceptable judge as well
as victor (_kúzí ve-ghází rází_), doing justice to all the victorious
Moslims.” At the same time taking off the shawl twisted round his
Turban, he placed it on Mohammed’s head, and announced the glad tidings
of his being the future conqueror of Islámból. They then read the
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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