^37andtheirgenerosityorcontempthadofferedthekingdomofAnatoliaastherewardofanArmenianvassal。ThefragmentsoftheSeljukianmonarchyweredisputedbytheemirswhohadoccupiedthecitiesorthemountains；buttheyallconfessedthesupremacyofthekhansofPersia；andheofteninterposedhisauthority，andsometimeshisarms，tochecktheirdepredations，andtopreservethepeaceandbalanceofhisTurkishfrontier。
ThedeathofCazan，^38oneofthegreatestandmostaccomplishedprincesofthehouseofZingis，removedthissalutarycontrol；
andthedeclineoftheMogulsgaveafreescopetotheriseandprogressoftheOttomanEmpire。^39
[Footnote34:SomerepulseoftheMogulsinHungaryMatthewParis，p。545，546mightpropagateandcolorthereportoftheunionandvictoryofthekingsoftheFranksontheconfinesofBulgaria。AbulpharagiusDynast。p。310afterfortyyears，beyondtheTigris，mightbeeasilydeceived。]
[Footnote35:SeePachymer，l。iii。c。25，andl。ix。c。26，27；
andthefalsealarmatNice，l。iii。c。27。NicephorusGregoras，l。iv。c。6。]
[Footnote36:G。Acropolita，p。36，37。Nic。Greg。l。ii。c。6，l。iv。c。5。]
[Footnote37:Abulpharagius，whowroteintheyear1284，declaresthattheMoguls，sincethefabulousdefeatofBatou，hadnotattackedeithertheFranksorGreeks；andofthisheisacompetentwitness。Haytonlikewise，theArmenianprince，celebratestheirfriendshipforhimselfandhisnation。]
[Footnote38:PachymergivesasplendidcharacterofCazanKhan，therivalofCyrusandAlexander，l。xii。c。1。Intheconclusionofhishistoryl。xiii。c。36hehopesmuchfromthearrivalof30，000Tochars，orTartars，whowereorderedbythesuccessorofCazantorestraintheTurksofBithynia，A。D。1308。]
[Footnote39:TheoriginoftheOttomandynastyisillustratedbythecriticallearningofMm。DeGuignesHist。desHuns，tom。iv。
p。329—337andD'Anville，EmpireTurc，p。14—22，twoinhabitantsofParis，fromwhomtheOrientalsmaylearnthehistoryandgeographyoftheirowncountry。
Note:TheymaybestillmoreenlightenedbytheGeschichtedesOsmanReiches，byM。vonHammerPurgstallofVienna。—M。]
AftertheretreatofZingis，thesultanGelaleddinofCarizmehadreturnedfromIndiatothepossessionanddefenceofhisPersiankingdoms。Inthespaceofelevenyears，thanherofoughtinpersonfourteenbattles；andsuchwashisactivity，thatheledhiscavalryinseventeendaysfromTefliatoKerman，amarchofathousandmiles。YethewasoppressedbythejealousyoftheMoslemprinces，andtheinnumerablearmiesoftheMoguls；andafterhislastdefeat，GelaleddinperishedignoblyinthemountainsofCurdistan。Hisdeathdissolvedaveteranandadventurousarmy，whichincludedunderthenameofCarizmiansorCorasminsmanyTurkmanhordes，thathadattachedthemselvestothesultan'sfortune。ThebolderandmorepowerfulchiefsinvadedSyria，andviolatedtheholysepulchreofJerusalem:themorehumbleengagedintheserviceofAladin，sultanofIconium；
andamongtheseweretheobscurefathersoftheOttomanline。
TheyhadformerlypitchedtheirtentsnearthesouthernbanksoftheOxus，intheplainsofMahanandNesa；anditissomewhatremarkable，thatthesamespotshouldhaveproducedthefirstauthorsoftheParthianandTurkishempires。Atthehead，orintherear，ofaCarizmianarmy，SolimanShahwasdrownedinthepassageoftheEuphrates:hissonOrthogrulbecamethesoldierandsubjectofAladin，andestablishedatSurgut，onthebanksoftheSangar，acampoffourhundredfamiliesortents，whomhegovernedfifty—twoyearsbothinpeaceandwar。HewasthefatherofThaman，orAthman，whoseTurkishnamehasbeenmeltedintotheappellationofthecaliphOthman；andifwedescribethatpastoralchiefasashepherdandarobber，wemustseparatefromthosecharactersallideaofignominyandbaseness。Othmanpossessed，andperhapssurpassed，theordinaryvirtuesofasoldier；andthecircumstancesoftimeandplacewerepropitioustohisindependenceandsuccess。TheSeljukiandynastywasnomore；andthedistanceanddeclineoftheMogulkhanssoonenfranchisedhimfromthecontrolofasuperior。HewassituateonthevergeoftheGreekempire:theKoransanctifiedhisgazi，orholywar，againsttheinfidels；andtheirpoliticalerrorsunlockedthepassesofMountOlympus，andinvitedhimtodescendintotheplainsofBithynia。TillthereignofPalaeologus，thesepasseshadbeenvigilantlyguardedbythemilitiaofthecountry，whowererepaidbytheirownsafetyandanexemptionfromtaxes。Theemperorabolishedtheirprivilegeandassumedtheiroffice；butthetributewasrigorouslycollected，thecustodyofthepasseswasneglected，andthehardymountaineersdegeneratedintoatremblingcrowdofpeasantswithoutspiritordiscipline。Itwasonthetwenty—seventhofJuly，intheyeartwelvehundredandninety—nineoftheChristianaera，thatOthmanfirstinvadedtheterritoryofNicomedia；^40andthesingularaccuracyofthedateseemstodisclosesomeforesightoftherapidanddestructivegrowthofthemonster。Theannalsofthetwenty—sevenyearsofhisreignwouldexhibitarepetitionofthesameinroads；andhishereditarytroopsweremultipliedineachcampaignbytheaccessionofcaptivesandvolunteers。Insteadofretreatingtothehills，hemaintainedthemostusefulanddefensiveposts；fortifiedthetownsandcastleswhichhehadfirstpillaged；andrenouncedthepastorallifeforthebathsandpalacesofhisinfantcapitals。ButitwasnottillOthmanwasoppressedbyageandinfirmities，thathereceivedthewelcomenewsoftheconquestofPrusa，whichhadbeensurrenderedbyfamineortreacherytothearmsofhissonOrchan。ThegloryofOthmanischieflyfoundedonthatofhisdescendants；buttheTurkshavetranscribedorcomposedaroyaltestamentofhislastcounselsofjusticeandmoderation。^41
[Footnote40:SeePachymer，l。x。c。25，26，l。xiii。c。33，34，36；andconcerningtheguardofthemountains，l。i。c。3—6:
NicephorusGregoras，l。vii。c。l。，andthefirstbookofLaonicusChalcondyles，theAthenian。]
[Footnote41:IamignorantwhethertheTurkshaveanywritersolderthanMahometII。，norcanIreachbeyondameagrechronicleAnnalesTurciciadAnnum1550translatedbyJohnGaudier，andpublishedbyLeunclavius，adcalcemLaonic。Chalcond。p。311—
350，withcopiouspandects，orcommentaries。ThehistoryoftheGrowthandDecayA。D。1300—1683oftheOthmanempirewastranslatedintoEnglishfromtheLatinMs。ofDemetriusCantemir，princeofMoldavia，London，1734，infolio。TheauthorisguiltyofstrangeblundersinOrientalhistory；buthewasconversantwiththelanguage，theannals，andinstitutionsoftheTurks。CantemirpartlydrawshismaterialsfromtheSynopsisofSaadiEffendiofLarissa，dedicatedintheyear1696toSultanMustapha，andavaluableabridgmentoftheoriginalhistorians。
InoneoftheRamblers，DrJohnsonpraisesKnollesaGeneralHistoryoftheTurkstothepresentYear。London，1603asthefirstofhistorians，unhappyonlyinthechoiceofhissubject。
YetImuchdoubtwhetherapartialandverbosecompilationfromLatinwriters，thirteenhundredfoliopagesofspeechesandbattles，caneitherinstructoramuseanenlightenedage，whichrequiresfromthehistoriansometinctureofphilosophyandcriticism。
Note:WecouldhavewishedthatM。vonHammerhadgivenamoreclearanddistinctreplytothisquestionofGibbon。Inanote，vol。i。p。630。M。vonHammershowsthattheyhadnotonlysheiksreligiouswritersandlearnedlawyers，butpoetsandauthorsonmedicine。ButtheinquiryofGibbonobviouslyreferstohistorians。Theoldestoftheirhistoricalworks，ofwhichV。
Hammermakesuse，isthe"TarichiAaschikPaschasade，"i。e。theHistoryoftheGreatGrandsonofAaschikPasha，whowasadervisandcelebratedasceticpoetinthereignofMuradAmurathI。
Ahmed，theauthorofthework，livedduringthereignofBajazetII。，but，hesays，derivedmuchinformationfromthebookofScheikJachshi，thesonofElias，whowasImaumtoSultanOrchan，thesecondOttomankingandwhorelated，fromthelipsofhisfather，thecircumstancesoftheearliestOttomanhistory。Thisbookhavingsearchedforitinvainforfive—and—twentyyears
ourauthorfoundatlengthintheVatican。AlltheotherTurkishhistoriesonhislist，asindeedthis，werewrittenduringthereignofMahometII。Itdoesnotappearwhetheranyoftherestciteearlierauthoritiesofequalvaluewiththatclaimedbythe"TarichiAaschikPaschasade。"—M。inQuarterlyReview，vol。
xlix。p。292。]
FromtheconquestofPrusa，wemaydatethetrueaeraoftheOttomanempire。ThelivesandpossessionsoftheChristiansubjectswereredeemedbyatributeorransomofthirtythousandcrownsofgold；andthecity，bythelaborsofOrchan，assumedtheaspectofaMahometancapital；Prusawasdecoratedwithamosque，acollege，andahospital，ofroyalfoundation；theSeljukiancoinwaschangedforthenameandimpressionofthenewdynasty:andthemostskilfulprofessors，ofhumananddivineknowledge，attractedthePersianandArabianstudentsfromtheancientschoolsofOrientallearning。TheofficeofvizierwasinstitutedforAladin，thebrotherofOrchan；andadifferenthabitdistinguishedthecitizensfromthepeasants，theMoslemsfromtheinfidels。AllthetroopsofOthmanhadconsistedofloosesquadronsofTurkmancavalry；whoservedwithoutpayandfoughtwithoutdiscipline:butaregularbodyofinfantrywasfirstestablishedandtrainedbytheprudenceofhisson。A
greatnumberofvolunteerswasenrolledwithasmallstipend，butwiththepermissionoflivingathome，unlesstheyweresummonedtothefield:theirrudemanners，andseditioustemper，disposedOrchantoeducatehisyoungcaptivesashissoldiersandthoseoftheprophet；buttheTurkishpeasantswerestillallowedtomountonhorseback，andfollowhisstandard，withtheappellationandthehopesoffreebooters。^!Bytheseartsheformedanarmyoftwenty—fivethousandMoslems:atrainofbatteringengineswasframedfortheuseofsieges；andthefirstsuccessfulexperimentwasmadeonthecitiesofNiceandNicomedia。Orchangrantedasafe—conducttoallwhoweredesirousofdepartingwiththeirfamiliesandeffects；butthewidowsoftheslainweregiveninmarriagetotheconquerors；andthesacrilegiousplunder，thebooks，thevases，andtheimages，weresoldorransomedatConstantinople。TheemperorAndronicustheYoungerwasvanquishedandwoundedbythesonofOthman:^42^!!hesubduedthewholeprovinceorkingdomofBithynia，asfarastheshoresoftheBosphorusandHellespont；andtheChristiansconfessedthejusticeandclemencyofareignwhichclaimedthevoluntaryattachmentoftheTurksofAsia。YetOrchanwascontentwiththemodesttitleofemir；andinthelistofhiscompeers，theprincesofRoumorAnatolia，^43hismilitaryforcesweresurpassedbytheemirsofGhermianandCaramania，eachofwhomcouldbringintothefieldanarmyoffortythousandmen。TheirdomainsweresituateintheheartoftheSeljukiankingdom；buttheholywarriors，thoughofinferiornote，whoformednewprincipalitiesontheGreekempire，aremoreconspicuousinthelightofhistory。ThemaritimecountryfromthePropontistotheMaeanderandtheIsleofRhodes，solongthreatenedandsooftenpillaged，wasfinallylostaboutthethirteenthyearofAndronicustheElder。^44TwoTurkishchieftains，SarukhanandAidin，lefttheirnamestotheirconquests，andtheirconqueststotheirposterity。ThecaptivityorruinofthesevenchurchesofAsiawasconsummated；andthebarbarouslordsofIoniaandLydiastilltrampleonthemonumentsofclassicandChristianantiquity。InthelossofEphesus，theChristiansdeploredthefallofthefirstangel，theextinctionofthefirstcandlestick，oftheRevelations；^45thedesolationiscomplete；andthetempleofDiana，orthechurchofMary，willequallyeludethesearchofthecurioustraveller。ThecircusandthreestatelytheatresofLaodiceaarenowpeopledwithwolvesandfoxes；
Sardesisreducedtoamiserablevillage；theGodofMahomet，withoutarivalorason，isinvokedinthemosquesofThyatiraandPergamus；andthepopulousnessofSmyrnaissupportedbytheforeigntradeoftheFranksandArmenians。Philadelphiaalonehasbeensavedbyprophecy，orcourage。Atadistancefromthesea，forgottenbytheemperors，encompassedonallsidesbytheTurks，hervaliantcitizensdefendedtheirreligionandfreedomabovefourscoreyears；andatlengthcapitulatedwiththeproudestoftheOttomans。AmongtheGreekcoloniesandchurchesofAsia，Philadelphiaisstillerect；acolumninasceneofruins；apleasingexample，thatthepathsofhonorandsafetymaysometimesbethesame。TheservitudeofRhodeswasdelayedabouttwocenturiesbytheestablishmentoftheknightsofSt。JohnofJerusalem:^46underthedisciplineoftheorder，thatislandemergedintofameandopulence；thenobleandwarlikemonkswererenownedbylandandsea:andthebulwarkofChristendomprovoked，andrepelled，thearmsoftheTurksandSaracens。
[Footnote*:VonHammer，Osm。Geschichte，vol。i。p。82。—M。]
[Footnote!:Ibid。p。91。—M。]
[Footnote42:Cantacuzene，thoughherelatesthebattleandheroicflightoftheyoungerAndrocinus，l。ii。c。6，7，8，
dissemblesbyhissilencethelossofPrusa，Nice，andNicomedia，whicharefairlyconfessedbyNicephorusGregoras，l。viii。15，ix。9，13，xi。6。ItappearsthatNicewastakenbyOrchanin1330，andNicomediain1339，whicharesomewhatdifferentfromtheTurkishdates。]
[Footnote!!:FortheconquestsofOrchanoverthetenpachaliks，orkingdomsoftheSeljukians，inAsiaMinor。seeV。Hammer，vol。
i。p。112。—M。]
[Footnote43:ThepartitionoftheTurkishemirsisextractedfromtwocontemporaries，theGreekNicephorusGregorasl。vii。
1andtheArabianMarakeschi，DeGuignes，tom。ii。P。ii。p。
76，77。SeelikewisethefirstbookofLaonicusChalcondyles。]
[Footnote44:Pachymer，l。xiii。c。13。]
[Footnote45:SeetheTravelsofWheelerandSpon，ofPocockandChandler，andmoreparticularlySmith'sSurveyoftheSevenChurchesofAsia，p。205—276。ThemorepiousantiquarieslabortoreconcilethepromisesandthreatsoftheauthoroftheRevelationswiththepresentstateofthesevencities。Perhapsitwouldbemoreprudenttoconfinehispredictionstothecharactersandeventsofhisowntimes。]
[Footnote46:ConsulttheivthbookoftheHistoirede'OrdredeMalthe，parl'AbbedeVertot。Thatpleasingwriterbetrayshisignorance，insupposingthatOthman，afreebooteroftheBithynianhills，couldbesiegeRhodesbyseaandland。]
TheGreeks，bytheirintestinedivisions，weretheauthorsoftheirfinalruin。DuringthecivilwarsoftheelderandyoungerAndronicus，thesonofOthmanachieved，almostwithoutresistance，theconquestofBithynia；andthesamedisordersencouragedtheTurkishemirsofLydiaandIoniatobuildafleet，andtopillagetheadjacentislandsandthesea—coastofEurope。
Inthedefenceofhislifeandhonor，Cantacuzenewastemptedtoprevent，orimitate，hisadversaries，bycallingtohisaidthepublicenemiesofhisreligionandcountry。Amir，thesonofAidin，concealedunderaTurkishgarbthehumanityandpolitenessofaGreek；hewasunitedwiththegreatdomesticbymutualesteemandreciprocalservices；andtheirfriendshipiscompared，inthevainrhetoricofthetimes，totheperfectunionofOrestesandPylades。^47Onthereportofthedangerofhisfriend，whowaspersecutedbyanungratefulcourt，theprinceofIoniaassembledatSmyrnaafleetofthreehundredvessels，withanarmyoftwenty—ninethousandmen；sailedinthedepthofwinter，andcastanchoratthemouthoftheHebrus。Fromthence，withachosenbandoftwothousandTurks，hemarchedalongthebanksoftheriver，andrescuedtheempress，whowasbesiegedinDemoticabythewildBulgarians。Atthatdisastrousmoment，thelifeordeathofhisbelovedCantacuzenewasconcealedbyhisflightintoServia:butthegratefulIrene，impatienttobeholdherdeliverer，invitedhimtoenterthecity，andaccompaniedhermessagewithapresentofrichapparelandahundredhorses。Byapeculiarstrainofdelicacy，theGentleBarbarianrefused，intheabsenceofanunfortunatefriend，tovisithiswife，ortotastetheluxuriesofthepalace；sustainedinhistenttherigorofthewinter；andrejectedthehospitablegift，thathemightsharethehardshipsoftwothousandcompanions，allasdeservingashimselfofthathonoranddistinction。Necessityandrevengemightjustifyhispredatoryexcursionsbyseaandland:heleftninethousandfivehundredmenfortheguardofhisfleet；andperseveredinthefruitlesssearchofCantacuzene，tillhisembarkationwashastenedbyafictitiousletter，theseverityoftheseason，theclamorsofhisindependenttroops，andtheweightofhisspoilandcaptives。Intheprosecutionofthecivilwar，theprinceofIoniatwicereturnedtoEurope；joinedhisarmswiththoseoftheemperor；besiegedThessalonica，andthreatenedConstantinople。Calumnymightaffixsomereproachonhisimperfectaid，hishastydeparture，andabribeoftenthousandcrowns，whichheacceptedfromtheByzantinecourt；buthisfriendwassatisfied；andtheconductofAmirisexcusedbythemoresacreddutyofdefendingagainsttheLatinshishereditarydominions。ThemaritimepoweroftheTurkshadunitedthepope，thekingofCyprus，therepublicofVenice，andtheorderofSt。
John，inalaudablecrusade；theirgalleysinvadedthecoastofIonia；andAmirwasslainwithanarrow，intheattempttowrestfromtheRhodianknightsthecitadelofSmyrna。^48Beforehisdeath，hegenerouslyrecommendedanotherallyofhisownnation；
notmoresincereorzealousthanhimself，butmoreabletoaffordapromptandpowerfulsuccor，byhissituationalongthePropontisandinthefrontofConstantinople。Bytheprospectofamoreadvantageoustreaty，theTurkishprinceofBithyniawasdetachedfromhisengagementswithAnneofSavoy；andtheprideofOrchandictatedthemostsolemnprotestations，thatifhecouldobtainthedaughterofCantacuzene，hewouldinvariablyfulfilthedutiesofasubjectandason。Parentaltendernesswassilencedbythevoiceofambition:theGreekclergyconnivedatthemarriageofaChristianprincesswithasectaryofMahomet；
andthefatherofTheodoradescribes，withshamefulsatisfaction，thedishonorofthepurple。^49AbodyofTurkishcavalryattendedtheambassadors，whodisembarkedfromthirtyvessels，beforehiscampofSelybria。Astatelypavilionwaserected，inwhichtheempressIrenepassedthenightwithherdaughters。Inthemorning，Theodoraascendedathrone，whichwassurroundedwithcurtainsofsilkandgold:thetroopswereunderarms；buttheemperoralonewasonhorseback。Atasignalthecurtainsweresuddenlywithdrawntodisclosethebride，orthevictim，encircledbykneelingeunuchsandhymenealtorches:thesoundofflutesandtrumpetsproclaimedthejoyfulevent；andherpretendedhappinesswasthethemeofthenuptialsong，whichwaschantedbysuchpoetsastheagecouldproduce。Withouttheritesofthechurch，Theodorawasdeliveredtoherbarbarouslord:butithadbeenstipulated，thatsheshouldpreserveherreligionintheharemofBursa；andherfathercelebrateshercharityanddevotioninthisambiguoussituation。AfterhispeacefulestablishmentonthethroneofConstantinople，theGreekemperorvisitedhisTurkishally，whowithfoursons，byvariouswives，expectedhimatScutari，ontheAsiaticshore。Thetwoprincespartook，withseemingcordiality，ofthepleasuresofthebanquetandthechase；andTheodorawaspermittedtorepasstheBosphorus，andtoenjoysomedaysinthesocietyofhermother。
ButthefriendshipofOrchanwassubservienttohisreligionandinterest；andintheGenoesewarhejoinedwithoutablushtheenemiesofCantacuzene。
[Footnote47:NicephorusGregorashasexpatiatedwithpleasureonthisamiablecharacter，l。xii。7，xiii。4，10，xiv。1，9，xvi。
6。Cantacuzenespeakswithhonorandesteemofhisally，l。
iii。c。56，57，63，64，66，67，68，86，89，95，96；butheseemsignorantofhisownsentimentalpassionfortheTurks，andindirectlydeniesthepossibilityofsuchunnaturalfriendship，l。iv。c。40。]