The city of Tauris, seeing the great power of Sophi, and that he had destroyed their prince and his children, surrendered to him without any defence,—and he remained there with his army some time. The citizens of Tauris, observing the great prudence and wisdom of Sophi, put him in possession of all the treasures of Usson Cassan. He thence departed to a large town called Lingia, three days journey from Tauris, and to another called Passy, the last town of Usson Cassan.
Sophi, finding that he had now conquered and submitted to his obedience the whole of the dominions of Usson Cassan, and established order every where, returned to Tauris, the capital of the country. He was continually followed by his mother, with a numerous attendance of slaves, for he was much beloved by her; and after a short stay at Tauris, she sent ambassadors to the grand Turk, to remonstrate with him on his shameful conduct to the Sophines,—ordering him to set them at liberty, and also to put on the red bonnet, after the manner of the Sophines, otherwise she would make him feel the power of her son.
The grand Turk detained the ambassadors in Constantinople, for he suspected that Sophi would invade his country of Natolia; and in consequence, he assembled a large army near to the town of Angora[31], and commanded all in Pera[32] to hold themselves in readiness to bear arms against Sophi Christian or Red Bonnet. They were, however, refractory, and refused to obey, showing more willingness to surrender themselves to Sophi. The Armenians say, that Sophi does not esteem the grand Turk a button,—for he has an army of ninety thousand men, well armed, without including his own countrymen from Armenia, who daily follow him. All this information was brought to the king of France, when he was at Morestel[33] in Dauphiny, in the year 1503.
FOOTNOTES:
[29] I cannot make out this chapter to my satisfaction. In the 'Art de Verifier les Dates,' I find, that in the year 1501, which nearly answers to the date in the chapter, Schah Ismael Sophi I., &c. the restorer of the sect of Ali, in Persia, when only 14 years old, assembles a large army of Alides, conquers Tauris from Alvand IV. successor of Uzun Cassan, and obliges him to fly to Diarbeker, where he dies in 1502. Schah Ismael gains Bagdad in 1510, putting to flight Morad Beg, son to Alvand, and in the following year conquers Khoristan, &c. In the year 1514, Selim I. emperor of the Turks gives him battle and defeats him on the plains of Chaldéron, and takes the town of Tauris. Sophi dies aged 38, &c.
[30] Arzian. Q. Erzerum, or Erivan?
[31] Angora,—a town in Natolia: Bajazet was defeated near to it.
[32] Pera,—partly a suburb to Constantinople. I believe it was then possessed by the Genoese.
[33] Morestel,—election of Vienne.