Ibrahim Pasha: Grand Vizir of Suleiman the Magnificent

FOOTNOTES:

Hester Donaldson Jenkins

1 LÉon Cahun. L’Introduction de l’Histoire de l’Asie Centrale, Les Turcs et les Mongols (Paris, 1896), chap. i.

2 Koudakou Bilik, 1068. Trans. by VambÉry, quoted by Cahun.

3 Bey is a military title, corresponding approximately to colonel or perhaps to a higher title in the eleventh century.

4 This judgment is the result of personal observation, supported by statements of M. Cahun and others.

5 Othman or Osman, who gave his name to the Ottoman State.

6 Th. Noldecke, “Geschichte Suleimans des Ersten,” in Zeitschrift der Deutschen MorgenlÄndischen Gesellschaft, vol. xii, 1858, p. 220.

7 I Diarii di Marini Sanuto, vol. xxxv, p. 258 (published Venice, 1879).

Relazioni degli Ambasciatori Veneti, ed. by AlbÈri, Series III, vol. iii. Report of Pietro Zen, 1524, p. 95.

Solakzadeh, Tarih Osmanieh (Constantinople, 1297, A. H.).

M. Baudier, The History of the Imperial Estate of the Grand Seigneurs (1635, trans. by Grimeston), p. 171.

Parga, a village on the coast of Greece, opposite Corfu, under Venetian domination in the sixteenth century.

8 He himself told the embassador Zara in 1532 that he was born the same week as Suleiman. Cf. Urkunden und ActenstÜcke zur Geschichte der VerhÄltnisse zwischen Oesterreich, Ungarn, und der Pforte im XVI und XVII Jahrhunderte. Aus Archiven und Bibliotheken, Anton von GÉvay (Wien, 1840).

9 Ibid., also Pietro Zen, op. cit.

10 “Suonava a perfezione il violino.” AlbÈri, III, 3, p. 95, Pietro Zen.

11 Baudier tells the latter story, Pietro Zen the former. Guillaume Postel (Poitiers, 1560) gives a slightly different version. He says that Ibrahim was captured for a soldier in Selim’s reign and sold to Iskender Chelebi, the treasurer of Anatolia. This is interesting in view of his later relations with Iskender, but is not sustained by other witnesses.

12 AlbÈri, op. cit., p. 116, Marco Minio.

13 Ibid., p. 97. Also Sanuto, vol. xli, p. 527, Piero Bragadino.

14 S. A. S. Demetrius Cantimir, Prince de Moldavie, Histoire de l’Empire Othoman (1743, tr. by de JoncquiÈres), vol. ii, p. 289.

15 Von Hammer, Histoire de l’Empire Ottomane, tr. by J. J. Hellert (Paris, 1836), vol. v, note 23, p. 45.

16 Baudier, op. cit., p. 172.

17 Cf. M. de Mourajea D’Ohsson, Tableau GÉnÉral de l’Empire Ottomane (1787), vol. iii, passim.

18 Sanuto, op. cit., vol. xli, Pietro Bragadino.

19 The word Serai will be used in these pages in the Turkish sense of palace and will refer to a royal palace.

20 Sanuto, op. cit., vol. xli, p. 527, Pietro Bragadino.

21 AlbÈri, III, I, p. 28.

22 Petchevi, Chelebizadeh, Solakzadeh, Abdurrahman Sheref, etc.

23 For instance, the vials of water blessed by the immersion of one end of the mantle of the Prophet, which the sultan ordered distributed to the nobles of the state on the 15th of the month of Ramazan.

24 Caftan, a long, loose-sleeved cloak or robe.

25 D’Ohsson, op. cit., vol. iii, p. 303

26 AlbÈri, III, ii, p. 31.

27 D’Ohsson, op. cit., vol. iii, p. 315.

28 George Young, Corps de Droit Ottoman (1905), vol. ii, p. 166; also D’Ohsson, op. cit., vol. iii, p. 133.

29 “Nach muslimischem Gesetz ist Sklave derjenige welche im Kriege gefangen genommen oder mit Gewalt aus feindlichem Lande fortgefÜhrt worden ist, wenn er zur Zeit seiner Gefangennahme ein UnglÄubiger war.” Robert Roberts, Familien, Sklaven, und Erbenrecht im Koran, p. 42. (Leipzig, 1908.)

30 D’Ohsson, op. cit., vol. iii, p. 35.

31 “And when ye meet those who misbelieve, then strike off their heads until ye have massacred them, and bind fast the bonds.” “Then either a free agent (liberty) or a ransom until the war shall have laid down its burdens.” Koran (Palmer’s translation, vol. ix, of Sacred Books of the East), Surah, XLVII, vs. 4–5.

“The reward of those who make war against God and His Apostle, and strive after violence in the earth, is only that they shall be slaughtered and crucified, or their hands cut off, or their feet on alternate sides, or that they shall be banished from the land, a disgrace for them in this world, and for them in the next a mighty woe, save for those who repent before ye have them in your power.” Ibid., Surah V, vs. 37.

“The spoils are God’s and the Apostles’; fear God and settle it among yourselves.... Fight them then, that there should be no sedition, and that the religion should be wholly God’s; but if they desist (to disbelieve) then God on what they do doth look. But if they turn their backs, then know that God is your Lord ... and know that whenever ye seize anything as a spoil, to God belongs a fifth thereof, and to his Apostle and to kindred and orphans and the poor the wayfarer.” Ibid., Surah VIII, vs. 1, 40–42.

32 D’Ohsson, op. cit., vol. iii, p. 35.

33 D’Ohsson, op. cit., vol. iii, p. 142.

34 Ameer Ali, op. cit., p. 256.

35 “And unto such of your slaves as desire a written instrument allowing them to redeem themselves, or paying a certain sum, write one, if ye know good in them, and give them of the riches of God which he hath given you.” Koran (Sale’s Trans.), Surah XXIV.

Mohammed accepted the institution of slavery, but urged gentleness in dealing with the slave. Muir thus quotes a speech made by Mohammed in his last year at Mina: “And your slaves! See that ye feed them with such food as ye yourselves eat, and clothe them with the stuffs ye wear. And if they commit a fault which ye are not inclined to forgive, then sell them, for they are the servants of the Lord, and not to be tormented.” Muir, Life of Mahomet, p. 458.

Cf. also Syed Ameer Ali, A Critical Examination of the Life and Teaching of Mohammed (London, 1873), chap, xv, p. 257. “The masters were forbidden to exact more work than was just and proper. They were ordered never to address their male and female slaves by that degrading appellation, but by the more affectionate name of ‘my young man’ or ‘my young maid’.”

36 Parliamentary Papers, Slave Trade, 1860, B. P., 130. Quoted by Young, op. cit., vol. ii, note, p. 167.

37 Fatma Alieh Hanum, Les Musulmanes Contemporaines (1894, Paris).

38 Young, op. cit., vol. i, note, p. 167.

39 “There are few Turkish beggars, for they which beg among Christians are set to do servile offices among the Turks. If a slave become lame, his master is bound to support him, yet the veriest cripple among them brings his master some profit.”

We may omit Busbequius’ advocacy of slavery. He continues later: “The Turks in their way do make a huge advantage of slaves; for if an ordinary Turk bring home one or two slaves, whom he has taken as prisoners of war, he accounts he hath made a good campaign of it, and his prize is worth his labor. An ordinary slave is sold among them for 40 to 50 crowns, but if he be young and beautiful and have some skill in some trade also, then they rate him as twice as much. By this you may know how advantageous the Turkish depredations are to them, when many times from one expedition they bring home five or six thousand prisoners.” Ogier Ghiselin de Busbequius, Travels in Turkey, trans. into English, 1774.

40 Snouck Hurgronje makes practically the same statement in his Mekka, vol. ii, p. 19 (Haag, 1889). “Alles in Allem ist der Zustand des muslimischen Sklaven nur formell verschieden von dem der europÄischen Diener und Arbeiter.”

41 Memoirs of the Baron de Tott on The Turk and the Tartars, (trans. from the French, London, 1785), vol. ii, pp. 379–380.

42 D’Ohsson, op. cit., vol. iii, p. 38.

43 M. le Chevalier Ricaut, Tableau de l’empire Ottomane (1709), vol. ii, chap. ii, p. 5.

44 AlbÈri, III, 3, p. 95, note, Pietro Zen.

45 The formula of enfranchisement. D’Ohsson, op. cit., vol. iii, p. 143.

46 AlbÈri, III, 3, p. 95, note, Pietro Zen.

47 Marsigli, Stato Militare dell’ Imperio Ottomano (1732), vol. i.

48 AlbÈri III, i, p. 11. Danielo di Ludovisi.

49 Roum means Roman, from the Roman or Byzantine empire whose territory had largely passed to Turkey.

50 Sandjak is literally banner.

51 Juchereau de Saint Denis, quoted by Ludovisi.

52 Albrecht, Grundriss des osmanischen Staatsrechts, p. 68. Also von Hammer, p. 166.

53 Petchevi, Tarih Osmanieh, vol. i, p. 79.

54 A piastre was about 89 cents in that century.

55 D’Ohsson, op. cit., vol. ii, p. 337.

56 Harem means set apart, sacred, or accursed-taboo, and is a term applied to the women of a Moslem household.

57 Cf. also Cantimir, “Suleiman gave Ibrahim his sister in marriage.” Jorga on the other hand says that Ibrahim married a daughter of Iskender Chelebi, but I have seen no such statement elsewhere, except the following ambiguous statement in Solakzadeh: “Between Iskender and Ibrahim Pasha the relation of father and son existed.” P. 478. Abdurrahman Sheref writes in his Tarih Osmanieh, “Some historians say that Ibrahim was brother-in-law to the Sultan.” Petchevi and the Venetian Baillies Bragadino and Pietro Zen, while giving detailed accounts of the wedding feast say nothing of the bride.

58 For accounts see Petchevi, op. cit., vol. i, pp. 79 et seq.; Solakzadeh, op. cit.; Marini Sanuto, op. cit., vol. 36, pp. 505 et seq., with references passim. Also von Hammer, op. cit., vol. v, pp. 52 et seq., and Cantimir, op. cit.

59 “Ed in quella ne sono distesi molti pavioni, tra li qual quello del Gran signor, uno che fo de Uson Cassan, che fu quello quando l’ebbe la rotta da sultan Machmet, l’altro del signor Sophi, che fu aquistado da sultan Selim, l’altro del sultan Elgauri, conquistado pur per el ditto sultan Selim. Quanto siano di richezza e di magnificentia et bellezza bisogneria con el penello in longo tempo farla, et si haveria fatica per la gran superbia et valuta È in quelli.” Marini Sanuto, op. cit., vol. xxxvi, p. 505.

60 Tutta la terra. Marino Sanuto, op. cit., vol. xxxvi, p. 505.

61 Marino Sanuto, vol. xli, p. 526.

62 Until the introduction of tables from the West, and to this day in certain houses, Turkish meals are served on large trays placed on stools.

63 Von Hammer says that Ali also tells this story, but that the other Turkish historians omit it. Op. cit., vol. v, note, p. 145.

64 Petchevi, Tarih Osmanieh, p. 93.

65 Souheila, in his History of Egypt (Misr), says that Suleiman originally planned to go himself to Egypt, but that the grand vizir said, “If it be the glorious command of the just king, we are sufficient for the service,” whereupon he was appointed chief of the expedition.

66 Petchevi, Sadullah SÄid, and Solakzadeh who was present on the expedition, and following them, Djelalzadeh and Abdurrahman Sheref. As I have been unable to obtain a copy of Djelalzadeh, I am obliged to depend on Von Hammer’s quotations from his history.

67 “In Aleppo and Damascus, with justice and equity he destroyed the standards of revolt raised by villains.” Soleyman Nameh, by Sadullah SÄid Effendi.

“In the province of Aleppo were some who wished redress, from whom he removed oppression and tyranny.” Solakzadeh, op. cit. Cf. also von Hammer, op. cit., vol. v, p. 57.

68 Sadullah SÄid, op. cit.

69 Sadullah SÄid.

70 Sadullah SÄid, Solakzadeh.

71 Solakzadeh.

72 Solakzadeh.

73 Solakzadeh, Petchevi.

74 “By letters from Constantinople we are informed that within a fortnight the Magnifico Ibrahim Pasha was expected from Cairo with a large sum of gold. The Grand Turk has ordered him an honorable reception in a new and unusual form.” The Doge and College to Lorenzo Orio in England, Sept. 18, 1525. Brown’s Calendar of State Papers in Venice, 1520–1526, 1114.

75 Djelalzadeh, translated and quoted by von Hammer.

76 Of course, since July, 1908, the whole idea of the Ottoman state has changed, although the military titles remain; indeed since the reforms of 1836 the above description has only in part held true. These general statements may be understood to refer to Turkey from 1453 to 1836.

77 The ulema were the doctors of sacred law and jurisprudence.

78 This account taken from Solakzadeh, op. cit.

79 Albrecht, W. Grundriss des Osmanischen Staatsrechts (Berlin, 1905), p. 68.

80 Guillaume Postel, La RÉpublique des Turcs, p. 49.

81 Daru, Histoire de Venise, quoted by Zeller, op. cit., note p. 204.

82 CharriÈre, op. cit., vol. i, p. 486.

83 Pietro Zen said Ibrahim had been a Venetian subject. AlbÈri, III, also Bragadino, Marini Sanuto, vol. 41, p. 527, wrote: “Questo bassa È molto amico di la Signoria nostra, homo iusto et savio; ha cassÀ zoie portade dal Cayro oltra il bel presente fece al Signore, come scrisse.”

84 Marini Sanuto, op. cit. passim.

85 AlbÈri, III, i, p. 28.

86 Kogabey, “Abhandlung Über den Verfall des osmanischen StaatsgebÄudes seit Sultan Suleiman dem Grossen.” Trans, by Behrman, Zeitschrift der MorgenlÄndischen Gesellschaft, vol. 15, p. 319.

87 On a peine À representer devant un État descendu À un rang infÉrieur et devenu le jouet de la politique des autres puissances cette action illimitÉe qu’il exerÇait dans les affaires de l’Europe, et qui, À chaque mouvement de cet empire semblait mettre en question l’existence de Christianisme et celle de la sociÉtÉ europÉene tout entiÈre.” E. CharriÈre, NÉgociations de la France dans le Levant (Paris, 1848), vol. iii, Introduction.

88 Noradunghian (Actes Internationaux de l’Empire Ottoman), in his Repertoire Chronologique, records treaties with Ragusa before Suleiman’s accession, and two in 1520, all offering Turkish protection in exchange for tribute.

89 Von Hammer, op. cit., vol. v, p. 20.

90 Quoted by Horatio Brown, Venice, 1893.

91 Turkish proverb.

92 Karamsin, Histoire de Russie, tr. by St. Thomas and Jauffret, 1819–1826, vol. vii, p. 142.

93 D. J. Hill, Hist. of European Diplomacy, ii, p. 346.

94 Hill, op. cit., quotes Contarini to this effect.

95 Cf. Pastor’s Hist. of the Popes, vol. iii, passim.

96 In a circular to his electors, quoted by J. Janssen, History of Germany, vol. ii, p. 276.

97 Noradunghian, op. cit., records two commercial treaties in 1508–1517. Cf. also Marini Sanuto, vol. iii, pp. 79, 117, 132, 180, 286, 453.

98 GÉvay, op. cit., Gesandschaft KÖnigs Ferdinand I am Sultan Suleiman, i, p. 21.

99 Cf. Zinkheisen, op. cit., p. 640; also von Hammer, MÉmoire sur les premiÈres relations diplomatiques entre la France et la Porte, in Journal Asiatique, vol. x, series i, p. 19 et seq.

100 Cf. Report of Lambert and Juritschitz to Ferdinand, 1531, GÉvay op. cit., iii, p. 144.

101 In the report of Lambert and von Zara (GÉvay, vol. iii, p. 44), Ibrahim said: “Darauf sein Kaiser (Suleiman) bewegt worden in Francis nit zu verlassen, und hat alsomit im und den Venedigern ean verstand und puntnus (BÜndniss) gemacht, also das sy ein treffleche ermada auf dem mer aufgericht damit sy gegen yspania arbeiten habenwellen und Erder kaiser solte mit einem trefflichen hoer (Heer) durch E. M. (Ferdinand) Lande in fryaul und forter auf Mayland zogen sein.”

Cf. Solakzadeh, op. cit., trans. by H. D. J. “The king of France had fallen into the desire for possessions and planned to strike the crown of Hungary from the hands of the king of Hungary, and finally there was much fighting among them. After this, with the aid of the king of Spain, Francis was conquered and several forts being captured, he fled. Being reduced to an extremity, he was shut up in a solid fortress. Wishing to have revenge on his enemy, he found no other means than to betake himself to the Padisha of Islam. He sent an ambassador to the most blessed Porte with a most humble letter in which was thus written: ‘If the king of Hungary receives punishment from the blessed Sultan, we will oppose ourselves to the King of Spain to take revenge. We beg and pray that the Sultan of the world will repulse that proud one. After that day we shall be obliged slaves of his Excellency the Padisha, who is master of time and place and mighty emperor.’ To this humble prayer and supplication the Sultan, pitying them, in his merciful glory resolved to make war on this king filled with cruel dispositions, as we shall see.”

102 Zapolya was crowned November, 1526, and Ferdinand was crowned November 3, 1527.

103 Confirmed by a letter from Ferdinand to Cyriacus Freiheer von Polheim and Markus Trautsauerwein, Kanzler of Lower Austria, Prag, Feb. 14, 1527. “Instructio ad Bassam Balibeg,” GÉvay, op. cit., vol. i, pp. 36–7.

104 GÉvay, vol. i, p. 14. Bericht Hobordanacz an Koenig Ferdinand I, Inspruch, 19 Feb’y, 1529.

105 Letters of safe conduct for such envoys by Suleiman and Ibrahim are found in GÉvay, vol. i, pp. 62–64.

106 CharriÈre, op. cit., vol. i, pp. 155–171.

107 Cf. De Testa, Recueil des TraitÉs de la Porte Ottomane avec les Puissances EtrangÈres de 1526 et jusqu’À nos jours (Paris, 1864), vol. i, France, pp. 23–26; for the text of the treaty of Hatti-Sherif, 1528.

108 “Wolte er (Francis) noch so pald sein sach pesser wurd Zu Jerusalem alda er das hailig grab besuchen wollte Zur Ime khomen mit merem anzeigen.” Thus the envoy of Ferdinand in 1531 reports Ibrahim as saying. GÉvay, op. cit., iii, p. 44.

109 Francis’ letter is lost, so we do not know to which church he referred. Suleiman’s answer is found in CharriÈre, op. cit., iii, pp. 129–131. Cf. also Marini Sanuto, vol. xlviii, p. 50.

110 CharriÈre, op. cit., vol. i, p. 129. Ursu, op. cit., pp. 51–2.

111 It is in these letters that may be found the reference that Mr. Duggan, in his Eastern Question, says he failed to discover in the Capitulations of 1535 and 1528, and which he concludes did not exist, hence ascribing an error to D’Ohsson. Cf. the Eastern Question, note p. 25.

112 GÉvay, op. cit., vol. i, p. 49. “Je vous supplie nous tres humblement considere la grande necessitÉ et pauvretÉ ou je suis quil vous plaise ne me habandonner dargent ain men assister comme ien ay entiÈre confidence.”

113 “Instruction auff unseres getrieuen lieben Joseph von Lamberg und Nichola Juritschitz,” etc. GÉvay, iii, 3 et seq.

114 CharriÈre, op. cit., vol. i, p. 207. Cf. Von Hammer, MÉmoire, etc.

115 Menzies, Turkey New and Old, p. 136.

116 Bekanntmachung des Friedens in Krain. GÉvay, op. cit., vol. iii.

117 Ursu, op. cit., p. 86. Relations des Ambassadeurs Venetiens sur les affaires de France au XVI siÈcle. Recueillies et traduites par M. N. Tomasseo (Paris, 1836), Marino Giustiniano, vol. i, p. 55.

118 For text, see de Testa, op. cit., p. 15, et seq.; also Noradunghian, op. cit., vol. i, pp. 83–87; also CharriÈre, op. cit., vol. i, pp. 283–294.

119 Ursu, op. cit., p. 97.

120 “Tous les princes chretians qui sustenoit le parti de l’Empereur fasoient grand cas de ce que le Roy, notre maistre, avoit employe le Turc a son secours; mais contre son ennemy on peult de toute fois fere fleches. Quant a moi, si je pouvois appeler tous les esprits des enfers pour rompre le teste a mon ennemy qui me veult rompre la mienne, je le ferois de bon coeur, dieu me pardoint.” Quoted by Zeller, La Diplomatie FranÇaise vers le milieu du XVI siÈcle (1880), Introd., p. 20 (Monluc. edit., de la SociÉtÉ de l’histoire de France).

121 “Sopra bassa fenestrella quedam cancellata conspiciebatur in qua Imperator occulte adens audiebat. Legatorum petita, putans se neutiquam videri.” Berichte Hobordanacz, GÉvay.

122 Daniello de’ Ludovisi. AlbÈri, III, i, p. 30, 1435. Ludovisi further explains that the hold Gritti obtained over Ibrahim was due to the latter’s inexperience of diplomacy. He says that Ibrahim went directly from the serai to the offices of Pasha and Beylerbey of Roumelie without experience of the world or of the government of a state, and being unwilling to learn from the Turk, he turned to an outsider to show him the modes of procedure.

123 Quoted by von Hammer, op. cit., v, p. 106, and Zinkheisen, op. cit., p. 662.

124 Bericht Johann Hobordanacz an Koenig Ferdinand I, Innspruch, 19th February, 1529, GÉvay, i, pp. 1–28.

125 In a letter to Ferdinand of April 9, 1528, Hobordanacz wrote: “Hodierna die intravi in Turciam, ubi adhuc in porte Zawe obviam venerunt mihi Turci plus quam trecenti optimo cum appareru, et maximo cum honare susceperunt me, spero autem in Deum omnipotentem quod omnia negocia bonum finem hebebunt.” GÉvay, i, p. 36.

126 “In the palmy days of the Ottoman Empire,” says Menzies, writing of this period, “each of these seven towers of the ancient Byzantium castle had its appropriate use; one contained the gold, another the silver money, a third the gold and silver plate and jewels; valuable remains of antiquity were deposited in the fourth; in the fifth were preserved ancient coins and other objects, chiefly collected by Selim I during his expeditions into Persia and Egypt; the sixth was a sort of arsenal; and the seventh was appropriated to the archives. After the time of Selim II, the Seven Towers were used as a prison for distinguished persons and as an arsenal.” Menzies, op. cit., p. 191.

127 Zinkheisen, ii, p. 54.

128 Busbequius, op. cit., p. 175.

129 GÉvay, Bericht Josephs von Lamberg und Nicholaus Juritschitz an Koenig Ferdinand I, Linz, 23 Feb. 1531.

130 Bericht Lamberg, GÉvay, i, p. 27.

131 “Ein lange Red mitt vil schpotlichen worten volpracht.” Ibid.

132 GÉvay, ii, p. 348.

133 “Er durchaus in allen Reden K. M. nit anders dan Ferdinandum und dye Khay M^t Khunig zu Yspanie ganent.” Bericht, p. 27. Ferdinand in his letters usually addressed Ibrahim as “Magnifice et praesterne Vir,” and closed “Ita est gratitudinis nostre effectum digne quandoque sentire valeatis.” Cf. GÉvay.

Ibrahim, in a letter to Ferdinand, calls himself: “Cuius ego sum Gubernator supremus regnorum omnium et Imperiorum Exercitum que sue felicissime ac potentessime Caesare Maiestatis magnus consiliatius super omnes dominos Ibraim bassa.” July 4, 1533. GÉvay, ii, p. 139.

134 To the ambassador von Zara he said: “My master has many sandjakbeys who are far more powerful than Ferdinand and have more land and power and subjects than he.” GÉvay, op. cit.

135 “Se istud magnum Imperium regere. Quicquid ipse fecerit id factum est, omnem enim se potestatem habere. Omnia officia, omnia regna hebere. Quod ego inquit do hac est datum et manet datum. Quod ego nondo, id non est datum,” etc. GÉvay, iii.

136 Von Zara reports concerning a visit that Suleiman and Ibrahim made to Gritti: “Tuo insius adventu postea plurima mala Thurci dicebant, appelantur Caesarem insensatum stultum maleficiatum ab Ibrahim et Gryti.” GÉvay, op. cit., iii, p. 26.

137 Presents to men in power were usual. In connection with the payment to Mehmet Sokolli, a later vizir, of ten thousand sequins and the promise of thirty thousand more if he succeeded in making peace for Venice, Moritz Brosch writes: “Solche Geschenke waren eine uralte orientalische Sitte, und denzeit auch an den Hoefen des Abendlandes etwas Gewoehnliches ja Unausweichliches. Waehrend des 16 Jahrhunderts bildeten sie eine stehende Rubrik in Soll und Haben der Diplomatie; in London war bei Wolsey, in Spanien der Reihe nach bei ChiÈvres, Covas, dem jungeren Granvella und Lerma, in Frankreich bei den Hoeflingen und Staatsmaennern Ludwig XII und Franzens und der zwei Heinriche, nichts ohne Geld zu richten. Foermlich beneidet wurde die Pforte weil sie es nicht noetig hatte fur die Korruption Christlicher Regierung Summen auszusetzen.” Brosch, Aus dem Leben Dreier Grossvisere (Gotha, 1899), p. 48.

138 Bericht de Schepper 1533. GÉvay, op. cit., i, p. 27.

139 A Hungarian ducat was worth about $2.34, with doubtless much greater purchasing power in the sixteenth century.

140 Die forigen potschaften hattenime von E. M. auch hunderttausend Gulden verheissen er solle helfen das sein Keiser E. M. die Flecken gab: ich hab innen gesagt aber gesagt und sage e eus solches auch das wir nit gedenkhen sollen dass er von Gelz wegen seines herrn Nachtheil raten wolle Er sey in obgemelten seines Herrn Schatz zu greifen gewellig wann er will er welt lieber seinem Keyser helfen alle Welt unterzusprinen, nit das er land und leut welchgeben soll. Er sey auch pey innen nit der Gebrauch das man Gelt und Miet neme und dem hern sein Nachtheil rate, oder seinem Schaden verhelfe, wie wir begert darum schweigt diesen Reden stil.” GÉvay, i, Bericht Lamberg und Juritschitz.

141 Zeller, op. cit., Introd., p. 23.

142 Viscount Stratford de Redcliffe, The Eastern Question (London, 1881), p. 99.

143 Zeller, op. cit., Introd., p. 23.

144 Von Hammer quotes from Suleiman’s Journal a remark of Suleiman’s to Ibrahim on the occasion of the appearance of the grand vizir before the sultan, op. cit., vol. v, p. 41.

145 Op. cit., vol. iii, p. 418 et seq.

146 Imams are Moslem priests, combining with their religious functions those of notary publics.

147 David Urquhart, The Military Strength of Turkey, London, 1869, p. 76.

148 Op. cit., p. 87.

149 Op. cit., p. 93.

150 Urquhart, op. cit., p. 88.

151 William Watreman, The Fardle of Facions, containing the Anciente Manners Customs and Laws of the Peoples Enhabiting the two Partes of the Earth called Africa and Asia. London, 1555. Hakluyt’s Voyages, vol. v, p. 126.

152 Stato Militaire dell’ Imperio Ottomano, Marsigli, 1732.

153 Petchevi and Kemalpashazadeh are the contemporary Turkish narrators of the campaign. Petchevi takes his account from his grandfather, who was an eye witness of Mohacz. Kemalpashazadeh was sheik-ul-Islam under Suleiman and writes an account that is at once that of poet and courtier, but should be fairly accurate as to the movements of the army. The Monumenta Hungariae Historica (Pest, 1857), vol. i, gives some Hungarian comment on the events. Solakzadeh and Abdurrahman Sheref give second-hand reports, while Leopold von Kupelwieser has excellent volumes on the subject entitled “Die KÄmpfe Oesterreichs mit den Osmanen.” (Wien and Leipzig, 1899).

154 Kemalpashazadeh, Histoire de la Campagne de Mohacz. Trans. by Pavet de Courteille, Paris, 1869.

155 Kupelwieser, op. cit., p. 227.

156 Letter from Ferdinand of Austria to his sister. “Comme les turcz ayans donne plusieurs assaulx au chasteau de Peterwardein quils tienquient assiege y ont perdus beaucop de leuers gens comme de X ou XII in hommes.” Monumenta Hungariae Historica, vol. i, p. 37.

157 Kemalpashazadeh, op. cit., p. 95.

158 Kemalpashazadeh, op. cit., p. 104.

159 Ferdinand of Austria naturally did not feel so strongly. Cf. letter to Margaret in 1526. Mon. Hung. Hist., vol. i, p. 41.

160 Even the Sheik-ul-Islam acknowledges this, gloating over the fall of the enemies of God. Kemalpashazadeh, op. cit., p. 107.

161 “The spoils are Gods of the Apostles: fear God and settle it among yourselves.” Koran, Surah VIII.

162 “Ego inquit vici Hungaros. Magnus Caesar non interfuit prelio sad tantum audito clamore, conscendit equum et volebat succurere. Sed ego confestim misi nuncium, victoriam iam partam este.” GÉvay, op. cit., vol. ii, p. 22.

163 Asaf was Solomon’s traditional vizir. Ardeshir was a famous Sassanian king.

164 Kemalpashazadeh, op. cit.

165 The letter is given at the end of the translation of Kemalpashazadeh, p. 145 et seq.

166 Cf. Sadullah SaÏd in Solymannameh, who speaks of Ibrahim Pasha as conqueror of Roumelie, p. 81.

167 Mejmoua Menshaat el Selatin, ed. by Feridoun Bey, Stambul.

168 Ser means head, and asker army in Turkish.

169 Petchevi, op. cit., p. 128.

170 D’Ohsson, op. cit., vol. iii, p. 422.

171 Cf. Von Hammer, Wiens erste aufgehobene tÜrkische Belagerung (Pesth, 1829): also Schimmer, and after him Ellesmere, The Sieges of Vienna by the Turks, (London, 1879).

172 Schimmer, op. cit., p. 16.

173 “Le dict turc a perdu grand nombre de gens sans toutefois grande perte de ceulx estans au dicte Vienne.” Letter of Ferdinand to Charles V, GÉvay, op. cit., vol. i, p. 49. Kupelwieser gives the following figures: 1700 Viennese killed and 100 inhabitants of the suburbs, 4000 Turks killed, op. cit., chap. ii.

174 GÉvay, ii, 28; also Ellesmere, op. cit., chap. 2.

175 For the original narrative of the Count von Zedlitz in the Turkish camp, see Ellesmere’s book where it is quoted in full.

176 Kupelwieser, op. cit., p. 145.

177 A purse contained 500 piastres.

178 Juritschitz wrote a report of this siege to his master Ferdinand, a French translation which is found in CharriÈre, vol. i, p. 215 etc. Also in Monumenta Hungariae Historica, vol. i, p. 169, cf. also Petchevi.

179 “Jay bien apercu quil prenoit de bonne parte que je fasoie difficulte d’aller devers le Turc (Suleiman) et que je le tenoie en telle estimacion.” CharriÈre, vol. i, p. 219.

180 An account of the splendid entrance into Aleppo is given by Master Anthony Jenkinson in Hakluyt’s Voyages, vol. ii, pp. 225 et seq.

181 Abdurrahman Sheref says that the difficulties of this march make this campaign rank highest among Suleiman’s expeditions, p. 239.

182 Postel, op. cit., speaks of Ibrahim’s looting of Hungary, and also says: “Arabistan, Serestan and Anatolia condemned him for the great pillage and exactions which he made, so much that the people were left (even the richest of them) with no carpet to sleep on, and the trees were taxed impossibly,” p. 49.

183 Original narrative of the Adventures of Count Christopher von Zedlitz in the Turkish Camps. From the collection of Baron von Errenkel in the State Archives at Vienna. Tr. by Ellesmere, p. 47.

184 21 Ramazan, 942, A. H.

185 Domenico Trevisano, AlbÈri, III, vol. i, p. 115.

186 Jorga, p. 349.

187 Solakzadeh, Osmanzadeh.

188 At the death of the grand vizir, his property was always confiscated. D’Ohsson, op. cit., vol. ii, p. 369.

189 Baudier, p. 172, Djelalzadek quoted by Solakzadeh, Abdurrahman Sheref, etc. Also Trevisano, “Rossane gelos a forre della potenza del gran-vizir,” etc.

190 Mustafa Chelebi, quoted by Abdurrahman Sheref and Petchevi, P. 195.

191 Postel however, in his volume published in 1569, De la rÉpublique des Turcs, claims that Ibrahim did not favor Christians but was a despot over them, accusing him of taking large amount of Venetian and other Christian property. “It is true” he acknowledges “that to deliver one or another Christian from prison or calumny, he saved him when the Christian could pay well,” p. 61.

192 A common title applied to the sultan.

193 Von Hammer quotes the use of this title by Ibrahim, from Suleiman’s Journal, vol. v, p. 231. Cf. also Petchevi, p. 65.

194 Cf. Osmanzadeh, Solakzadeh, and Abdurrahman Sheref.

195 This story is told by all the Turkish historians, generally with sympathy for Iskender. Cf. Abdurrahman, Petchevi, Solakzadeh.

196 Cantimir, vol. ii, p. 313. Also Trevisano, op. cit.

197 The testimony of the Venetian bailli here seems to us to outweigh the probably legendary tale told by Baudier, which however I will give. “The Sultanas (Suleiman’s mother and his wife Roxelana) observe the murmuring of the people against the favorite, and what the great men speak of him, and tell Suleiman. Moreover as they were busy to destroy his greatness, they discover that the pasha favored the house of Austria, and had secret intelligence with the Emperor Charles V. This treachery being told to Suleiman, he decided upon Ibrahim’s death, but required a dispensation from his oath never to disgrace Ibrahim while he lived. One of his learned men gave him a pleasant Expedit to free himself of the pasha and yet keep his word. ‘You have sworn, Sire, not to put him to death while you are living; cause him to be strangled while you are asleep. Life consists in vigilant action, and he that sleeps doth not truly live; so you may punish his disloyalty and not violate your oath.’ Suleiman sends for Ibrahim, and after they have supped he shows him his crimes by his own letters to Charles V and Ferdinand, reproaches him for his ingratitude, and commands his mutes to strangle him while he himself is asleep. He then goes to bed.”

The story of the evasion of the oath through the ingenuity of a “wise man” is plausible, being in entire keeping with Turkish custom, but Baudier gives no sources, and I have found none of the facts above stated, in any other record.

198 Solakzadeh, Petchevi.

199 Trevisano, III, i, p. 115.

200 Histoire de l’Empire Ottomane, vol. ii, p. 338.

201 One private note was as follows, and surely was not written to a traitor: “Pro ea tamen confidentia et existimatione in qua vos apud Dominum vestrum merito esse scimus, omittere non potuimus qum vobis tamquam rerum omnium directori secreto et optimo atque etiam scientissimo ea super literis vestris significaremus que pro nunc requiruntur.” GÉvay II, 23.

202 Iskender’s testimony is reported by Cantimir and Trevisano.

203 Hadikatul Vuzera, p. 26.

204 Soleymannameh, p. 123.

205 Solakzadeh. “Ibrahim caused the death of a dear old man (Iskender) who was innocent and unjustly treated. So his own end was according to the verse: ‘Verily all-glorious Allah is master of revenge’”.

206 AlbÈri, III, vol. i, p. 12.

Clyx.com