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HISTORICAL SKETCH OF CONSTANTINOPLE. XV11
Selim I. began his reign in 1512, and it was distinguished by some remarkable events.
He is represented, by the historian Chalcocondyles, as exhibiting in his countenance
a singular display of his predominant passions—a cruelty inexorable, an obstinacy
invincible, and an ambition unmeasurable. He had the wrinkled forehead of a Tarquin,
the fearful eye of a Nero, and the livid complexion of a Scythian; and, to complete the
expression of his countenance, his mustaches were rigid, and drawn up to his ears, so that
his head resembled that of a tiger. Yet he had many great qualities, which distinguish
him among the sultans. He erected the Tersana, or arsenal, on the Golden Horn, and
so was the founder of the Turkish navy. He was an historian, a poet, and, contrary to the
law of the Prophet, a painter of human figures, and in this way commemorated his own
battles. He added Egypt to the Turkish dominions. The fierce militia who governed it
had been originally Christian slaves, like his own, and had established a dynasty which had
lasted 200 years; but the Mamlukes now fell before the superior energies of their brethren
the Janissaries. Another accession was made to his subjects. His hatred to Christianity
was extreme, and his persecution of those who professed it relentless; and on this
account he encouraged the Jews to supply their place at Constantinople. This
people had increased exceedingly in Spain, under the Moors; but, on the returning
power of the Spaniards, they were everywhere expelled by the inquisition. They set
out from Spain, to the number of 800,000 persons, and received that protection from
Turks which Christians would not afford them. They were invited to establish themselves
at Constantinople and the villages on the Bosphorus, where 100,000 were located, and
others in different parts of the empire. Several points of their belief and practice recommended them to the Mohammedans—their strict theology, their abhorence of swine's flesh,
their rite of circumcision, were all points of resemblance between them. They called them
Mousaphir, or visitors, and treated them, accordingly, with kindness and hospitality.
They are at this day distinguished as a people, still speaking the Spanish language
in the Turkish capital, which they brought with them from the country from which they
were expelled.
An attempt was made to destroy Selim by a singular poison: Mustapha pasha
composed a ball of soap with various aromatic ingredients, but one of so deadly a poison,
that, like prussic acid, it was immediately absorbed by the skin, and destroyed the person
to whose face it was applied; and this was sent to the sultan's barber, as a precious
invention, to be used when shaving his master. It was accompanied by a packet enclosed
in a case of lead; a precaution which excited suspicion, and led to discovery. The
pasha, barber, and all connected with them, were strangled, and the sultan escaped. He
afterwards died of a foul cancer, in the eleventh year of his reign, having justly acquired
the name of Yavuz, " the Ferocious." He displayed his qualification of poet by writing
his own epitaph, which is seen upon his tomb, and describes his "ruling passion,
strong in death."
" The earth I conquered while alive ;
In death to combat yet I strive.
Here lies my body, seamed with scars;
My spirit thirsts for future wars."
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