Text (translated from the 1579 Latin, 1580/1589 German, 1581 French, 1584 Latin, 1587 French, 1588 Spanish, 1592 Latin, 1595 Latin, 1598 Dutch, 1598 French, 1601 Latin, 1602 German, 1602 Spanish, 1603 Latin, 1606 English, 1608/1612 Italian, 1609/1612/1641 Spanish and 1609/1612 Latin edition)
169.1. {1579L{The Empire of the TVRK{1580/1589G, 1581F, 1598D, 1598F & 1602G have instead{Turkye}1580/1589G, 1581F, 1598D, 1598F & 1602G instead}.
169.2. About the origins and beginnings of the Turkish Empire, its increase and growth until it gradually reached that greatness which it now has, {1581F, 1587F, 1588S, 1592L, 1595L, 1598D, 1598F, 1601L, 1603L, 1608/1612I & 1609/1612L only{whereby they threaten to attack us}1581F, 1587F, 1588S, 1592L, 1595L, 1598D, 1598F, 1601L, 1603L, 1608/1612I & 1609/1612L only}{1579L, 1580/1589G, 1584L, 1602G, 1602S & 1606E have instead{whereby it is feared by all nations around it}1579L, 1580/1589G, 1584L, 1602G, 1602S & 1606E instead}, we have gathered these few lines from the best Historiographers of our time. In the year of Christ 1300 one OTTOMANNVS, a Turk, son of Zichi, a man of simple parentage {1580/1589G, 1581F, 1584L, 1587F, 1592L, 1595L, 1598D, 1598F, 1601L, 1602G, 1603L & 1609/1612L only{and name}1580/1589G, 1581F, 1584L, 1587F, 1592L, 1595L, 1598D, 1598F, 1601L, 1602G, 1603L & 1609/1612L only}, began, because of his inventive mind and great experience in feats of arms {1606E only{and discipline of war}1606E only} to grow famous and renowned among the Turks. After this man the group of the Turkish Emperors first took their name and origin, and he was the first ordained king over the Turks. He reigned for twenty-seven years {1581F, 1587F, 1598D & 1598F have instead{28}1581F, 1587F, 1598D & 1598F instead} during which time he conquered all of {not in 1598D{Bithynia and}not in 1598D} Cappadocia, and subdued many strongholds near to the Mar Maiore {1606E only{or the great sea, which is what the Italians now call that sea which the old writers called Mare Ponticum and Sinus Euxinus. The Greek now [call it] Maurothalassa and the Turks Caradenis, that is, the Black sea}1606E only}.
169.3. He was succeeded by his son ORCHANES who won the great and strong city of Prusia {1606E only{or Prusa (now called, as Bellonius writes, Bourse, formerly called Zellia and Theopolitana)}1606E only} which he made the capital of his kingdom {1606E only{and place of residence for his Court}1606E only}. He was slain in an unfortunate battle which he fought against the Tartars in the 22nd {1608/1612I has instead{2nd}1608/1612I instead} year of his reign, and he left AMVRATHES his son to rule the kingdom after him. This one sailed with a huge army out of Asia and into Europe, {not in 1587F, 1598D & 1598F{(the Greek Princes being at variance [with each other] and calling him in)}not in 1587F, 1598D & 1598F}. In a short time he subdued Callipolis, Chersonesus & Abydus, Phillipolis & Hadrianopolis {1606E has instead{almost all of Greece and Phocis}1606E}, [and] a part of {not in 1598D & 1606E{Serbia}not in 1598D & 1606E} and Bulgaria, but he himself finally being overcome {1580/1589G, 1588S, 1592L, 1595L, 1601L, 1602G, 1602S, 1603L, 1608/1612I, 1609/1612/1641S & 1609/1612L only{by a thrust of a dagger}1580/1589G, 1588S, 1592L, 1595L, 1601L, 1602G, 1602S, 1603L, 1608/1612I, 1609/1612/1641S & 1609/1612L only} {not in 1606E{after having entered Mysia in the 23rd {1581F, 1587F, 1598D & 1598F have instead{20th}1581F, 1587F, 1598D & 1598F instead} year of his reign. His son BAIAZETVS, after the death of his father, {1580/1589G, 1581F, 1584L, 1587F, 1588S, 1592L, 1595L, 1598D, 1598F, 1601L, 1602G, 1603L, 1608/1612I, 1609/1612/1641S & 1609/1612L have instead{after first having killed his brother}1580/1589G, 1581F, 1584L, 1587F, 1588S, 1592L, 1595L, 1598D, 1598F, 1601L, 1602G, 1603L, 1608/1612I, 1609/1612/1641S & 1609/1612L instead} occupied a large part of Thracia, subdued almost all of Greece and a part of Bulgarian Phocis}not in 1606E} and taken by Tamberlanes, {1581F, 1587F, 1598D & 1598F only{Emperor of the Parths as a prisoner, who used him as a stool when climbing his horse}1581F, 1587F, 1598D & 1598D only} died and ended his days most dishonourably. His father being taken prisoner, his son CALEPINVS assumed the throne and took possession of the kingdom.
169.4. But having in battle utterly defeated Sigismund and his forces, and having begun to waste and spoil the borders and territories of the Emperor of Constantinople, he died in the flourishing of his age, when he had reigned for only six years. {1579L, 1584L, 1588S, 1592L, 1595L, 1601L, 1602S, 1603L, 1609/1612/1641S & 1609/1612L only, in the right margin; as a footnote at the end of the text in 1580/1589G & 1602G; as regular text in 1608/1612I{Note here, by the way, that Adolphus Venerius does not reckon this Calepinus among the Turkish Emperors. For immediately after Baiazeth, Mahomet should be placed. And that I may give every man his due, the singularly learned man, my good friend Georgius Bruno of Cologne has informed me that the very Turks themselves do not consider him to be an Emperor} in the right margin of 1579L, 1584L, 1588S, 1592L, 1595L, 1601L, 1602S, 1603L, 1609/1612/1641S and 1609/1612L only, as regular text in 1608/1612I; as footnote text in 1580/1589G & 1602G}.
169.5. After him, MAHOMET took the crown of the Empire. He made fierce war with the VValachians, subdued a great part of Slauonia, first crossed the Donaw with an army, conquered Macedonia and pierced through the country even as far South as the Ionian sea. He moved his Court from {1581F, 1587F, 1598F & 1606E only{Prusias in}1581F, 1587F, 1598F & 1606E only} Bithynia to Hadrianopolis {1581F, 1587F, 1598D & 1598F only{in Thracia}1581F, 1587F, 1598D & 1598F only}{1606E has instead {in Greece}1606E}, where he died in the fourteenth year of his reign.
169.6. After him, AMVRATH the second succeeded in the kingdom. This man conquered Epirus, Ætholia, {1580/1589G, 1581F, 1587F, 1588S, 1592L, 1595L, 1598D, 1598F, 1601L, 1602G, 1602S, 1603L, 1608/1612I, 1609/1612/1641S & 1609/1612L only{Achaia}1580/1589G, 1581F, 1587F, 1588S, 1592L, 1595L, 1598D, 1598F, 1601L, 1602G, 1602S, 1603L, 1608/1612I, 1609/1612/1641S & 1609/1612L only} Bœotia, Attica and {1580/1589G, 1581F, 1584L, 1587F, 1588S, 1592L, 1595L, 1598D, 1598F, 1601L, 1602G, 1602S, 1603L, 1608/1612I, 1609/1612/1641S & 1609/1612L only{the city of}1580/1589G, 1581F, 1584L, 1587F, 1588S, 1592L, 1595L, 1598D, 1598F, 1601L, 1602G, 1602S, 1603L, 1608/1612I, 1609/1612/1641S & 1609/1612L only} Thessalonica {1606E only{(now Salonichi)}1606E only}, a city belonging to the state of Venice. After him, MAHOMET the second took the Diadem. He overthrew Athens, {1606E only{the most renowned University of the World}1606E only}. He won by assault the great city of Constantinople {1581F only{the second ornament of Europe}1581F only} on the 29th day of May in the year 1452 {1606E only{after the birth of Christ}1606E only}. He subdued the kingdom of Trapezonda under his command. He took Corinth. He forced the islands Lemnos {1606E only{(Stalimene they now call it)}1606E only}, Eubœa {1606E & 1608/1612I only{(Negreponte)}1606E & 1608/1612I only} and Mytilene to yield to his obedience. He got Capha, a city belonging to the Signiory of Genua, {1606E only{and Geivisen, a city in Bithynia}1606E only}. He was killed in the 32nd year of his {1581F, 1587F & 1598F only{tyrannous}1581F, 1587F & 1598F only} reign.
169.7. BAIAZETH the second {not in 1580/1589G, 1581F, 1584L, 1587F, 1588S, 1602G & 1608/1612I{after his death possessed the crown. He}not in 1580/1589G, 1581F, 1584L, 1587F, 1588S, 1602G & 1608/1612I} made war with the Venetians, and won from them Naupactus {1588S, 1602S, 1606E, 1608/1612I & 1609/1612/1641S have instead{(Lepanto}1588S, 1602S, 1608/1612I & 1609/1612/1641S instead} {1606E only{or as the Turks call it Einebachti)}1606E only}, Methona {1588S, 1602S, 1606E, 1608/1612I & 1609/1612/1641S have instead{(Modon}1588S, 1602S, 1606E, 1608/1612I & 1609/1612/1641S instead} {1606E only{or Mutune, a city on the Peloponesus)}1606E only}, and Dyrrachium {1588S, 1602S, 1606E, 1608/1612I & 1609/1612/1641S have instead{(Durazzo)}1588S, 1602S, 1606E, 1608/1612I & 1609/1612/1641S instead} and spoiled all of Dalmatia. He was poisoned {1606E only{by a Jew, his physician}1606E only}. After him, his son ZELYMVS succeeded [him] on the Imperial throne. He won {1581F, 1587F & 1598F only{after various assaults}1581F, 1587F & 1598F only} Alcairo, the strongest city of Ægypt and killing the Sultan {1598D only{and his soldiers}1598D only}, subdued Alexandria and all of Ægypt under his obedience. He also took {1598D has instead{swallowed into his eager stomach}1598D instead} Damascus {1606E & 1608/1612I only{in Syria}1606E & 1608/1612I only}. SOLYMANNVS, the only son of Zelimus, taking possession of his fathers empire, won Belgrad, {1581F, 1587F & 1598F have instead{Griechisch Weissenburg}1581F, 1587F & 1598F instead}, took the Prince's seat Buda and spoiled Strigonium {1581F, 1587F & 1598F have instead{Gran}1581F, 1587F & 1598F instead} and almost all of Hungary {1581F, 1587F, 1598D & 1598F only{like a mad dog}1581F, 1587F, 1598D & 1598F only}. He got the isle of Rhodes through cunning, and utterly destroyed Quinqueecclesias {1606E only{in Hungary (the Turks call it Petscheu, the Dutch Funfkirchen)}1606E only}. {1579L, 1580/1589G, 1581F, 1584L, 1587F, 1588S, 1592L, 1595L, 1598D, 1598F, 1601L, 1602G, 1602S, 1603L, 1608/1612I, 1609/1612/1641S & 1609/1612L only{He conquered the city of Iula}1579L, 1580/1589G, 1581F, 1584L, 1587F, 1588S, 1592L, 1595L, 1598D, 1598F, 1601L, 1602G, 1602S, 1603L, 1608/1612I, 1609/1612/1641S & 1609/1612L only}. Then he besieged Zygeth, where his life ended {1581F, 1598D & 1598F only{and where he spat out his soul}1581F, 1598D & 1598F only}.
169.8. ZELIMVS, his {not in 1581F & 1587F{second}not in 1581F & 1587F} son, continued the attack, won it, and razed [the city] to the ground in the year {1606E only{of Christ}1606E only} 1566. Thus, under 11 {1580/1589G & 1602G have instead{13}1580/1589G & 1602G instead}{1608/1612I has instead{12}1608/1612I instead} Emperors, in 260 {1581F, 1587F & 1598F have instead{270}1581F, 1587F & 1598F instead}{1580/1589G & 1602G have instead{266}1580/1589G & 1602G instead} years, a great part of Africa, a greater [part] of Europe and most of Asia was {1581F, 1587F, 1598D & 1598F only{by their raging avarice and our lamentable discord }1581F, 1587F, 1598D & 1598F only} by Turkish tyranny brought under their yoke. {1587F, 1598D & 1598F only{Let God amend this situation}1587F, 1598D & 1598F only}. {not in 1581F, 1587F, 1598D & 1598F{But whoever wants a more firm knowledge of the histories of the Turks, let him read Paulus Iouius, Christopher Richer {not in 1588S, 1602S & 1609/1612/1641S{of Siena}not in 1588S, 1602S & 1609/1612/1641S}, Cuspinianus, Baptista Egnatius, Gilbertus Nozoremus, Andreas Lacuna, Pius the second in the fourth chapter of his Europa, and others that have written about the Turkish affairs}not in 1581F, 1587F, 1598D & 1598F}. {1608/1612I only{and also the letters and orations of Cardinal Bessarione, summarised by Filippo Pigafetta, where he discusses the origins of the Turks, their army, and their rapid conquest of Europe}1608/1612I only}. {1606E only{But no man has published these histories with greater diligence or more amply than M[r]. Richard Knolles, our learned countryman [and] singularly good friend}1606E only}. {1581F, 1587F, 1598D & 1598F only{The Turks call themselves in their language Muselmanni (as Hugo Favolius writes in his Journey to Constantinople). They call us, who adhere to the Catholic faith Francki, and those who adhere to the Greek faith Romei, as Peter Bellon writes}1581F, 1587F, 1598D & 1598F only, which end here}.
169.9. {in small font in 1602G & 1608/1612I{Laonicus Chalcondylas has inquisitively described the pedigree of the Ottomans together with the origins of the Turks}1579L & 1602G end here}. {1592L{Iohn Leonclavius has very recently published the Annals of the Sultan Otthomans, written by the Turks in their own language, and translated by him into the Latin tongue}1592L}. {1595L{About their ancient manners of life, behaviour and customs you may read in the 18th chapter of Leo the Emperor, about Warlike preparation[s], {1608/1612I only{presented in Greek and Italian, with comment by Filippo Pigafetta just mentioned}, {1606E only{as also in Bartholomew Georgieuiz, who has written an elaborate treatise on that subject}1606E only}, but especially the Annals of the Turkish Sultans and the history of the Musselmans, both written by the singularly learned Iohn Leoclaw, shall fully satisfy you}1595L} © Marcel van den Broecke ©.