The Grand Turk: Sultan Mehmet II - Conqueror of Constantinople and Master of an Empire (39 page)

The Conqueror’s Pavilion also houses the Imperial Wardrobe, a collection of robes and other clothing belonging to all the sultans from the Conqueror down to the end of the Osmanlı dynasty. The Conqueror’s robe exhibited in this collection is similar to the kaftan he wears in the portrait that Gentile Bellini painted of him in 1480. Mehmet would have sat for that portrait in Topkapı Sarayı, for his poor health kept him in the palace through the whole of that year. The room in which he sat for his portrait would have been the marble loggia in the north-east corner of the Third Court, for the light is best there, opening as it does through great archways to the north-east and south-east.

After Mehmet’s death his son and successor Beyazit II seems to have got rid of his father’s portrait along with other Western paintings, as Giovanni-Maria Angiolello writes in his account of Bellini’s visit to Istanbul.

Muhammed caused him [Bellini] to make many paintings and portraits of subjects of a lascivious character (
massime di cose di lussuria
), and some of these were so beautiful that he caused a great number of them to be hung in the palace. When Beyazit succeeded his father, he immediately caused these paintings to be sold in the bazaars, and many of them were bought by our [Venetian] merchants.

Bellini’s portrait of Mehmet was not seen again until 1865, when it was purchased from a collector in Venice by Augustin Layard, the famous archaeologist, who had been the British ambassador in Istanbul during the reign of Abdül Hamit II. After Layard died his widow presented the painting to the National Portrait Gallery in London, where it remains today.

The Conqueror’s portrait briefly returned to Istanbul in December 1999, when it was exhibited at the gallery of the Yapı Kredi Cultural Centre. I had not seen the painting in nearly forty years, and then only briefly, but now I looked upon it long and intently, trying to see the man behind the enigmatic face. He seemed to be peering absently into the distance, which from the place where he sat for Bellini would have been towards the confluence of the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn, where their waters meet and flow together into the Sea of Marmara around the city that he had conquered twenty-eight years earlier, changing the world for ever.

Mehmet was not yet forty-nine at the time he sat for his portrait, looking like a vigorous man at the prime of his life, with no indication that he had only a few months to live. Although he was mortally ill during those months he dragged himself from his bed to lead one more campaign, marshalling his forces on the Asian side of the Bosphorus, only to meet death one day’s march out of Istanbul, the city he conquered four and a half centuries ago and which still bears his imprint today.

An inscription above the Imperial Gate of Topkapı Sarayı, dated two years before his death, could well serve as the epitaph of Mehmet the Conqueror, the Grand Turk, dominating the entrance to the principal monument that he erected in the city that became his capital.

By the grace of God and by His approval, the foundations of this auspicious castle were laid, and its parts were solidly joined together to strengthen peace and tranquility by the command of the Sultan of the two Continents and the Emperor of the two Seas, the Shadow of God in this world and the next, the Favourite of God on the Two Horizons, the Monarch of the Terraqueous Orb, the Conqueror of the Castle of Constantinople, the Father of Conquest, Sultan Mehmed Khan, son of Sultan Murad Khan, son of Sultan Mehmed Khan, may God make eternal his empire, and exalt his residence among the most lucid stars of the firmament, in the blessed month of Ramadan of the year 883 [November and December 1478].

Notes

All references to authors relate to their works listed in the bibliography. Notes refer to page numbers in the text.

PROLOGUE: PORTRAIT OF A SULTAN

xv ‘the Glorious Empire …’, Knolles, vol. I, p. 1

xv ‘a venomous dragon’, Pastor, vol. III, p. 24

xvi ‘Modern history begins …’, Coles, p. 7

xvi-xvii ‘Partly because of empire …’, Said,
Culture and Imperialism
, p. xxv

xvii ‘son of Satan …’, Setton, vol. II, p. 150

1. THE SONS OF OSMAN

2-3 Thus is Ertogrul …, Knolles,vol. I, p. 134

4 ‘and the two amused…’, Imber,
The Ottoman Empire, 1300-1481
, p. 23

4 ‘received a great army…’, ibid., p. 25

10 ‘the Lady, daughter of Abdullah’, Babinger, p. 11

10 ‘offered his daughter…’, Doukas, p. 175

10 ‘longed more for this …’, ibid., p. 176

10 ‘knew that Belgrade…’, Imber,
The Ottoman Empire
,
1300-1481
, p. 119

10 ‘many men and lords …’, ibid.

11 ‘Your father has sent …’, Babinger, p. 24

12 ‘Mehmet must certainly…’, Raby, ‘Mehmet the Conqueror’s Greek Scriptorium’, p. 23

13 ‘in regal splendor…’, Babinger, p. 30

14 ‘I have given …’, Imber,
The Ottoman Empire
,
1300-1481
, p. 129

2. THE BOY SULTAN

15 ‘march with a powerful army…’ Setton, vol. II, p. 78

15 ‘notwithstanding any treaties …’, ibid., p. 83

16 ‘fled like sheep …’, Imber,
The Ottoman Empire
,
1300-1481
, p. 134

16 ‘after making prisoner…’, ibid., p. 27

18 ‘for his deceased …’, Babinger, p. 59

19 ‘from the oppression …’, Setton, vol. II, p. 103

19-20 ‘Proceeding for about …’, Doukas, p. 188

20 ‘When he became heir…’, Kritoboulos, pp. 13-14

20 ‘His physical powers …’, ibid., p. 14

20 ‘insolence, savagery and violence’, Doukas, p. 192

20 ‘Bury me in …’, Freely,
Turkey around the Marmara
, p. 186

21 ‘And to whomsoever…’, Gibb and Bowen, p. 36

21-22 ‘This man, who just …’, Sphrantzes, p. 59

22 ‘Your potential bride …’, ibid., p. 61

22 ‘with delight and …’, ibid.

22 ‘had made a vow…’, ibid.

22 ‘he gave himself …’, Kritoboulos, p. 14

22 ‘depose some of the governors …’, ibid.

22 ‘the registers and …’, ibid., p. 15

22 ‘In addition to this …’, ibid.

23 ‘much of the public …’, ibid.

23 ‘He greatly increased …’, ibid.

23 ‘agreed to give up …’, Tursun Beg, p. 33

24 ‘stupid and foolish Romans’, Doukas, p. 193

24 ‘a sincere friend’, ibid.

24 ‘resolved to carry…’, Kritoboulos, p. 22

24 ‘to build a strong …’, ibid., pp. 15-16

24 ‘ordered all the materials …’, ibid., p. 16

25 ‘I take nothing …’, Doukas, p. 195

25 ‘he filled thirty…’, Kritoboulos, p. 13

25 ‘marked out with stakes …’, ibid., p. 19

25 ‘as they were removing …’, Doukas, p. 197

25 ‘This was the beginning …’, ibid., p. 198

26 ‘I would rather see …’, Pastor, vol. II, p. 260

26 ‘Wretched Romans, how…’, Doukas, p. 204

26 ‘Night and day…’, ibid., p. 201

27 ‘Go in peace’, ibid., p. 202

27 ‘a recital of previous …’, Kritoboulos, p. 23

27 ‘Let us not then …’, ibid., p. 33

27 ‘practically all of those …’, ibid.

27 ‘wanted to advise …’, ibid.

27 ‘However, seeing the …’, ibid.

3. THE CONQUEST OF CONSTANTINOPLE

31 ‘informing them furthermore …’, Setton, vol. II, p. 109

31 ‘prepared the fleet …’, Kritoboulos, p. 37

31 ‘the total number…’, ibid., pp. 37-8

31 ‘They set sail …’, ibid., p. 38

32 ‘in the greatest possible …’, Sphrantzes, p. 70

32 ‘a city of ruins …’, Inalcık, ‘The Policy of Mehmed II toward the Greek Population …’, p. 231

34 ‘killed some of them …’, Kritoboulos, p. 40

34 ‘But after encountering …’, ibid.

34 ‘came before Constantinople …’, Barbaro, p. 27

34-35 ‘moved with a great …’, ibid.

35 ‘that if they were …’, Kritoboulos, p. 40

35 ‘were willing to make …’, ibid., p. 41

37 ‘were astounded at …’, ibid., p. 57

37 ‘The city was …’, Barbaro, p. 43

38 ‘at the fourth hour…’, ibid., p. 46

39 ‘the Turks made frenzied …’, ibid., p. 57

40 ‘not to be frightened …’ Melville Jones, p. 33

41 ‘Spare us, O Lord, …’, Doukas, p. 221

41 ‘Finally, my fellow…’, Melville Jones, p. 35

41 ‘asked to be forgiven …’, Sphrantzes, pp. 124-5

42 ‘Friends, we have …’, Kritoboulos, p. 71

43 After this the Sultan …, Kritoboulos, pp. 76-7

4. ISTANBUL, CAPITAL OF THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE

45 ‘The sultan then having …’, Evliya Çelebi, vol. I, part I, pp. 43-4

46 On the following Friday…, ibid., p. 45

46 ‘The spider is the …’, Freely,
Istanbul, the Imperial City
, p. 177

47 ‘Among these was Notaras …’, Kritoboulos, p. 83

47 ‘Twenty-nine nobles …’, Barbaro, p. 72

48 ‘on the grounds that …’, Sphrantzes, p. 74

48 ‘my beautiful daughter…’, ibid., p. 75

48 ‘appointed some of …’, Kritoboulos, pp. 85-6

49 ‘that no
doghandji
…’, Inalcık,
Essays in Ottoman History
, p. 277

49 ‘In sum, he has …’, Melville Jones, p. 134

49 ‘Nothing worse than this …’, Schwoebel, p. 1

49 ‘of the horrible …’, Setton, vol. I, p. 139

49 ‘shame of Christendom’, ibid., p. 140

50 ‘Also in this yere …’, Schwoebel, p. 4

50 ‘On the day when …’, ibid.

50 ‘to his vezirs …’, Inalcık, ‘The Policy of Mehmed II toward the Greek Population …’, p. 233

50 ‘a most intelligent …’, Kritoboulos, p. 85

50 ‘put him in charge …’, ibid.

50 ‘had often sent letters …’, Melville Jones, p. 39

50 ‘he ordered that Halil …’, ibid., p. 40

51 ‘He sent an order…’, Kritoboulos, pp. 93, 105

51 ‘along the shores …’, ibid., p. 83

51 ‘commanded also that …’, ibid.

51 ‘This was in a way…’, ibid., p. 93

52 ‘He issued orders …’, Sphrantzes, p. 134

52 ‘that no one should …’, Babinger, p. 104

52-53 ‘The Franciscan brothers …’, ibid., p. 419

53 ‘his father was domineering …’, ibid., p. 411

53 I saw the ruler…, ibid., p. 418

54 ‘the finest and best location …’, Kritoboulos, p. 93

54 ‘ordered the construction …’, ibid.

54-55 Mehmet II having …, Evliya Çelebi, vol. I, part II, p. 35

55 ‘command … to all …’, Kritoboulos, p. 140

55 ‘also commanded them …’, ibid.

55 ‘to construct many…’, ibid., pp. 140-1

55 ‘This man had so fine …’, ibid., pp. 88-9

5. EUROPE IN TERROR

57 ‘A city which was …’, Freely,
Jem Sultan
, p. 2

57-58 Here we have horrible news …, Setton, vol. II, p. 150

58 ‘son of Satan …’, ibid.

58 ‘even to the shedding …’, ibid., p. 164

58 ‘How very much indeed …’, ibid., p.165

59 ‘they shall be safe …’, ibid., p. 141

59 The sovereign, the Grand Turk …, Melville Jones, p. 126

59 He is a man continually…, ibid., p. 12

60 All those among the men …, Mihailović, p. 99

60 ‘Mehmet spent many nights …’, Babinger, p. 428

63 ‘The Sultan invaded …’, Sphrantzes, p. 176

63-64 He saw it and was amazed …’, Kritoboulos, p. 136

64 ‘Proceeding according to plan …’, ibid., p. 137

66 ‘marched straight into …’, Sphrantzes, p. 80

66 ‘The Christian Empires …’, Medlin, pp. 78ff

68 ‘it was common knowledge …’, Runciman,
The Fall of Constantinople 1453
, p. 173

68 ‘Why tire yourself, my son …’, ibid., p. 174

68 And we marched in …, Mihailović, p. 117

68 ‘The Emperor stayed there …’, ibid., p. 119

68-69 ‘if you do not give ear…’, Babinger, p. 195

69 ‘Sultan of the two …’, Necipoğlu, p. 34

6. WAR WITH VENICE

71 ‘We have done nothing …’, Setton, vol. II, p. 233

71-72 Once you have …, Babinger, p. 200

73 ‘inquired about the tombs …’, Kritoboulos, p. 181

73 He is reported to have said …, ibid.

73 ‘build a great navy…’, ibid., p. 185

73-74 Then he gave orders …, ibid.

74 If Mehmet only demanded …, Babinger, p. 216

75 ‘The killing of such …’, Stavrides, p. 149

75 Impelled by his lusts …, Babinger, pp. 224-5

75-76 ‘setting forth the power…’, Setton, vol. II, p. 371

76 ‘We shall do battle …’, ibid., p. 261

76 You Germans who do not …, Babinger, p. 235

78 ‘who alone keep watch …’, Freely,
Jem Sultan
, p. 17

79 ‘And King Matyas, having …’, Mihailović, p. 141

79 ‘indicate that, if he …’, Setton, vol. II, p. 270

79 ‘common enemy and calamity…’, ibid., p. 275

79 ‘many and grave difficulties …’, ibid., p. 276

80 ‘and as to the money…’, ibid., p. 278

80 The Sultan himself …, Kritoboulos, p. 208

7. THE HOUSE OF FELICITY

81 Both as to view…, Kritoboulos, p. 207

82 The Emperor Mehmet …, Freely,
Inside the Seraglio
, p. 26

82 ‘three courts each …’, Necipoğlu, p. 32

82-83 And here in this …, ibid., p. 202

87 ‘I entered into the …’, ibid., p.62

88 ‘Which of you worthies …’, Freely,
Inside the Seraglio
, p. 38

89 ‘second seraglio for damsels’, Necipoğlu, p. 160

90 ‘When you go to …’, Freely,
Istanbul, the Imperial City
, p. 206

90 ‘magnificent and excellent portico …’, Necipoğlu, p. 89

91 ‘At the other end …’, ibid., p. 96

91 ‘From both sides …’, Sumner-Boyd, pp. 300-1

92 There has been formed …, Miller,
The Palace School of Muhammad the Conqueror
, p. 40