MAHOMET IV. was only seven years old when he was called to represent the majesty of the Turks, and his youth was spent amid the broils of faction in the capital, and the commotions of revolt in the provinces. The valid sultana Kiosem first seized the reins of government, but the mother of Mahomet trembled for the fate of her son, and having gained over the vizier Siaus Pacha,Kiosem was put to death. Siaus in his turn fell in an insurrection of the spahis, when Mahomet Kuprili, at the age of eighty, was raised to the viziriat. This minister, having pre vailed upon the sultan to remove his court to Adri anople, by firm and vigorous measures restored tranquillity to the capital. He was preparing to lead an army into Hungary when he was seized with a fatal disorder, and on his death-bed he re commended to his master his son Achmet as his successor.
Achmet Kuprili prosecuted the Hungarian war for two years with various success; but being at last opposed by the famous Montecuculi, he was overthrown with great slaughter on the banks of the Raab. So anxious, however, were the Germans for peace, that Kuprili obtained by negotiation what he failed to accomplish by war; and the advantages of the treaty were all on the side of the Ottomans.
The siege of Candia, protracted for twenty years, had now sunk into a regular blockade. The Vene tians continued to maintain their ascendency by sea, which enabled them to convey succours to the garrison, while, at the same time, they obstructed the Turkish reinforcements and supplies. Kuprili, anxious to terminate the siege, directed against this city all the resources of the Ottoman power; but every assault was met with the most heroic re sistance. No effort, however, of valour or of art could avert its fall; and after twenty-nine months of almost incessant fighting, the Candiots obtained an honourable capitulation, which formed the basis of a peace with the Venetians.
A war with Poland was precipitated by the revolt of the Cossacks of the Ukraine, who sought the protection of the Porte. Mahomet headed his army in person, took the city of Kaminiek, and reduced the whole of Podolia. But in the following year, he was defeated by John Sobieski, and would have been driven from his new conquest, had not the death of the king of Poland recalled the Polish general to Warsaw to assist at the election of a new sovereign. Sobieski was himself the fortunate candidate; but the internal dissentions of his king dom compelled him to make peace, and resign Po dolia to the Turks. The Ukraine Cossacks, how ever, resenting the haughtiness which they expe rienced from their new masters, transferred their allegiance to Russia, and, by the assistance of that power, they defeated the Ottoman armies, and re lieved themselves from the authority of the Porte.
With the loss of the Ukraine Mahomet had also to lament the death of his favourite vizier Achmet Kuprili, who was one of the most enlightened and able statesmen that ever directed the Ottoman councils. his successor, Cara Mustapha, a man of talents and experience, but over confident and am bitious, was immediately called to the arduous duty of conducting the Hungarian war. Emerie Tekeli had raised the standard of independence in Upper Hungary, and solicited the assistance of the Porte.
NIustapha, rejecting the advice of Tekeli and his wisest officers, and trusting to his powerful re sources, hastened to the siege of Vienna with 200,000 Ottomans. His sudden appearance struck such a panic into the Austrians, that the emperor and his court, with 60,000 of the inhabitants, hastily retired from the capital. AIustapha at first pressed the siege with such vigour, that a short time must have decided the fall of Vienna; but the ambitious vizier contemplated the more aspiring project of conquering an empire for himself, and was there fore unwilling that the spoil of the vanquished city should be shared by his barbarous followers. Intoxicated with this mighty design, and confident of success, he delayed day after day making the final assault. The breaches were assailed, but with forces totally inadequate for the purpose. The en thusiasm of his troops was thus allowed to evapo rate in vain efforts. Discontent and discourage ment spread through the Ottoman camp; and while Mustapha was thus securely dreaming of his new kingdom, the Germans and Poles led by Sobieski descended like a torrent from the mountains. The Turks scarcely made a show of resistance, but fled in disorder, and stops not for nourishment or rest until they reached the banks of the Raab, a march of fifty hours. At Belgrade, Mustapha received the sultan's mandate of death, and submissively assisted in applying the bow-string to his own neck. The battle of Vienna was followed by a series of defeats and disasters. Their strongest fortresses fell in succession; Buda was taken by storm: and the battle of AIohatz decided the fate of Hungary and Transylvania, which henceforth became subject to the house of Austria. These reverses spread consternation throughout the empire, and the alarm ed populace, excited by the ulema and tumultuous Janissaries, charged their misfortunes upon the head of the unfortunate sultan. Mahomet endea voured to pacify the insurgents by the death of the new vizier, and some of his faithful servants; but his deposition was determined upon, and the scep tre was forced upon his brother SOLIMAN II., who would rather have preferred a life of austerity and devotion.