The Mamelukes were originally Circassian slaves, who had been trained to arms by the sovereigns of Egypt, and formed the choicest troops of that coun try. They were annually recruited from the land of their birth, and by degrees grew so formidable to their masters, that they became the dispensers of the sceptre of Egypt. Having at last set aside the reigning dynasty, they one of their own na tion to the throne; and the Mameluke rule over this line country continued for more than a century. Bajazet saw the difficulty of subverting a power whose reinforcements were almost exhaustless, and therefore determined to cut off their supplies by reducing the province of Circassia. With this view Ile entered into a treaty with the sultan of Egypt, by which he restored the conquests which he had made two years before in Cilicia, and then led his army into Circassia. The reduction of this country occupied the Turkish arms nearly seven years, when Bajazet established a line of posts from Erse rum to Derbend on the Caspian, by which he com pletely prevented the emigration of the inhabitants. Kaite-bey, the reigning sovereign of Egypt, was so afflicted by this intelligence, that he is said to have died of grief, well knowing that the Mamelukes, when deprived of reinforcements from their native country, could not long withstand the Turkish power.
Bajazet, however, adopted no ulterior measures with respect to Egypt. His attention was called to the Venetians, with whom grounds of quarrel re specting their commercial rights were 'constantly occurring. Their fleets met at Sapienza in the Ar chipelago, when the Venetians were defeated with great loss; and the victors, in consequence, became masters of' Lepanto and Modon. The Turks at the same time invaded and ravaged Friuli in Italy, whence they carried off many captives and much spoil; but they received a severe check from Gon salvo the famous Cid, who had come to the assist ance of the Venetians, and who, having captured Cephalonia and Sta Maura, drove the Turkish fleet into the Hellespont, and destroyed several of their ships. A peace was soon after concluded, when Sta Maura was restored to the Turks, who also kept possession of the city of Durazzo in Albania. It
was when upon this expedition to Albania, accord ing to Knolles, that Bajazet had nearly fallen under the hands of an assassin. A dervise, approaching in the attitude of beseeching alms, made a blow at the sultan with a short scymitar, which would have been fatal had not his horse by starting aside saved the life of his master. The blow was about to be repeated, when the assassin was hewn to pieces by the Ottoman attendants.
Bajazet, being now at peace with all his neigh bours, began to taste the sweets of repose, and to devote himself to the study of the religions and phi losophical literature of Islamism. He was scarcely interrupted by the rebellion of Scheitan Kali. the founder of the Soffee sect of Mahometan heretics. This impostor had acquired a character for sanc tity by the austerities of his life and his retirement from the world in a secret cave, and had collected such a number of followers, that, not contented with attempting the conversion of his countrymen, he proceeded to take up arms, and to revolutionise the state. Having seized upon Kataia, he defeated the troops of Bajazet in several engagements; but was at last overpowered by the vizier, and flying into Persia, converted to his opinions the sovereign of that country and most of his subjects.
While Bajazet was indulging his love of retire ment, and contemplating measures for his complete abandonment of the cares of royalty, by raising his son Achmet to the throne, his youngest son Selim, supported by the turbulent janissaries, snatched the sceptre from his grasp, and followed up his unnatural rebellion by the murder of his father.
Bajzizet, though averse to %var, was in general a successful soldier, and both extended and consoli dated the Ottoman dominions. He was a zealous promoter of literature and the arts, and was him self an -accomplished scholar ; but he was chiefly distinguished for his piety and benevolence, being profuse in his charities, and superstitiously obser vant of the precepts of the prophet.