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A. D. torians. According to him, Shaus Páfha made his entry into 1687. Conftantinople, on the 1ft day of November, with great fo

Changes at

court.

lemnity; and prefented the prophet's ftandard to the Soltán, who, moving three fteps forward, took it from him, and gave it to Mostafa, the Seliktar, or Silahdar: then receiving his brother's feal, in the fame manner, returned the Wazir another with his own name upon it.

NOTWITHSTANDING this, the fury of the mutineers was not yet abated: for they committed feveral great men to pri, fon; and had Rajeb Páfhá strangled; although it was believed that the chief promoter of his death was the Wazir, who envied him on account of his great abilities. They likewife turned out their Aga, and chofe in his room the Seliktar, a man but twenty-five years old, who had formerly been a furgeon in the Saray, and of no experience in military affairs.

THIS, however, proved a merit in his character, as it made him the fitter to be governed by them: for now the Wazir himfelf was forced to grant them all their demands, and apMoney pro- prove in writing fuch methods as they judged proper for jects.

Civil lift reduced.

raising money; one of which was to tax the great officers belonging to the late Soltán, down to the aftrologers and goldfmiths, moft of whom were fined to the full of what they were worth. The next method of raising money was, by admitting to ranfom those who were imprifoned. These fums, thus collected, being fufficient to discharge the arrears due to the foldiers, things grew calm for a time; fo that, on the 17th of November, Soltán Soleyman went in the morning by boat to the Saray of Ayûb; where he was girt with the fword by the Nakîb Effendi; and, when the ceremonies were over, rode back through the city, but with no great pomp.

AFTER this, he began a reform at court, by leffening the number of hawks and hounds. He reduced that of his horfes to one hundred; made one hundred-and-fifty of his pages Spahi's, and changed the reft. The like was done in the court and chambers of the women: by which retrenchments eight thoufand purfes were faved yearly to the treafury. These proceedings greatly pleafed the foldiers; but, the money falling fhort to pay them, it created new commotions. And now it was the Wazir's turn to conjure up more; which he performed by the old method, in going over with the rich men once again. Among the reft, the Kizlar Aga, whom he began with, was forced to pay nine hundred purfes, befides his effects to a great value; and then banished to Rhodes. But the money raised, still falling fhort by two hundred purses,

the

the fum was made-up by coining the filver and gold taken from the horse-furniture in the Soltân's stables.

A. D.

1688.

neers

AFTER this, things became quiet for the fpace of two months; during which time the Soltân had thoughts of fend- The mutiing an ambassador to France, England, and Holland, to notify his advancement to the empire: but this uncuftomary project was fuperfeded by the preparations for war, and breaking out of new commotions. For the foldiers, affembling with more infolence than before, in a very rude manner, demand of the Wazir, the removal of Kyoprili, the Kaymaykam, from his office; which was immediately done, and he fent to the caftle of the Dardanels, very glad to get fafe out of their hands. At the fame time, feveral other officers were difcharged; and fuch as the rebels nominated from among themselves, put in their room by the Wazîr; whom they alfo forced to renew his oath to ftand by them. infult the This done, he fet up the horse-tail, as a fignal of his Wazîr; march into the field, in order to divert them from their defigns; and made Shaban Aga, his Kychaya, Kaymaykâm, as a man whom he could trust in his abfence to govern the city. But, having nominated Zulfikar Effendi, a perfon obnoxious to the mutineers, to the poft of Kyehaya, Tesfuji, the most able and active among them, came and told him, that if he made that man Kyehaya, he would kill him before his face. This affront the Wazir diffembled, hoping they would foon render themfelves odious to the people; as in fact they did, by taxing chimnies, giving orders for quartering foldiers, and raising money by extraordinary methods.

66

MEAN time the Wazir, in concert with Kyoprili, and the their ringJanizar-Aga, procured a Khatti Sharif, importing, "that the leader pugrievances of the foldiers having been redreffed, and all their nifhed. "juft demands, gratified, it was their duty to be obedient "to the Soltán, as well as thofe officers fet over them by "his authority, and not to meddle with affairs relating to "the goverment; and that, whoever was refractory, fhould "be punished as a rebel." This mandate, being fent to the Aga of the Janizaries, he affembled the chief officers; and, having read it to them, afked, whether they would obey it or not? They answered, yes; for none but the common foldiers joined with the mutineers. But Tesfuji cried out, he is a villain who obeys that mandate. Whereupon he was, by the Aga's order, carried into an inner room, and put to death. The Wazir alfo fent to feal up his houfe, in order to confifcate his eftate; as he did by feveral others of the chief mutineers, whofe perfons he ought firft to have secured.

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A. D.

The Wazir's im

Soon after, the Janizar Aga, thinking by his own autho1688. rity to difperfe an affembly of the malecontents in the Okneydan (G); he was no fooner espied by Haji Ali, an Armenian renegado, and a great friend of Tesfuji; but he came up to him, faying, You have murdered our companion, and endeaprudence. voured to few diffention among us: then, ftriking him with his fimeter, he was immediately cut in pieces. After this, the mutinous mob robbed the Tefterdar's houfe of a confiderable fum of money, defigned for paying the foldiers; and then affaulted the Wazir's houfe. But the Tfterdar, and captain Pabu, being there with fome other friends well armed, the rabble were repulfed. At length, the Wazir, thinking to pacify the tumuit, refigned up his office; which proved his ruin for now, on the lofs of his authority, all his friends forfaking him, the mutineers broke into his palace, and Haji Ali fhot him with a piftol, while others wounded him mortally in the belly; after having fought courageously, and killed feveral with his own hand. He could not be prevailed on to withdraw, faying, that he could not live long; and therefore would not abandon his family to the fury of fuch mifcreants b.

The fedi- AFTER this, excited by a rage unheard of-among the Turks, tion quafh- they break into the womens apartments; and, cutting off the ed: nofes, hands, and feet, of the Wa ir's wife (H) and fifter, drag them naked through the ftreets, and commit other execrable crimes upon the flaves and female domeftics (I). That minifter's family, being thus deftroyed, they rove like ravenous wolves through the city, and kill and plunder all they meet, as if partners with the Wazir in his guilt. A dreadful face of things appears, and the whole city would have been ruined, if the Ulema, who were the first authors of the tumult, had not compofed it: for, affembling at the imperial palace, they there difplay the Sanjâki Sharîf of Mohammed;

bRICAUT, vol. iii. in Soleyman II.

(G) A field without the city, where they used to foot with bows and arrows..

(H) She was daughter of the great and famous Wazir Kiopril Ahmed Pafka, and fifter of Kioprili Mostafa Pafha, who shortly after retook Belgrade. Cant.

(1). Ricaut does not mention this dragging thro' the streets. He fays, that, altho' his wife, the daughter of old Kuperlee,

gave them all her jewels, yet they treated her inhumanly, and wounded her; on which, it was reported, fhe miscarred and died: that his eldest daughter, not delivering her pendants foon enough, they cut off her ears with them and that they fold a younger daughter, with a flave whom they carried away, for fix dollars.

and,

and, by their criers, proclaim, that all Muffulmans, who would not be deemed infidels, fhould repair to that standard, The fummons is obeyed, firft by the citizens, and then by the Janizaries, who, that they might not appear rebels, prefently lay down their arms, crying out, that they had taken them up not against the Soltân, but his enemy the Wazir; whom having punished, they were ready to do whatever the Soltan fhould think proper ©.

A. D. 1688.

ACCORDING to Ricaut, this commotion was appealed af- the manner ter another manner. The tumult having now lafted three how. or four days, the rebels feemed to be abfolute mafters, for there were no officers alive who had any authority over them; when a small accident ruined their anarchy, after they had domineered for five months, killing and difplacing the Pafbas at pleasure. At this time four Janizaries having taken fome embroidered handkerchiefs out of certain fhops, the fhopkeepers made a great clamour; and, by the encouragement of an Amir, all rofe, fell on the plunderers, and killed two of them. Hereupon the Amir, putting a piece of linen on a ftick, and holding it up, cried out, Let all true Mullulmans repair to the Saray, and pray the Soltán to put forth the prophet's ftandard, and deftroy thefe rebels. Upon this, the injured citizens crouded thither, which fo encouraged Soleymán, that at noon the standard was erected; and the people, by prociamation, ordered to come and fight under it."

Rebels pu

nished.

THIS having brought an incredible number together under the walls of the palace, a Sheykh, or preacher, called to them thrice from thence; and afked, whether they were contented with the prefent emperor? they answered in the affirmative, with three great fhouts: but faid, they would have the Gyurbas, or ringleaders of the mutinous militia, destroyed. Thirteen of them were thereupon taken, and cut to pieces; and the reft fled. The Mufti alfo was de-` graded for fiding with them; and Tabák Effendi, who had been depofed by the mutineers, reftored to that dignity. The Nifanji Bafbi, an old man, was created Wazir; and a young man, fifth page of the royal chamber, made Aga of the Janizaries. Other vacant places were fupplied, and the next day, all being quiet, as if no difturbances had happened, feveral Armenians and others, who, difguifed like foldiers, mixed with the rioters to rob, were difcovered and hanged. After this, the plunderers were, by proclamation, pardoned; who, within three days, fhould reftore the goods or money to the injured citizens; which had a furprizing effect.

• CANT. ubi fupr. p. 353.

A. D. 1688.

So that this day might be called the firft of the Soltân's reign, who began with fuppreffing taverns and smoking; in which he was fo ftrict, that, one day walking incognito to see if his orders had any authority, he commanded two poor fellows to be executed for felling tobacco d.

New dif BUT this calm did not last long: for, a few days after, Soturbances. leyman having ordered the new Wazir, Koja Ifmael Pafha, to feize privately the leaders of the rebellion, and put them to death (K); the Janizaries again take arms, and threaten deftruction to both. The Soltán, to prevent the storm falling on his head, by the advice of Kyoprili Mostafa Pafbá (L), throws the whole blame upon the Wazir (M); fpreading a report, that he had acted therein without the Soltan's knowlege; and, to give it the better glofs, banishes him to Rhodes; appointing Tekkiur Daghi Moftaja Pafh in his room.

Rebellions

abroad.

THE fames from the capital.fpread into the provinces. In Rûm Ili, Eghen Ozmán Pafkâ (N), affembles a confiderable body of Spahi's, and engages them to demand of the Wazir • RICAUT ubi fupr.

(K) Ricaut fays, above 1000 of theGyurbas,or ringleaders fervants, were thrown into the fea one night after another: but fpeaks of no new commotion thereupon.

(L) According to Ricaut, he was, at this time, removed from the prison of the Dardinels to that of Rhodes.

(M) When troubles arife, this is the only fhield which the Soltans have to defend themfelves; and, by facrificing the Wazir, they are fure to fecure their own fafety. It is thought, Mohammed IV. would not have been depofed, had he given up Ayneji Soleyman Pafká, when first applied to. So that, altho' the almoft unlimited power, which the Solan gives the W'azir, might be dangerous in other ftates; yet it is the chief, if not only, fupport of the Othman empire; fince the Soltan can,

when he pleafes, cut off the Wazir, who will never depose the Soltán; because he muft lofe by a change; nor can ever hope to ufurp the crown; because the Turks have fo great a veneration for the Othman race. Cant.

(N) A man noted for his robberies in Afia. His followers were reckoned the ftouteft men in that quarter. He threatened to deftroy Ifkinder, and even the royal city. At last, being pardoned, he brought with him above 1000 freebooters against the Germans; but was put to death as foon as he came to Con ftantinople. Cant.-Prince Cantemir feems to confound Eghen with Gyeduk, if Ifkinder be a miftake for kudar (or Skutari). Ricaut calls him Yeghen; and makes both him and Gyeduk, whom he names Yedik, generals in Hungary.

the

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