Page:A History of the Knights of Malta, or the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.djvu/230

204 selves remaining on the shore to cover the retreat of the monarch. As soon they had assured themselves that the stream had carried the boat beyond the reach of the enemy, de Naillac, accompanied by Gara and Cilly, took possession of another boat, and made good their own escape in a similar manner. Most fortunately they very soon encountered the combined fleet of the Hospitallers and Venetians, by which they were promptly conveyed to Rhodes. Here, after a detention of a few days, during which de Naillac entertained his royal guest with great splendour, Sigismond passed on into Dalmatia.

The results of this action, which took place in 1396, and has since been known as the battle of Nicopolis, were most disastrous to the Christians. The whole of the prisoners who fell into the hands of Bajazet, were ordered by him to be murdered in cold blood, to the number of upwards of 10,000. The carnage lasted from daybreak till four o’clock in the afternoon of the day following the battle. Only the count de Nevers, and twenty-four other knights, from whom Bajazet expected a large ransom, were rescued from the general slaughter. If, as has been recorded by contemporary historians, the French, prior to going into action, had massacred such Turkish prisoners as were then in their hands, this butchery may be considered in the light of a reprisal, and its diabolical atrocity somewhat mitigated.

The overthrow of the allied army having left Bajazet completely at liberty, he once more pursued his cherished schemes of conquest. The siege of Constantinople, which had hitherto assumed the form simply of a blockade, was converted into an active operation, and pushed forward with extreme vigour. At the same time he overran the whole of the Morea, and extended his advantages to so great a degree, that the ruler of the country, one of the porphyro-geniti, Theodore Paleologus, fled from his dominions. He took refuge at Rhodes, and whilst there offered to sell his rights over the district to the knights of St. John. This proposal having been accepted, and the price agreed on, which was paid partly in money and partly in jewels, the Order sent commissioners into the Morea to take formal possession of its new acquisition. The inhabitants of Corinth welcomed them with joy, feeling that they would be