Illustrated Gazetteer of the Maritime Kingdoms, Volume 46

Page 20

The tribe occupied the land, and their leader was called Atuoman Osman I, founder of the Ottoman Empire. He deposed the former ruler and established a new state. This occurred during the fifth year of the Yuanzhen era of Emperor Chengzong of the Yuan Dynasty 1299 AD. Note: During the Yuan Dynasty, the Muslims were driven by Mongol forces from the east of the Pamir Mountains original: "Congling" to the west. "Xinjiang" is a name used by our current Qing Dynasty; in the Yuan Dynasty, it was called Beshbaliq. The translator here is using a modern name for an ancient location. His descendants dedicated themselves to attacking neighboring countries and forcing them to convert to Islam referred to as "Huihui religion" in the original text. During the Zhiyuan era of Emperor Shundi approximately 1335–1340 AD, the Turkish King led his troops across the sea straits into the lands of Europe. Success and failure were inconsistent, and two rulers died in succession.

King Bayazet Bayezid I, r. 1389–1402 won a series of consecutive battles. However, at that time, the Great Mongol King Tamerlane, or Timur invaded the country. King Bayazet was defeated in battle and taken prisoner; his former arrogance was gradually extinguished.

His descendants, following the brave example of their ancestors, continued the fierce struggle. In the third year of the Jingtai era of the Ming Dynasty 1453 AD, they captured the capital of Greece referring to Constantinople, the capital of the Byzantine Empire, which remains the capital of the Turkish state to this day. For the next fifty years, they were insatiable in their conquests original: "having captured Long, they looked toward Shu," a Chinese proverb for restless ambition, attacking in all directions until the fields were covered with the fallen. Since the years of the Jiajing era starting in 1522 AD, the Kings have indulged in ease and pleasure while their officials have manipulated power for their own ends. It was at this time that they encountered the Russians...