Mahomet was a prince of considerable energy and judgment; but the affairs of his empire were neglected for the pleasures of the chase, to which he was ardently devoted. He survived the loss of his authority about four years, which he dragged out in grief and confinement.
The Ottoman empire was now bowing under an accumulatiop of evils; a weak and credulous mo narch, an infuriated soldiery and discontented po pulace, and a powerful and persevering enemy. Soliman endeavoured to avert the calamities which threatened to overwhelm him by public prayers and rigorous fasts. The Germans, however, continued to advance, and Belgrade was taken by assault. The sultan was compelled to sue for peace, but the demands of the allies were too humbling to be com plied with. Another campaign was therefore re solved upon, and Soliman announced his intention of taking the field in person. He-proceeded as far as Sophia; but, alarmed by the new successes of the enemy, he deputed the command to Ragib Pacha, who even surpassed his master in credulity and superstition. This commander allowed his councils to be directed by the ravings of a favourite astrologer, who continually promised him victory. His army, however, was routed by the Prince of Baden on the banks of the Morawa; the remains of it cut to pieces on the field of Nissa; and the con queror advanced to the neighbourhood of Sophia. The Porte was about to yield to the degrading con ditions of the emperor, when Mustapha, the son of the renowned Achmet Kuprili, saved the honour of his master, and restored a transient lustre to the Ottoman arms. By firm and judicious measures,
he renovated the powers of the state; and the droop ing courage of the army was revived by their con fidence in his military skill. Kuprili commenced his career of victory by the reduction of Nissa. Belgrade, with the strong fortresses of Lippa and Arsova, yielded to his valour; and he returned in triumph to Adrianople to be welcomed by his grate ful sovereign.
Soliman survived the success of his arms only a few months, and was succeeded by his brother Acta NET II. This prince was equally weak and credu lous as his predecessor, and would have sacrificed his distinguished vizier to the jealousies and cabals of the seraglio, had not the wisdom of Kuprili, sup ported by the affections of the army, disconcerted the plans of his enemies. But the talents of Kuprili were not long destined to support the tottering throne of Achmet. While engaged in a murderous conflict with the Prince of Baden on the banks of the Danube, he was struck with a musket ball in the moment of victory. His troops, overcome with a sudden panic, abandoned their ranks, and suffered a terrible defeat. The loss of the strong arm of Kuprili was a greater disaster to the Ottoman em pire than the destruction of its army; and would have been severely felt, had not the Prince of Baden been recalled to the Rhine, when the Hungarian war was confined to petty skirmishes, and continued to languish during the remainder of the reign of Achmet.