DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.25694#0120
MAHOMET IV.
NINETEENTH EMPEROR OF THE TURKS.
1649-1687.
W hen Ibrahim was deposed, his son Mahomet was only seven years of age; and the affairs of
government were conducted by his mother, assisted by a council of twelve Bashaws, during his
minority. As Mahomet grew towards manhood, he exhibited none of those qualities of mind by
which his subjects were encouraged to hope for a glorious reign: seldom residing at Constantinople,
and rendering himself otherwise unpopular by his immoderate love of hunting. The public atten-
tion was at length drawn on him in consequence of the death of the great Vizier, Kuperlee, whose
shining talents and extensive influence had been successfully employed, not only in restraining the
ungovernable and seditious conduct of the army, but in repressing the spirit of discontent which
displayed itself among the people, in consequence of the Sultan’s inattention to public affairs.
While the Sultan’s time was devoted to amusement, little was done either in advancing the repu-
tation, or extending the bounds, of the Empire; and the Turks concluded an inglorious peace
with the Emperor of Germany, after many actions had been fought with various success.
It was, at length, determined to prosecute the Cretan war with vigour; and so desolating a cha-
racter did it assume, that the Turks expelled all the inhabitants from the places of which they
became possessed. The fortress of Candia alone had resisted all their efforts for many years. It
was so fortified by nature, and strengthened by art, and the Venetians were so inspired with hatred
for the Turks, that it endured one of the most furious, lasting, and destructive sieges recorded in
the annals of history. Torrents of blood had already been spilt, and the history of no country fur-
nishes such examples of enthusiastic bravery on the one side, or of persevering zeal and rashness on
the other. It surrendered, finally, by capitulation, after a resistance of twenty-five years! This
conquest tended to remove the gloom which hung over the affairs of Mahomet. The messenger who
brought the news, found him hunting in the woods of Negropont; but the unexpected success of his
arms had the effect of alienating him from a favourite and idle pursuit, through which he had, in
a great measure, lost the confidence of his subjects.
About this time a body of Cossacks put themselves under the protection of the Turks. These
savage people were originally Polish outlaws, and took their residence on the frontiers of the
kingdom : by degrees they formed a commonwealth of their own, and have, at different periods,
been subject to the Poles, Russians, and Turks ; and each of these powers has found them useful
in their national wars. To protect his new allies from the oppression of Poland, the Turkish
Emperor led a powerful army into that sountry, and laid siege to Cameniec. It is surrounded by
a rapid torrent, whose banks being full of craggy rocks, form a bulwark to the city, which is also
defended by a strong castle. The Poles were the less dismayed at the Sultan’s approach, when,
instead of advancing, he directed his operations against this fortress, because they believed that it
would bid defiance to all his efforts. Yet, in ten days, the massive walls were levelled to the ground,
and the surrender of the city filled Poland with consternation. To stop the further progress of the
Turkish army, the King of Poland was reduced to the necessity of making peace on such hard
terms as the Turks chose to impose. It appeared afterwards, by the States refusing to ratify the con-
ditions of peace, that the Sultan was indebted for his successes to the dissensions which prevailed
in Poland; and when, in the following year, Mahomet led his army into that country to enforce
compliance, he found the Poles had settled their differences, and were in great force, and eager to
give him battle. Both armies were animated with the hope of victory; the Poles, led on by the
warlike Sobieski, were desirous of wiping off the disgrace they had suffered in the last campaign;
NINETEENTH EMPEROR OF THE TURKS.
1649-1687.
W hen Ibrahim was deposed, his son Mahomet was only seven years of age; and the affairs of
government were conducted by his mother, assisted by a council of twelve Bashaws, during his
minority. As Mahomet grew towards manhood, he exhibited none of those qualities of mind by
which his subjects were encouraged to hope for a glorious reign: seldom residing at Constantinople,
and rendering himself otherwise unpopular by his immoderate love of hunting. The public atten-
tion was at length drawn on him in consequence of the death of the great Vizier, Kuperlee, whose
shining talents and extensive influence had been successfully employed, not only in restraining the
ungovernable and seditious conduct of the army, but in repressing the spirit of discontent which
displayed itself among the people, in consequence of the Sultan’s inattention to public affairs.
While the Sultan’s time was devoted to amusement, little was done either in advancing the repu-
tation, or extending the bounds, of the Empire; and the Turks concluded an inglorious peace
with the Emperor of Germany, after many actions had been fought with various success.
It was, at length, determined to prosecute the Cretan war with vigour; and so desolating a cha-
racter did it assume, that the Turks expelled all the inhabitants from the places of which they
became possessed. The fortress of Candia alone had resisted all their efforts for many years. It
was so fortified by nature, and strengthened by art, and the Venetians were so inspired with hatred
for the Turks, that it endured one of the most furious, lasting, and destructive sieges recorded in
the annals of history. Torrents of blood had already been spilt, and the history of no country fur-
nishes such examples of enthusiastic bravery on the one side, or of persevering zeal and rashness on
the other. It surrendered, finally, by capitulation, after a resistance of twenty-five years! This
conquest tended to remove the gloom which hung over the affairs of Mahomet. The messenger who
brought the news, found him hunting in the woods of Negropont; but the unexpected success of his
arms had the effect of alienating him from a favourite and idle pursuit, through which he had, in
a great measure, lost the confidence of his subjects.
About this time a body of Cossacks put themselves under the protection of the Turks. These
savage people were originally Polish outlaws, and took their residence on the frontiers of the
kingdom : by degrees they formed a commonwealth of their own, and have, at different periods,
been subject to the Poles, Russians, and Turks ; and each of these powers has found them useful
in their national wars. To protect his new allies from the oppression of Poland, the Turkish
Emperor led a powerful army into that sountry, and laid siege to Cameniec. It is surrounded by
a rapid torrent, whose banks being full of craggy rocks, form a bulwark to the city, which is also
defended by a strong castle. The Poles were the less dismayed at the Sultan’s approach, when,
instead of advancing, he directed his operations against this fortress, because they believed that it
would bid defiance to all his efforts. Yet, in ten days, the massive walls were levelled to the ground,
and the surrender of the city filled Poland with consternation. To stop the further progress of the
Turkish army, the King of Poland was reduced to the necessity of making peace on such hard
terms as the Turks chose to impose. It appeared afterwards, by the States refusing to ratify the con-
ditions of peace, that the Sultan was indebted for his successes to the dissensions which prevailed
in Poland; and when, in the following year, Mahomet led his army into that country to enforce
compliance, he found the Poles had settled their differences, and were in great force, and eager to
give him battle. Both armies were animated with the hope of victory; the Poles, led on by the
warlike Sobieski, were desirous of wiping off the disgrace they had suffered in the last campaign;