Be it known that before the time of the late illustrious and victorious Sultan Mohammed, the Ottomans had not ventured to undertake naval expeditions, or to engage with the European nations. It is indeed related that in the time of Sultan Murad the Second, they occasionally made excursions to the neighbouring shores and islands; but these expeditions are not worth enumerating. After the taking of Constantinople, when they spread their conquests over land and sea, it became necessary to build ships and make armaments, in order to subdue the fortresses and castles on the Rumelian and Anatolian shores, and in the islands of the Mediterranean.
When they first besieged Constantinople on the land side, and saw the little success they had, they found the necessity of raising a proper fleet in order to attack the city by sea; and to the management of this affair, Soleiman Beg, son of Balta, was appointed. According to one account he built the vessels behind Sūdlūja; but, according to the Tāj al Tuarikh, behind the castle of Rumeili.
This Soleiman Beg then, it appears, was the first Capudan of this nation, for before the capture of Constantinople no mention is made in any history of the harbour of Gallipoli, or its capudan, whereas there is at present, near that castle, a port named after this Soleiman Beg.
It is related in the above-mentioned work, that a chain being drawn across the bay which separates Galata from Constantinople, it was found utterly impossible to bring up the vessels to attack the city on that side; but orders being given to move from Galata, they conducted the ships to Iengi Hissar, where, by a novel and surprising contrivance of raising weights, they lifted them out of the water, and placing them on oiled rollers, thus carried them over the land, and again lowered them into the sea. These vessels were filled with the most valiant warriors; and parapets being erected, they fought bravely, completely discomfited the Infidels, and at last vanquished the city.
The various expeditions that succeeded this distinguished victory, and the account of their leaders, shall now follow in order.
THE EXPEDITION TO ENOS.
Soon after the capture of Constantinople, the cazy and inhabitants of Ferra having represented that they were much annoyed by the wickedness of the Infidels of Enos, his Majesty (Sultan Mohammed) instantly resolved on subjugating those rebels; in consequence of which, Khass Ionas was summoned to the Sublime Porte, and his Majesty having communicated his design, ordered him to collect all the troops that were at hand; to fit out ten triremes, and sail with all possible haste to the appointed place. He further charged him not to disclose the place of their destination to any one, till they reached it; whilst he himself would lead on his victorious army by land. Ionas Beg, in conformity with his instructions, put out to sea, and with favourable winds, in a short time arrived at the castle, to which he laid siege. The imperial banners of victory, being equally expeditious, were also raised; and the Infidels, being filled with terror, offered stipulations, and surrendered the fortress. Ionas Beg after this, by the sultans command, attacked another castle on the island of Tashūz (Tasse), opposite Enos, which he reduced, and returned.
THE EXPEDITION TO AMASSERO, SINOPE, AND TREBISOND.
In the year of the Hejra 864 (A. D. 1459), the victorious sultan, Mohammed Khan, proceeded by land to reduce Amassero, a castle on the shores of the Black Sea; and at the same time sent forward other forces by sea. Being again crowned with success, he turned his attention to Sinope, then occupied by Ismael Beg, son of Isfendiar; and the grand vizier, Mohammed Pasha, having fitted up a fleet of one hundred vessels, manned by warlike heroes, set sail, and on his way to Trebisond touched at Sinope, where the land forces having also arrived, they besieged the castle both by sea and land. The helpless Emir Ismael surrendered without resistance, and delivered the castle to the Sublime Porte. Having, besides this, subjugated Kastamouni, the victorious fleet proceeded towards Sinope, whither the imperial forces also marched; and after a short siege, the enemy stipulated, and surrendered the city.