The History of the Maritime Wars of the Turks. Chapters I. to IV.Kâtip Çelebi
History
The History of the Maritime Wars of the Turks. Chapters I. to IV.
Kâtip Çelebi
Turkey -- History -- 1453-1683; Turkey -- History, Naval
The territory of Kafa, lying on the shores of the Black Sea, having for
many ages been in the possession of the Genoese, the Turkish and Tartar
princes, though united by their proximity to each other, had never,
as yet, on account of its strong fortifications, been able to reduce
it. In 880 (A. D. 1475), the victorious sultan Mohammed Khan, having
resolved upon its subjugation, gave orders to Keduk Ahmed Pasha to
prepare the fleet. The pasha immediately collected a number of galleys,
triremes, &c., amounting in all to three hundred vessels, and having
prepared his Janissaries and Azabs,[6] kissed his hand, and according
to custom bowed to the princes and nobles; after which he left the
divan, went down to the harbour and embarked. With favourable winds
he arrived in a short time on the shores of Kafa, where he landed and
laid siege to the castle.[7] The Christians not daring to stand against
the arms of the Faithful, delivered up the castle with stipulations,
and left it. The castle being taken, they proceeded to subjugate
its dependencies; and Azak, which is the boundary of the Sakalaba
kingdoms,[8] being also reduced, by proper management they subjugated
all the disaffected. The people of Kafa had their rights restored to
them, and the place became subject to the Ottoman power. The date of
this victory was called _A Favour_.[9]
THE EXPEDITION TO PUGLIA.
Keduk Ahmed Pasha, having been dismissed from the office of grand
vezier and imprisoned, was by some circumstance brought before the
Sultan Mohammed Khan on his return from an expedition to Eskenderia.
On this occasion the Sultan was pleased to bestow the _sanjak_ of
Avlona on the pasha. In 884 he came to court, and having represented
the facility with which Puglia, a district of Italy opposite Avlona,
might be conquered, he petitioned for forces, and accordingly orders
were issued to prepare a fleet. The necessary provisions were given
him, and having collected a select troop of the bravest men of Roumelia
and Anatolia, and some thousands of janissaries and Azabs, the pasha
sailed for the coast of Puglia. In his first attack he took the castle
of Taranto, and reduced by force of arms several other places in the
neighbourhood, in each of which he stationed troops. But the governor
of Puglia, an infidel called Raika, represented his case to the king
of Spain, who immediately sent assistance to him. Of this the pasha
had information, and Sultan Mohammed Khan[10] dying at that time, he
embarked for the Porte under the pretence of paying his respects to the
new Sultan. In 886 the infidel, having arrived with forty vessels and
an army, retook the whole of the fortresses, and put to the sword most
of the troops that were stationed in them. Elated by this success, he
resolved on overtaking the pasha, and for this purpose pursued him at
sea for some time; but the pasha had reached the Porte in safety.
THE EXPEDITION TO MOTA.
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