During the reign of Soliman tho Turkish navy was the first in tho world, and became the scourge of the Mediterranean. His admirals ravaged the coasts of Italy, Spain, and Africa : they took Reggio, Sorento, Bujia, Oran, and the island of Majorca ; and in 1560 Piale defeated the united fleets of Spain and Italy of Jerba. Another Turkish fleet swept the coasts of the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf from Snez to Basrah, and fought several times with the Portuguese in the Indian Ocean. After the victory at Jerba, Soliman resolved upon the conquest of 3lalta, and a powerful fleet left Constantinople for that purpose in the beginning of 1565, but the expedition failed after a siege of five months. During this time the war with Austria was renewed. Soliman, notwithstanding his old age, took the command of Ids army and hastened to Hungary. He died there in his camp in September 1566, whilst besieging Szigeth, a small fortress west of Fiinfkirchen.
[1566-1574.] Salim IL, son of Soliman the Great, immediately after his accession, quelled a dangerous mutiny of the Janissaries, where upon he concluded peace with the emperor Maximilian II., by which each remained in possession of his share of Hungary as fixed by the peace of 1562. Turkey was increased by the province of Yemen in Arabia, which was conquered in 1570; by the addition of Cyprus, taken from the Venetians In the same year, and by the acquisition of Tunis, which was taken from the Spaniards in 1574. The Turkish navy, commanded by 'All Moezzin, was almost annihilated by Don Juan of Austria, in the battle of Lepanto, in 1572.
[15744595.] Milrad or Amtirad IIL, succeeded his father Sellm II. A war having broken out with Persia, the Turks, after a victory at Childir, conquered Eriwatn, Georgia, and Daghistdn. From this country, Osman Pasha, the commander of a part of the Turkish army, proceeded northward, crossed the Ca1,1CMuS in order to relieve the khan of the Crimea, who had been attacked by the Russians; and iu 1584 returned to Constantinople by way of Bessarabia. The follow iug years of 3Iiirest's reign were signalised by a fresh war with Persia, and by dangerous troubles among the Druses in Mount Lebanon, In Egypt, and in Arabia. Transylvania, Moldavia, and Wallachia refused to pay the annual tribute, and war was declared against Austria, but 31Urad died before it was concluded. During his reign, Turkey had diplomatio relations with almost all the nations of Europe ; and the first commercial treaty with England was concluded.
[1595-1603.] Mohammed III., son of Mitred III., secured his sue. cession by putting to death his nineteen brothers, and seven female slaves of hue father who were pregnant. The war with Austria con
tinued during his whole reign with no signal success on either side. Sigismund, prince of Transylvania, who had taken arms against the Porte, anbinitted to the Sultan, and was Invested with his princi pality as a vassal of Turkey. Towards the end of this reign, Deli Husein rebelled in Asia.
[1603-1617.] Ahmed I.. son of Mohammed III., ascended the throne when only fourteen. The rebels in Asia having been supported by Shah Abtda the Great, of Persia, a war broke out between him and the Sultan, which lasted till 1613. In this war the Turks' were worsted, and Ahmed was compelled to cede to the victor Daghistrtu, Georgia. sad Eriwifu. The Turkish commanders in Hungary were no less nnfortunate. The emperor Rudolph IL, assisted by the prince, of the empire, defeated the Turks in several bloody battles, and Ahmed was obliged to conclude the peace of Sitvatorok (1606). By this peace the Sultan recognised the emperor as his equal, and the tribute which Austria had paid for her part of Hungary was abolished. Ahmed concluded a commercial treaty with the United States of the Netherlands. During his reign a body of Cossalce descended the Don in a fleet of boats, crossed the Black Sea, and surprised the town of Sinopo, which they plundered and destroyed. Turkey was still a powerful state, but her gradual dissolution became apparent during the reign of a weak prance who was governed by favourites and women.
Muatapha I., the brother of Ahmed, ascended tho throne In 1617, but was deposed in six mouths in consequence of a revolution In the seraglio, and shut up In prison.
618-162'21 Osman IL, son of Abmed I., succeeded. A short but m&eppy war with Poland was the moat remarkable event of the mita of this prince, who soon incurred the hatred of the nation. In violation of the law which declares that the Sultan shall have no women In his harem. except slaves, Orman chose three wives among the daughters of his find of leers ; and he conceived the fantastic plan of making a pilgrimage to 3lecos : the Janissaries, being informed of this, roes In epees rebellion, and put the question to the Mufti, if it was legal to kill those who gave bad advice to the Sultan and urge him to InnoratIons. The answer of the Mufti was affirmative. Osman, having refused to deliver up his counsellors, was deposed and put in prison, where be was strangled. Ilia counsellors were likewise put to death. Ilia node, the deposed Mustapha, was delivered from his captivity, and again proclaimed Sultan. During his second reign Mastapha showed symptoms of insanity, and be was again deposed by the Jsusimaries.