DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.25694#0056
38
AMURATH II.
the torpor into which he had fallen; and before the King of Hungary had made progress, the
Sultan was prepared with an army to repel the invaders. The Hungarians wrere dismayed at the
unexpected news; but the Pope’s legate, with many bishops and churchmen, seemed to restore a
degree of confidence, which was further increased by Huniades being created general in chief.
The armies met near the city of Varna in Moldavia; where a long and sanguinary battle took place.
Amurath’s men appearing to give way, he rode from rank to rank to cheer them by his example;
and seeing the crucifix on the ensigns of the Christians, he plucked the paper from his bosom on
which the treaty was attested, and imprecated the vengeance of Christ on their heads for their breach
of faith. The enthusiasm of the Sultan soon re-animated the Turkish ranks; the battle was re-
stored, and the King of Hungary, in a bold attempt to reach the person of Amurath, lost his life.
The Christians dismayed by his death, now fled in every direction, leaving the Turks in possession
of a dearly purchased victory. Amurath withdrew from the field of Varna to fast and pray with
his Magnesian brethren ; but an insurrection ofthejanissaries, in a short time rendering Adrianople
the scene of rapine and slaughter, he was again drawn from his retirement; and tranquillity was
restored.
Having resumed the reins of government, he was not long suffered to remain inactive; for some
disputes arising between him and Huniades, the latter, to protect Hungary, advanced with an army
to the frontiers of the Turkish dominions. The Emperor suffered the Hungarians to approach, and
to cross the Danube without molestation. An extensive plain in Bulgaria, encompassed by lofty
mountains, was the melancholy scene of slaughter, which completed the triumph of the Sultan over
Huniades. The field was covered with bones for many years after this destructive battle; and at
a long distance of time, when the ground was ploughed, quantities of armour and weapons were
discovered.
The conquest of Sfetigrade in Epirus must reluctantly be added to the triumphs of Amurath, as
it was promoted by treason, and accomplished by superstition. The city of Croya became the scene
of Amurath’s last disappointment, having been foiled in his attempts on it by the talents and su-
perior fortune of Scanderberg. This repulse, together with the ingratitude of his rival, tended to
embitter the last days of the warlike Sultan; and he died in the eighty-fifth year of his age, and
thirtieth of his reign.
With some allowance for the feelings of a warrior, the general character of Amurath has a fair
claim to our admiration. His love of justice and moderation has been the theme of praise with all
Turkish writers ; and the memoirs of his reign, extant in the Byzantine historians, will ever remain
a reproach on the conduct of the Christians ; who, while professing admiration for the qualities
of the Ottoman Emperor, did not find in his character a model for their own. Although his youth
had been devoted to martial exercises, he seldom engaged in wars without having received some pro-
vocation ; and the victorious Sultan was easily soothed, by submission, to acts of clemency and for-
giveness. The rebellion of Scanderberg is but imperfectly justified by his father’s wrongs; and
the stigma of traitor and apostate will attach to his memory, and throw a shade over the brightest
actions of his life. It was the fate of Amurath to have for his enemies, two of the greatest generals
of the age; and although alternately foiled by both, and at last almost driven to despair; yet, in
the end, he triumphed over Huniades, his valiant, open, and avowed enemy; while the talent of
the other defied his power, and effected by policy and stratagem only, what he could not achieve
in the field. Could we entirely divest of superstitious weakness the double abdication of Amurath,
we might ascribe to him the singular merit of having added to the glory of a conqueror, the mode-
ration of a philosopher.
The Vignette represents Amurath, drawn from his second retirement, quelling an insurrection
of his own troops.
AMURATH II.
the torpor into which he had fallen; and before the King of Hungary had made progress, the
Sultan was prepared with an army to repel the invaders. The Hungarians wrere dismayed at the
unexpected news; but the Pope’s legate, with many bishops and churchmen, seemed to restore a
degree of confidence, which was further increased by Huniades being created general in chief.
The armies met near the city of Varna in Moldavia; where a long and sanguinary battle took place.
Amurath’s men appearing to give way, he rode from rank to rank to cheer them by his example;
and seeing the crucifix on the ensigns of the Christians, he plucked the paper from his bosom on
which the treaty was attested, and imprecated the vengeance of Christ on their heads for their breach
of faith. The enthusiasm of the Sultan soon re-animated the Turkish ranks; the battle was re-
stored, and the King of Hungary, in a bold attempt to reach the person of Amurath, lost his life.
The Christians dismayed by his death, now fled in every direction, leaving the Turks in possession
of a dearly purchased victory. Amurath withdrew from the field of Varna to fast and pray with
his Magnesian brethren ; but an insurrection ofthejanissaries, in a short time rendering Adrianople
the scene of rapine and slaughter, he was again drawn from his retirement; and tranquillity was
restored.
Having resumed the reins of government, he was not long suffered to remain inactive; for some
disputes arising between him and Huniades, the latter, to protect Hungary, advanced with an army
to the frontiers of the Turkish dominions. The Emperor suffered the Hungarians to approach, and
to cross the Danube without molestation. An extensive plain in Bulgaria, encompassed by lofty
mountains, was the melancholy scene of slaughter, which completed the triumph of the Sultan over
Huniades. The field was covered with bones for many years after this destructive battle; and at
a long distance of time, when the ground was ploughed, quantities of armour and weapons were
discovered.
The conquest of Sfetigrade in Epirus must reluctantly be added to the triumphs of Amurath, as
it was promoted by treason, and accomplished by superstition. The city of Croya became the scene
of Amurath’s last disappointment, having been foiled in his attempts on it by the talents and su-
perior fortune of Scanderberg. This repulse, together with the ingratitude of his rival, tended to
embitter the last days of the warlike Sultan; and he died in the eighty-fifth year of his age, and
thirtieth of his reign.
With some allowance for the feelings of a warrior, the general character of Amurath has a fair
claim to our admiration. His love of justice and moderation has been the theme of praise with all
Turkish writers ; and the memoirs of his reign, extant in the Byzantine historians, will ever remain
a reproach on the conduct of the Christians ; who, while professing admiration for the qualities
of the Ottoman Emperor, did not find in his character a model for their own. Although his youth
had been devoted to martial exercises, he seldom engaged in wars without having received some pro-
vocation ; and the victorious Sultan was easily soothed, by submission, to acts of clemency and for-
giveness. The rebellion of Scanderberg is but imperfectly justified by his father’s wrongs; and
the stigma of traitor and apostate will attach to his memory, and throw a shade over the brightest
actions of his life. It was the fate of Amurath to have for his enemies, two of the greatest generals
of the age; and although alternately foiled by both, and at last almost driven to despair; yet, in
the end, he triumphed over Huniades, his valiant, open, and avowed enemy; while the talent of
the other defied his power, and effected by policy and stratagem only, what he could not achieve
in the field. Could we entirely divest of superstitious weakness the double abdication of Amurath,
we might ascribe to him the singular merit of having added to the glory of a conqueror, the mode-
ration of a philosopher.
The Vignette represents Amurath, drawn from his second retirement, quelling an insurrection
of his own troops.