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
of Gallipoli was given to him, and to this district he immediately
proceeded.
THE EXPEDITION TO AVLONA.
In the year 889 the Sultan Bayezid Khan, having sent forward his fleet
by the Black sea and proceeded thither himself by land, completely
reduced Kili[13] and Ak-Kerman. In 897 the beg of Semendreh sent
information that the king of Hungary being dead, the governor of
Belgrade had promised allegiance to the Sultan. In consequence of this
message his majesty directed his course to that quarter; but fearing
it might only be a false promise, and that he might not return empty
handed, he gave orders to Gubegu Senan Pasha to sail for Avlona with
three hundred vessels; so that in case he should not succeed in the
capture of Belgrade, he might as it were turn his forces to that
quarter, and plunder the Arnaout shores. When the preparations for the
expedition were completed, and his majesty was marching towards Sofia,
the new king sent an apology and asked forgiveness: he therefore turned
towards the Arnaout shores, and passed on by Monaster to Dipa-diln,
whilst Davud Pasha laid waste a great part of that district and
returned. The fleet also attacked several places along the coasts, and
plundered the rebels.
THE EXPEDITION TO LEPANTO.
The Sultan Bayezid Khan, contemplating an expedition in order to subdue
the districts of the Morea and Enabekht (Lepanto), began about this
time to build large ships. He appointed Davud Pasha, then a capudan,
his serasker (commander-in-chief). He built two immense _kokas_, the
length of each being seventy cubits and the breadth thirty cubits. The
masts were of several trees joined together, and in the middle measured
four cubits in circumference. The maintop was capable of holding forty
men in armour, who might thence discharge their arrows and muskets. The
builders and other labourers employed were servants of the Sultan; and
the building materials being all the productions of the Ottoman empire,
were valued at twenty thousand florins. According to the statements of
several respectable historians, the builder of these vessels was one
Iani, who having seen ship-building at Venice, had there learned the
art. These vessels had two decks, the one like that of a galleon,
and the other like that of a _mavuna_ (_trireme_); and on the side
of each of these, according to custom, were two port-holes, in which
immense guns were placed. Along the upper deck was a netting, under
which on both sides were four-and-twenty oars, each pulled by nine
men. The sterns were like those of a galleon, and from them boats were
suspended. Each of these ships contained two thousand soldiers and
sailors. The command of the one was given to Kemal Reis, and that of
the other to Brak Reis. The whole fleet consisted of three hundred
vessels of various sorts; and these being filled with the most intrepid
warriors, were sent towards Enabekht. The illustrious Emperor also,
about the end of the month Sheval, in the year 904, (A.D. 1498,)
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