nd
Bairaktar--Mahmoud--Jelaludin Pacha--Expedition against
Montenegro--Death of Jelaludin--Ali Pacha--Revolted Provinces
reconquered--Successes of Ibrahim Pacha--Destruction of
Janissaries--Regular Troops organised--Hadji
Mustapha--Abdurahim--Proclamation--Fall of Serayevo--Fresh
rising--Serayevo taken by Rebels--Scodra Pacha--Peace of
Adrianople--Hussein Kapetan--Outbreak of Rebellion--Cruelty of
Grand Vizier--Ali Aga of Stolatz--Kara Mahmoud--Serayevo taken--War
with Montenegro--Amnesty granted.

The history of Bosnia under the Roman empire is possessed of too little
interest to call for any particular observation; but, considered as one
of the most fertile and beautiful of the European provinces, overrun by
the Moslem armies, it is well entitled to the mature consideration of
all who take an interest in the important question now at issue, to wit,
the fusion of the Eastern and Western worlds.

The immediate cause of the invasion of Bosnia by the Turks, was the
dispute between Tuartko II. and Ostoya Christich for the throne of that
country. The former called the Turks to his assistance; Ostoya, the
Hungarians. A war between these two nations was the consequence, and
the Turks gained considerable footing in Bosnia about 1415. Ostoya and
Tuartko being both dead, Stephen Thomas Christich was elected King, and
was obliged to promise an annual tribute of 25,000 ducats to Sultan
Amurath II., thirteen years after which he was murdered by his
illegitimate son, Stephen Thomasovich, who was crowned by a Papal legate
in 1461, and submitted to the Turks. But having refused to pay the
tribute due to the Porte, he was seized and flayed alive, by order of
Sultan Mahomet, and at his death the kingdom of Bosnia was completely
over-thrown.[M]

Previous to this, the Turks had frequently menaced the Bosnian kingdom,
but it was not until June 14, 1463, that they actually invaded the
country, to reduce Stephen to obedience. In vain did Mathias, King of
Hungary, endeavour to stem the advancing torrent. The Turks carried all
before them, until they besieged and took Yanitza, the then capital of
the province, and with it the King and the entire garrison. Nor was this
effected in fair fight, but through the treachery of Stephen's first
minister, who opened the gates of the fortress by night, and so admitted
the Turkish soldiers.

With more generosity than was usually shown by these Eastern ba