The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1876-06-23
THE RULE OF THE CRESCENT.
he Flow and Ebb OF Islsaism-From
CsI~ny To am Emptre-A Lssg Las
OF Suasans OF the Mousse OF Ottossa..


The Ottoman Empire in Europe had
its origin in the conquest of Gallipoli
in 1857 by the warlike Soliman, the
son Of the Kalif Orkhsn, who then Sc
cured footing on European territory
by the seizure OF the key to the capital
Of the Byzantine Empire. This success
was followed by series of attacks
along the shores OF the Hellespont,
which resulted in the establishment Of
Turkish colonies and the gradual ex-
tension OF the Ottoman power. In 1861
the Sultan,
AMURAT THE CONQUERoR,
took Adrianople, then the largest forti-
fled city in the Empire OF the East, and
established there his second official
residence. From this center OF opera
tons the Sultan pushed his conquests
until he had subdued large territory
peopled by the Slavic races, who, how
ever, combined in revolt against his
sway, and were defeated with great
slaughter in 1868. The Prince OF Servia,
however, prepared for grand effort to
throw off the Turkish yoke, AID met
Amurat on the plain of kassova, where,
after desperate struggle, the Servians
were defeated. But the victory cost the
Sultan his life, for during the battle, as
the chroniclers relate, noble Servian
named Milosch penetrated to the Sui
tan under the pretense OF making a
confidential communication, and
stabbed him with dagger.
BAJAZET,
his successor to the throne, established
colonies in Servia, and in 1890 began
general war on Europe, in which he
forced the Greek Emperor to join him
by furnishing troops TO the Ottoman
army; but that prince having abandon
ed him he turned all his forces on the
Empire of the Greeks, and besieged
Conssantinople during seven years, but
without capturing the city. However,
the direct result Of the war was the an
nexation Of Wallachia TO the Porte and
the occupation of the territory of Bos-
mia up to the Hungarian frontier. At
this stage of Turkish aggression Europe
coalesced against the Conqueror, and
the chiyalry of France, Germany and
Bavaria, with the Knights of st. John,
arrayed themselves under Sigismund,
King OF Hungary, against the Ottomans;
but at the battle OF Nicopolis, fought in
September, 1896, the allied army was
cut to- pieces, and the crescent was
again triumphant over the cross. The
rage Of the Sultan was so great on learn
ing that his loss amounted To $4,000 men
that he Immediately ordered the
slaughter of 10000 prisoners who fell
into his hands at Nicopolis. This terrible
butchery was executed on all but few
prominent captives, whom he compelled
to ransom themselves with immense
sums. This great victory added TO the
Ottoman prestige in Europe and Asia,
filing the former with fear and the lat
ter with enthusiasm for the cause of Is
lam. The Turks now attacked the
country along the river Save and in
vaded Syria, which they penetrated as
far as Pettau, completely destroying
that town. Constantinople being still
the center Of Greek power, having sue
cessfally resisted the attack of Bajazct,
the Sultan determined on its capture,
and the population being reduced to
extremities by the vigor of his opera
tons, induced the Greek Emperor to
make terms with the Turks by allowing
the establishment of an Ottoman colony
within its walls and even the erection OF
a mosque in the capital of Eastern
Christianity. But now the tide Of sue
cess turned against the Turkish con-
queror. Timor, the Tartar, at the head
Of an immense army fresh from the
conquest OF Persia and Central Asia, met
Bajazet on the plains OF Angora, and,
after a desperate battle, defeated and
captured the Sultan, who died in 1403
Of vexation and grief at his defeat and
captivity. His successors were
MAHowET I. AND AMUBAT H.,
whose reigns were not signalized by any
remarkable advance of the Turkish
cause. Indeed, the la.ter-named Sultan,
although successful in maintaining his
hold on the European portion Of his
/ Empire, was twice defeated by the cell
ebrated Hungarian, John Hunyady, who
commanded an army of Poles, Servians,
Wallachians and Germans, which
forced Amurat to abandon the siege Of
Belgade in 1440. After temporary
retirement from the cares of govern
ment, Amurat again took up arms to
chastise the King Of Poland for breach
OF armistice, and in 1444 defeated the
latter at Varna with great slaughter.
In 144S his vengeance was gratified by
the signal defeat of Hunyady near Kas-
sova. lie died in 1850 and was succeed
ed by his son,
MAHoMEr H.,
the conqueror Of Constantinople. On
the 9th Of April, 1883, Mahomet COM
menced the siege with an army of 250,-
600 men and 420 vessels of all sizes. IL
was during this celebrated siege that
monster guns we're first used by the
Turks, and Greek fire, an incendiary
compound. was applied for the pur-