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XXX1V
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF CONSTANTINOPLE.
Ottomans, or Osmanli. Edward II. reigned
in England.
Andronicus III., (Paleeologus,) crowned in
1328, having deposed his grandfather, with
whom he had been associated. He died of
an irregular life in 1341. Edward III.
reigned in England.
Johannes III., (Cantacuzene,) was crowned in
1342, and abdicated in 1355. He retired,
with his wife, to a monastery, where he lived
till 1411. He there composed the " History
of his own Time," which is still extant. In
his reign the Turks first entered Europe.
Johannes IV., (Paleeologus,) was crowned on
his father Andronicus's death, in 1341, and
died in 1391. In his reign Amurath took
Adrianople, and established a capital in
Europe. Richard II. reigned in England..
Manuel II., (Paleeologus,) was crowned sole
emperor in 1391, and died in 1425. In his
reign, Bajazet laid siege to Constantinople,
which was raised by Tamerlane. Henry IV.
and Henry V. reigned in England.
TURKISH
Mahomed II. (Fatih.) He was proclaimed sultan in 1451, and took possession of Constantinople on the memorable 29th of May,
1453. He died of a .colic in 1481. The
title of Fatih, or " the Opener," was given
to him on the occasion, as opening a way
into the Christian capital. He prepared an
epitaph to be placed on his tomb, containing
the names of all the kings, countries, and
cities he had conquered. His contemporary in England was Edward IV.
Bajazet II. He was proclaimed in 1481,
and ceased to reign in 1512. His son
Selim had appointed for him a place of retreat such as he wished, but in the meantime had corrupted his physician, who poisoned him at Tzurallo. His contemporaries
in England were Edward V., Richard III.,
Henry VII., and Henry VIII.
Selim I. (Yaouz) began his reign in 1512, and
died of a fever in 1520. His contemporary
in England was Henry VIII.
Johannes V., (Paleeologus,) crowned sole emperor in 1425, and died of the gout in 1448.
In his reign the art of printing was first discovered in Europe. Henry VI. was his contemporary of England.
Constantinus XIII., by some XL, (Paleeologus,) was crowned in 1448, and killed in 1453.
Mohammed took the city of Constantinople,
and put an end to the Greek empire. Constantine had two brothers—Demetrius, who
basely submitted to slavery, and permitted
his daughter to be received into the conqueror's harem; and Thonas, who made
vigorous efforts to rescue Greece from the
Ottoman power. He finally retired to Italy.
His children proceeded to England, where
he died: and the ashes of the last of the
family of the Gjeek dynasty repose among
the free in Britain, where their monument is
still to be seen in Llanulph Church in
Cornwall. It is remarkable, that the first
Christian emperor of the East was born, and
the descendants of the last, repose in.England.
DYNASTY.
Soliman I. (by some II.) (Kanuni) began his
reign in 1520; and terminated it in 1566.
he is generally called in Europe the " Magnificent," but by Turks, Kanuni, or the
" Institutor," as he drew up a list of institutes by which the kingdom was afterwards
to be governed, instead of those traditions
which had before been their unwritten law.
His contemporaries in England were, Henry
VIII., Edward VI., Mary, and Elizabeth.
Selim II. succeeded his father Soliman in
1566; he died in 1574. Contrary to the
usual temperament of a Turkish sovereign,
he was fond of peace, and sighed for repose,
particularly after the loss of the terrible
battle of Lepanto, in which Cervantes lost
an arm. His contemporary in England
was Elizabeth.
Amurath III. succeeded his father Selim in
1574; and died in 1595; a victim to melancholy and a morbid imagination. The discharge of a cannon broke the windows of |
