The very greatness and unity of the Ruling Institution as an army was not without serious disadvantages. The power could not wisely be delegated, and the army could not effectively be divided. At the opening of the campaign of 1529 Suleiman issued to Ibrahim a commission as _Seraskier_, or general of the army, which placed the Ruling Institution, the Moslem Institution, the Ottoman nation and all the subject nations under his command. The Sultan’s order ran as follows: “My Viziers, _Beylerbeys_, Judges of the Army, Jurists, Judges, _Seids_, _Sheiks_, Dignitaries of the Court and Supports of the Empire, _Sanjak Beys_, Generals of Cavalry or of Infantry, _Alai Beys_, _Subashis_, _Cheribashis_, and all the victorious Soldiery great and small, high and low, the Officials and Appointees, all inhabitants of My kingdoms and lands, the people of city and country, rich and poor, distinguished and ordinary, and all men are to recognize My above-named Grand Vizier as _Seraskier_ ... and to consider all that he says and desires as a command from My own mouth....”[388] This was a delegation of the supreme command of the army and all the human military resources of the empire to Ibrahim. Since Suleiman himself went on this campaign, the supreme command was not then exercised apart from the sultan’s presence. Four years later, however, Ibrahim, clothed with the same authority, was sent ahead to open the Persian campaign. On the return march he added the title of Sultan to that of _Seraskier_ in issuing his daily orders.[389] Perhaps he felt like Pepin the Short, that he who had the power of king should also bear the name. But Suleiman was no _roi fainéant_; Ibrahim had gone too far, the empire could have but one head, and Ibrahim suffered the bow-string.[390] Suleiman profited by the experience; he appointed no more _Seraskiers_ with such exalted powers, but himself led the army when it was assembled as a whole. The campaign of Szigeth was the thirteenth which he directed in person.[391] The precedent of delegating the supreme command was, however, a fatal one; for Selim the Sot and all his successors were to use this method to avoid the exertion of campaigning, and from this step was to date the beginning of the empire’s downfall.[392] “This so constituted organization had need of two things: it needed for its animation a man filled himself with a vivid spirit and free and mighty impulses, and to give it movement and activity it required continual campaigns and progressive conquests; in a word, war and a warlike chief.”[393] When another than the sultan should become head of the Ruling Institution as visibly assembled, and yet be only an official removable at a cloistered monarch’s caprice, the army would lose the keystone of its organization, and ere long victory would depart from its banners. INDIVISIBILITY OF THE ARMY