The history of the Turks Beginning with the year 1679. Being a full relation of the last troubles in Hungary, with the sieges of Vienna, and Buda, and all the several battles both by sea and land, between the Christians, and the Turks, until the end of the year 1698, and 1699. In which the peace between the Turks, and the confederate Christian princes and states, was happily concluded at Carlowitz in Hungary, by the mediation of His Majesty of Great Britain, and the States General of the United Provinces. With the effigies of the emperors and others of note, engraven at large upon copper, which completes the sixth and last edition of the Turks. In two vol. in folio. By Sir Paul Rycaut, kt. eighteen years consul at Smyrna, now his Majesty's resident at Hamburg, and fellow of the Royal Society.

Anno 1696.

[ 1696] THO' the Turks had gained some ad∣vantage the last Year over the Vene∣tians both by Sea and Land; namely, in the Recovery of Scio, and by giving a Check or Stop to the Venetian Fleet; yet they gained little more thereby, than some little Fame and Reputation to the present Sultan Mustapha, whom the People began to consider, as a Deliverer sent to them from Heaven to recover their almost lost Empire, which lay under sad Distresses as well in Asia as in Europe.

This Opinion of the People when they observed the Justice, the Courage, and the Resolution of this Sultan to go in Person to the War, and that nothing could divert him from it, gave them Courage and As∣surance to expect a turn of Fortune, and hopes of better Successes for the future; and tho' the French promised them not to make Peace without them, but to joyn with them in a perpetual League of Friendship; yet the Turks did not much trust them, but kept a watchful Eye over them, know∣ing very well how little stress there is to be laid on the Promises of the Great Mo∣narch of France, who was also equally Jealous of the Faith of the Turks, and both of them equally doubtful of one ano∣ther.

This Great Ottoman Empire had the last Year changed both their Master, and the Chief Officers, without any considerable Change, or Troubles in the State amongst themselves, for that this Sultan, in whom clearly appeared a Spirit of greater Wisdom and Courage than in his Father Mahomet IV, or in his Uncle's succeeding him, gave the Soldiery and the People such Hopes and Expectations from him, that none durst open his Mouth, or lift up his Hands a∣gainst him; there appeared also something more of Justice and Vertue in him, and of Diligence, and Care, and Sedulity in his Business, than was found in his Father, or in any of the succeeding Uncles, as we have formerly said; which gave hope to the great Governors of the Empire, that under him the Losses which the Empire had su∣stained in these last Wars, might be repair∣ed; for tho' the Recovery of the Isle of Scio was made before he came to the Throne, and consequently might be looked upon, as an effect of his Uncle's Counsels; for that Mustapha did not enter upon the Government until the end of January 1695, when that Scio had been taken about a Month before by the Turks; but that fal∣ling so near to the time that Mustapha came to the Throne, that piece of good Fortune was looked upon as an effect of the Wis∣dom of the New Emperor, rather than of the Uncle Achmet's Counsel, by which, and by some other Exploits of the preceding Year in 1695, Mustapha grew high in the Opinion of the People, and the Soldiery; to which some Successes being added, as the taking of Titul and Lippa, with the De∣feat given to Veterani; for which the Turks paid very dear, and would not have been cried up for a Victory, had not Victories become very rare in those Days; their Hopes were very big, and that he might make these Actions the more Triumphant and Glorious, the Grand Seignior dispatch∣ed away several Messengers to the Kings of Persia, and the Princes of Arabia, and to other Tributaries, to communicate unto them all his Successes and Victories of the last Year, whereby he hoped to encourage the drooping Spirits of his own Soldiers, and confirm those of his Friends and Al∣lies unto him.

The Loss of Scio was certainly not very considerable to the Venetians at that time after they had gained it from the Turks; for Conquests at such a distance from them can never turn to any Account, or bene∣fit.

The Morea indeed may be a more useful Conquest, than any of those on the Coast of Asia, where the Turks are far stronger than on the Coast of Europe, and this Year also the Venetians had been most successful in those Parts of the Morea, having Defeat∣ed the Turks there in all their Attempts, in this as well as several other Years; but these Successes are not likely to be conti∣nued, for unless the Venetians increase the Number of their Ships at Sea, and aug∣ment their Forces at Land; and make good choice of their principal Commanders; all Matters will probably go backwards; for such Generals as Morosini and Konismarc are not easily to be found, under whom all things thrived and prospered, so that it were now to be wished, that the Venetian Forces were more numerous than former∣ly, and composed of their own Subjects, rather than of Foreigners.

But the Turks had a more watchful Eye over their War in Hungary, and the Parts about Belgrade, and Transylvania, than ei∣ther in Asia, or other Countries of Eu∣rope, or over the Province of Bassora, or Basorat, of which the Arabians had made a late Conquest over the Turkish Basha of that Country, who having but 2000 Men with him, was forced to submit to the

greater force of the Arabs, and upon his Surrender made a Capitulation with them, That he might pass into Persia, where he was well received at Ispahan by the King, being a Wise Man, and a Soldier.

About the same time likewise Solyman Bey, a Turk, a Native of Curdistan, having routed a Party of Persians on the Frontiers, had a Commission given him by the Grand Seignior, to do all the Mischief he was a∣ble on the Frontiers of Persia, not on the Persians only, but on the Georgians and Arabians, who had joyned together and made themselves Princes of those Provin∣ces.

* 1.1Nor did the Affairs of the Turks prosper better at that time in the Morea, where a strong Party of the Venetian Forces made an Irruption upon the Turks, and advan∣ced so far as Thebes, where the Turks re∣ceived an entire Defeat, all the Country being Spoiled, Plundered, and Sacked by the Venetians, who upon their return car∣ried with them a great Booty, with vast Numbers of Turkish Slaves.

Whilst these Matters were transacting, the Sultan was diligently employed at the Port in forming a Numerous Army, and providing all things for the Support and Maintenance of them. Nor was the like Diligence wanting in preparing and setting forth their Fleet, and putting them into a posture capable to Fight and Engage the Venetians; but as to the Land-Forces, the Campaign of this Year began early in the Month of May, when the Heydukes in di∣vers places of Sclavonia, assembled them∣selves in a Body to the Number of 400 Men, with which they passed the Save, and made an Inroad so far as Nissa, about eight or nine Days to the Eastward of Belgrade, and in that March, they drove away great Numbers of small and great Cattle; after which they contrived in what manner to make their Retreat; but as they thought thereupon, the Garrisons of Belgrade, and other Neighbouring Places, made a Sally out upon them with a Party of about 2000 Men, Horse and Foot, who being in∣formed of the Enemies Design, they drew up so advantagiously in a Wood, and re∣ceived them with so great Bravery, that after several Repulses given them, in which great Numbers were Killed and Wounded, were at length forced to fly and quit the Field, whilst the Sclavonians made good their Retreat, and proceeded happily in their Design, which is all the Prologue that was made to the succeeding Actions of the following Campaign; only every thing began then to dispose it self towards a Bloody War, and for Action of the follow∣ing Year: When the Duke of Lorain made his first Campaign in Hungary in Quality of Major-General of the Imperial-Army, Commanding in particular the Regiments of St. Croix, de Commerci, and Bassompierre, in which Commands this Young Prince e∣videnced to the World, a clear Inclination, and Disposition to the War, agreeable to the Mind of his Illustrious Ancestors.

Whilst things were thus preparing in Hungary, News came to the Port from Di∣arbekir, giving the Relation of a Fight be∣tween the Rebels in those Parts, and the Turks, in which the Turks had been De∣feated, and their General,* 1.2 the Pasha of Di∣arbekir, put to Flight, at a Place not far from Sivas: The Particulars of which suc∣ceeded in this manner.

When the Pasha heard where the Rebels were Encamped, he presently marched a∣gainst them with a Body of 3600 Horse, Commanding two other Pashas with a force of 2000 Horse more to fall upon the Re∣bels, and getting between them began to Kill and Destroy them without giving Quarter to any of them: The Rebels ha∣ving had timely notice of this Motion of the Pasha's, they mounted their Horses with much Courage and Activity, towards the Evening, and taking a Round about the Mountain, by favour of the Moon, they marched all that Night, and in the Morning early they fell in with the Turkish Seraskier, or General, with their Swords,* 1.3 or Scimyters, and with their Pikes and Lances, whence arose a very Bloody Fight, which held for the space of two Hours, to the great loss and diminution of the Army of the Turks, and danger of the Pasha's Life, who being put into great fear quit∣ted the Field and fled, leaving the Spoil to the Enemy; with which they being en∣couraged, they marched towards Aleppo, and from thence exacted what Money and Provisions that rich Province could afford them, upon pain of Military Execution; at which the Sultan was so enraged, that he gave out present Orders to raise the Ne∣firan, which is the Militia of the Eastern Countries; and like one Man to rise and joyn themselves against the Enemy. Be∣sides which, many other things were to be done, both by Sea and Land, and that with all Expedition, in regard that the force of the Rebels growing daily greater, their Power would with much more diffi∣culty be subdued.

And in regard there was a necessity of putting the Fleet to Sea with all expediti∣on, all other Affairs were laid aside, until that was dispatched, which was performed

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after the Biram, and then about the be∣ginning of May the Sultan began his March towards Hungary at the Head of his Army, when several were of Opinion that due care should be taken to suppress the Re∣bels in Asia; but the Sultan would hear of nothing more than to raise the Nefiran of the Country upon them, which are a sort of Soldiers like our Trained-Bands, and not better exercised in the Wars.

The Sultan who intended to have brought this Year 80 or 100000 Men in∣to the Field against the Emperor, was con∣tented to fall short at least 10000 Men of that Number which he had the last Year: And in regard the Asiatick Soldiers could not, or would not leave their own Coun∣try to attend the Armies in Hungary; the whole Army of the Turks did not amount to more than 50000 Men; and scarcely to that neither considering the Diversions made on one side by the Persians, and by the Muscovites on the other; wherefore considering these Difficulties and Distresses, all the Ottoracks were called to the Wars, being in the Nature of Milites immeriti, who after their long Services in the War, have liberty given them to withdraw to their own Homes, with two Pence or three Pence a Day, which is called a dead Pay; and of these there may be about 40000 Men, which may be some Addition to the Number of the Turkish Army, and with these the Turks were now obliged to help themselves.

But to understand more distinctly the Transactions and Progress of all the Turkish Affairs both by Sea and Land for this Year following,

In the first place we are to take notice, That in the Month of March of this Year,* 1.4 30 Frigats were dispatched for Asac, which soon afterwards were followed by eight Gallies.

As to the Land Matters, March the 28th the Grand Seignior and Grand Vizier made their Alloy to their Tents, which were pitched as usual at Daout Pasha; but that being very early in the Morning, the Show was but indifferent. The Grand Seignior was dressed in the manner, as when he made his Entrance. The Valide followed about two Hours after, with great Atten∣dance.

* 1.5Mezzo Morto the Admiral, having left the Bastarda Gally behind him, sailed out of Port the 6th of April; and the Grand Seignior and Grand Vizier marched for Adrianople, where they arrived the 17th of this Month.

The 23d of this April being the Day of the Great Biram, News was brought of the Birth of a Daughter Born to the Sultan in the Seraglio, whereupon the Chimacam, to show his Respect and Duty to the Grand Seignior, caused four Days of Rejoycing to be proclaimed;* 1.6 but on the 24th Day a lit∣tle after Midnight, there happening a very great Fire, the Rejoycings were forbidden and recalled.

The Fire began without the Gate of To∣phana, the Wind at N. E. which being ve∣ry fierce and strong, soon reduced all that Quarter into Ashes, where it continued burning till Five in the Afternoon of the 25th; during which time 3000 Houses were computed to have been Burnt, and amongst them all our Merchant's Houses, excepting one who had the good Fortune to be saved: But God be praised not much of our English Goods were burnt.

About the beginning of June of this Year,* 1.7 the Marquis de Lore arrived at Constantino∣ple, in Quality of Ambassador Extraordi∣nary from the French King: He was brought as far as Tenedos by a French Man of War of 60 Guns, and from thence by a Tartan he was Transported to Constantinople, from whence, on the 12th of this Month he was carried to Adrianople, and thence with∣out loss of time he followed the Camp, which had marched thence the eighth of June.

The 23d of this Month, Tekely was Commanded by the Grand Seignior, to follow the Camp, but his Princess remain∣ed at Constantinople, both of them being in great Necessity to live, being only allowed five Dollars a Day, besides some small mat∣ter arising from the Imposts of Wine, which the Grand Seignior permitted them to bring in. The Beauty of this Lady could prevail little either for her self or Prince; for I have heard, That she was a Lady of a very hard Countenance, and her Air, and Carriage, in no wise engag∣ing.

The Turkish Army being arrived at Bel∣grade,* 1.8 they began to move on the 30th of July, and that Day to pass the Danube, when publick Prayers were begun at Con∣stantinople and Adrianople for their Succes∣ses and Blessings of their Army, which was this Year esteemed very powerful, and designed (as the common Report was) against Transylvania: But whilst the Turks marched full of hopes of Success, with a great Army supposed to consist of 100000 Men; their Boldness was much tempered by the News of the Surrender of Asac to the Muscovites after 57 Days Siege, and the Advices wanting 16 Days, it was said, That the Tartar Han arrived two Days af∣ter the Surrender, tho' had he come sooner,

he could have done nothing; for it was so closely Besieged, that the Turks themselves were of Opinion, That all the Succours sent thence, namely, from all parts of the Turkish Dominions, would not have been able to effect any thing: Neither were the Gallies, which were with five more than the 13 sent the last Month, able to ap∣proach the Place by some Leagues: Here∣upon the Corn at Constantinople, was risen 50 per Cent. and the People were so ap∣prehensive of a Famine in all the Domini∣ons of the Turks, that in case the Musco∣vites should make any Progress, they should not know which way to proceed.

At that time Mezzo Morto with the Tur∣kish Fleet was still at Scio, intending about the middle of this Month to Sail from thence; he had with him about 40 Sail of Ships besides Gallies; the Venetians were not very strong, nor did either side endea∣vour to engage.

But the most important Design of this Summers Campaign, was laid in Hungary and Transylvania, where the Sultan fixed his greatest hopes, and both Sides intend∣ed to do their best, and to bring things to a decisive Action; to perform which, His Electoral Highness of Saxony having fixed the Imperial Camp at a Place called Olasch, on the 30th of August N. S. giving out, as if the Design was to Besiege Temeswaer, and thereby to draw the Enemy into a Ne∣cessity of Sallying out, and coming to a Battle, that they might be better able to relieve the Place; to which end the Turks having passed the Danube, the nearer to ap∣proach their Enemies, made two Days March, one after the other; by which being four Leagues distant from each other.

On the 20th of this Month they held a Council of War, at which it was resolved to advance one Day nearer to observe the Countenance of the Enemy.

So that very early in the Morning on the 21st, they marched in good Order of Bat∣tel, and by nine a Clock they discovered some of the Enemies Cavalry, whom they Attacked and Repulsed several times with considerable loss to the Turks.

And on the 22d some Parties of the Christians brought several Prisoners into the Camp, amongst which was a Chiaus, who reported, That the Janisaries were very ad∣vantageously posted on the right side of a Morass, confined, and reaching to the Banks of the River Temes, and another Body of them Encamped to the Left along the Banks of the Brook Begl, their Can∣non being pointed upon that Place, where was the only Avenue, or Access where the Enemy could come upon them; and their Camp on all sides so fortified; that the Christians could not Attack them without much Difficulty and Danger; wherefore, to give the Enemy room to advance, and invite them to a Battle, the Turks on the 24th Sallied out from their Retrench∣ments, which was done only with Design to make other Lines, which were finish∣ed in two Hours time, or less; and ha∣ving there planted their Cannon, they be∣gan to play one upon the other on both sides, and as the Prisoners who had been made in several Skirmishes, assured the Christian Army their Artillery was well served, and had killed many of their Soldi∣ers, and several of their best Gunners, tho' the loss on the Christian side had been but very indifferent.

On the 25th nothing very considerable was acted: But

On the 26th the Christians advanced Guards acquainted the Generals, That the Body of the Enemies Army was in moti∣on, and marched in posture of Battle, un∣der Covert of Bushes, Shrubs, and some Trees, and that they had already posted themselves between Temeswaer and the Christian Army, the Generals of which sending to take a view of the Countenance of the Enemy; they were of Opinion, and saw evidently, that the Body which they discovered, consisted of the whole Turkish Army, and not a Detachment; upon which the Christian Army marched directly upon them to Attack and Engage them; but be∣fore they could come so near as to Engage them, they had covered and fortified them∣selves under the Bushes and Ditches, that it was difficult to come at them; and ha∣ving also a Bog behind them, and a Marsh on their left Hand, with three Ranks of Waggons fastned to each other with Chains of Iron in the Front, made the Attack al∣most impossible to be made. Howsoever the Generals resolved, whatsoever Diffi∣culties might offer, to Attack the Enemy;* 1.9 and accordingly about five a Clock in the Evening, six Battalions of Foot, sustain∣ed by two Regiments of Dragoons, Char∣ged the Enemy in the Flank under the Command of General Heusler, and com∣manded them to march into the Wood, which they performed with great Bravery, and much galled the Turks with their Fire. The Enemies Horse hereupon advanced, and finding that the Christians had formed their Line, charged them with great Fury, when 1200 of their best Horse broke through the two Saxon Battalions, not∣withstanding the latter made a very brave Resistance; but Lieutenant-General Zui∣zendorf,

with some Regiments of Horse of the same Line, beat back the Enemy, and again closed the Line with some Saxon Bat∣talions, and Attacked the Janisaries in their Intrenchments, and beat them from their Post; but the Enemies Foot being reinfor∣ced, and their Horse taking our Men in the Flank, they were obliged to retire; on∣ly two Regiments of our Dragoons, Com∣manded by the Young Prince of Vaude∣mont, advanced to sustain them, and repul∣sed the Turkish Horse; but the Janisaries returning, and Charging them again, the Dragoons suffered very much by their Fire, and many Soldiers and Officers were kil∣led and wounded; but General Heusler bringing up another Regiment to their As∣sistance, beat back the Enemy to their In∣trenchments, but was himself dangerously wounded.

Whilst this was doing, another Body of the Enemies Horse Charged another Body on the second Line, where the Christian Troops received them in such a manner, as gave a Check to their Fury, and then Ge∣neral Roses advancing with the Horse of the same Line, drove them back, and pursued them about two Hungarian Miles, when the Victory began to declare it self in fa∣vour of the Christians, and the Turks to put themselves into Flight, when Orders came to General Roses to stop the Pursuit, and to march back with the Troops; howsoever some other Squadrons of Horse followed the Enemies unto their Intrenchments; from whence the Turks made so great a Fire both with their Cannon and Small-shot, that those Squadrons were forced to retire; and being pursued by the Enemies Horse, they encountred another of the Christian Regiments, which they also put into Dis∣order; which General Roses observing, ad∣vanced with the Regiment of Caprara, and Charging the Enemy in the Flank, cut off above 1000 of them: Then the whole Christian Line advanced, and pushed the Enemy into their Trenches, where they were in such a Consternation, that the Sultan himself with much difficulty pre∣vailed upon them to keep their Ground, and defend their Intrenchments, killing se∣veral with his own Hand,* 1.10 that would have fled; and at length Night coming on, it put an end to the Battle.

Thus the Christians remaining Masters of the Field, or Place of Battle, intended to Attack again the Enemies Camp by Break of Day in the Morning; but they laboured so hard all that Night, that they fortified their Camp, and made it almost impregnable; which hindered the Germans from making another Attempt in the Morning.

The Christians lost a great many Men in this Fight, amongst which were divers Of∣ficers of Fame and Renown, as Heusler, General of the Horse, and Major-General Polland, besides others who died of their Wounds.

The Turks lost above 8000 Men, as was reported by a Pasha, who was taken Pri∣soner in the Battel.

The Troops on both sides often min∣gled, and gave no Quarter on either side. A great Booty was taken from the Turks, amongst which were many fine Horses, with several Standards.

In the heat of this Action the Germans lost some Pieces of Cannon, by reason that their Carriages were shot in pieces and the Horses which drew them were killed.

The 27th of this Month of September,* 1.11 the whole Christian Army remained that whole Day in Posture of Battle before their Camp; but the Enemy not appearing, His Electoral Highness resolved to pass the Beque, and to march towards the River Theysse, to supply the Army with Provisions, of which they began to be in want, which was done the 28th when the Turks passed the River in like manner.

And on the 29th the Christian Army En∣camped at Olasch, near the Theysse, where General Staremberg joyned the rest of the Army with six Regiments of Horse from Titul; and Orders were sent to the Bran∣denburghers, and other Troops, that were not in the Battle, having been posted in several Flying Camps, to joyn the Army, which being refreshed, were ordered to march again to observe the Enemy in their Motion.

This is the Account which the Turks themselves give of this Battle, which be∣ing finished, as here described, both Ar∣mies thought it now to be the Time and Season to withdraw out of the Field; and so the Elector withdrew out of the Field, and came to Vienna; by which it was judg∣ed, that no farther Action would happen for that Year; and in confirmation thereof, the Turkish Fleet retired into Salankement, without having done any thing of moment for this whole Year: It is not to be doubt∣ed, but that the Issue of this Battel turned to the Advantage of the Imperialists, un∣less it be that they left 26 Pieces of Can∣non in the Bushes.

The Season of the Year declining now towards the Winter, and the Elector of Saxony withdrawn from the Field to Vienna, the Sultan also following the like Example, (which displeased not the Turkish Army) returned from Belgrade to Adrianople, on

the 17th of the last Month of October, where being arrived,* 1.12 they did not much brag or boast of their Success, tho' to speak truly, they had this Year withstood a greater Force of the Christians, than they had for several Years before, which they attribute in a great measure, to the Perso∣nal Valour and Bravery of the Sultan him∣self, whose Presence ever gives Courage to his Army: And it is said, That he kept all the time of the Battle in the Rear, with 3000 Choice Men, to kill all Persons whom he should find or meet turning their Backs, upon whom he did some Execu∣tion.

In all these Actions, both in this and se∣veral other Years, the French did great Services to the Turks,* 1.13 both by their Coun∣sels, and Management of their Affairs, and especially the Marquis de Lore was very Eminent, and Signal in all his Behaviour; tho' there was never any good Understand∣ing between him and the Ambassador Mon∣sieur Chaterneau.

This Year was not very signal on either side for any considerable Exploits at Sea, or on the Watry Element: Only that the Turks destroyed three of the Emperor's Vessels, or Gallies on the Danube, and took one of very good force.

After which all things remained quiet as to the Camp in Hungary and elsewhere, except the great Preparations which were making for the re-taking of Asac from the Moscovites; from whence five Gallies were about this time returned, having left eight others with the Brigantines at Ozul.

On the first Day of November an Am∣bassador from Persia made his Entrance in∣to Constantinople, where a great Ship four Days after was Launched, carrying 100 Guns, four whereof would shoot a Shot of 24 Okes, every Oke weighing two Pounds and a half, with design to be fitted for the Service of the following Year, with three others, which were built in the Black-Sea, much of the same bigness and sized with that which was built at Constanti∣nople, and now Launched for Entertainment of the Persian Ambassador, who staid not long in that City before he proceeded to Adrianople, where he arrived about the 20th of November with a Retinue of about 150 Attendants,* 1.14 besides those which were appointed to serve him by the Turks, whose Entrance was in this manner.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The Vene∣tians at Sea give a Defeat to the Turks.
• * 1.2

  The Pasha of Diarbe∣kir put to Flight.
• * 1.3

  And the Turks de∣feated.
• * 1.4

  The Grand Seignior, with the Queen Mo∣ther leaves Constan∣tinople.
• * 1.5

  April.
• * 1.6

  A Fire at Constan∣tinople.
• * 1.7

  June.
• * 1.8

  July.
• * 1.9

  The Battle of Olasch.
• * 1.10

  The Turks worsted.
• * 1.11

  Septemb. 27, and 28.
• * 1.12

  October.
• * 1.13

  The French do great Services.
• * 1.14

  Novemb.