After the last treaty above alluded to was settled and signed, the Kizilbáshes came into the camp of the Moslems, when a mutual exchange of articles took place. The Moslem army, having first sent their artillery away to Kars, retired from Reván in the month of Ramazán. Whilst passing through the plains of Loghan, immense numbers of them perished from the cold. Having supplied Kars with military stores, the army advanced to Erzerúm, where the household troops were paid off and sent away into Romeili for the winter. The commander-in-chief and his suite remained at Erzerúm.
The grand vezír and commanding-general, Mohammed Páshá, is deposed.—Khalíl Páshá is advanced to the premiership.
All the efforts employed this year against the Persians, as we have seen, ended in disappointment, disgrace, and loss. The failure of the vast army conducted by Mohammed Páshá against a place of such little importance as Reván, being only a fortress of clay, and the great expense which this expedition had occasioned, created a tremendous stir at Constantinople. The emperor was no sooner informed of the disasters which his army had experienced, and of the utter failure of the expedition, which were wholly to be attributed to the want of proper skill in the commander-in-chief, his own son-in-law, Mohammed Páshá, than his mind was much hurt, and he immediately determined on deposing him. With this view, and in this state of mind, he assembled the mufti and all his ministers in the imperial gardens, in order to consult them on the state of public affairs. Etmekjí Zádeh, who, it will be remembered, had succeeded Gúrjí Mohammed Páshá in the deputyship of Constantinople, became exalted in his own imagination at the chance, as he thought, of his succeeding Mohammed Páshá in all his offices. In the pride and vanity of his heart he proceeded to the place of deliberation. Before he reached it, however, the reverend mufti had an interview with his majesty, who informed him of the purpose he had formed of conferring the high and important offices of grand vezír and commander-in-chief of the army on one of his vezírs, and asked him to tell him who he thought was worthy of being raised to these high dignities. The mufti replied, “That as Etmekjí Zádeh filled the office of deputy of Constantinople, the honour might, perhaps, belong to him.” “That may be true,” said his majesty in return; “but he has been sometimes guilty of falsehood, and such a person is not fit to hold the premiership.” The reverend prelate approved of the sentiments expressed by his majesty, and then added, “that Etmekjí Zádeh was not only a liar, but also a wicked tyrant.” “Mention, then,” said his majesty, “some other one.” The reverend prelate without any hesitation recommended Khalíl Páshá, “an officer,” he said, “who, as he knew, had gained to himself, by his bravery and skill in the navy, signal honours, and was every way worthy as well as competent for holding the high offices now vacant.” “That,” said his majesty, “is the very man I have been thinking of.” The reverend prelate now took his leave of his royal master, and had scarcely gone out when Etmekjí Zádeh came in, to whom the emperor put the same question he had put to the mufti. “Please your majesty,” replied Etmekjí, “I am at your service, and am willing to sacrifice my life in the service of the crown.” The emperor was silent, and the other thinking this silence on the part of the emperor betokened his majesty’s selection of himself, he went out. Khalíl Páshá now entered, when his majesty saluted him by informing him that he was appointed grand vezír and commander-in-chief: “The seals shall be sent after you,” added the emperor. Khalíl kissed his majesty’s hand for the honours he had conferred on him, and returned to his own mansion: so did also the other vezírs, but none of them knew any thing of the appointment of Khalíl Páshá.
Etmekjí Zádeh, full of the idea of being raised to the premiership, as he vainly thought, got his table spread out and covered with all sorts of viands for his friends, and impatiently waited for the arrival of the seals, which he believed would be sent him. But he waited in vain: they were sent to Khalíl Páshá. This fact was soon announced to Etmekjí, even at the very time he was regaling himself with his friends, as before hinted, and which had such a paralyzing effect on the constitution of Etmekjí, that his hands refused to touch the food which stood before him. His friends were all struck with surprise: they wondered at the sudden change which had appeared in their host: they were silent and retired. This unexpected piece of information was first communicated by a messenger who came to call the Reïs effendí, one of Etmekjí Zádeh’s guests, desiring him to wait on the new minister.
Hasan Aghá, son-in-law to Mesli Aghá, ághá of the janissaries, who fell before Reván, was, though only a kúl ketkhodá, appointed to succeed his father-in-law; but this appointment not meeting with his majesty’s approbation, Hasan Aghá, bostánjí báshí, was appointed to the command of the janissaries, and was sent off to Erzerúm, where the janissaries then were.
The Persian ambassador is imprisoned.
As soon as the sháh of Persia had learned that a mighty army was marching against his dominions, he sent off an ambassador, as before related, not with two years’ tribute of silk and presents, which he owed, but with one year’s only. On the arrival of the ambassador in the city of felicity (Constantinople), accommodations were afforded him, but the usual honours were denied. In fact, the monarch was so much enraged, that he afterwards sent him to the Seven Towers.
In the meantime the new grand vezír was busily employed in making preparations for renewing the war against Persia, and an imperial letter, with money for the journey, was sent to the khán of the Crimea, Ján Beg, calling upon him to join the royal camp with a Tátár army.
The disappointed Etmekjí Zádeh entered into wicked and treacherous designs against the new grand vezír. One of his creatures was brought before the diván for having murdered a servant who had belonged to the prime minister, for which he was instantly dispatched by order of the emperor. Etmekjí himself was notorious for his acts of corruption, and was therefore banished the seat of government.
The preparations for renewing the war being fully completed, the grand vezír and commander-in-chief, with his newly organized army, passed over to Scutari. Etmekjí Zádeh’s ambition was again awakened; he thought he should now be made káímakám of Constantinople, which office he lately held; but he was again disappointed, for the emperor had conferred that responsible situation on Súfí Mohammed Páshá, governor of Buda, who was instantly recalled and installed. Etmekjí Zádeh could bear his disappointments no longer, and overcome with grief he was taken ill. But we must, for a little, advert to some other events which claim our attention.