Page:A History of the Knights of Malta, or the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.djvu/232

206 establishing himself on the conquered territory, had created a powerful and ever-enlarging kingdom. His recent success at the battle of Nicopolis seemed to open the way for further acquisitions, and to smooth for him the path of ambition he had determined to tread. The capture of Constantinople, and such feeble remnants of the Byzantine empire as were still retained by the Paleologi, had long been a day-dream with him. The moment seemed now to have arrived when that project might be carried into execution. All dread of further opposition from the countries of western Europe was at an end. A wail of lamentation had arisen throughout France when the news reached that country of the fearful slaughter of the battle of Nicopolis, and the inhuman butcheries which had followed it. The penalties of intervention had been too severe and universal to admit of the slightest prospect that any further opposition was to be feared from that quarter. Everything seemed to promise favourably for Bajazet, and consequently most disastrously for the Greek emperor. Under these critical circumstances the latter was at length driven to seek the aid of one whose interposition was in the long run likely to prove as fatal as that of Bajazet.

In an evil hour for Christianity he applied for the assistance of Timour-Lenk, or Tamerlane, the redoubted Tartar chief, the fame of whose exploits was even then ringing throughout the Eastern world. Of the origin of Timour, different versions have been recorded. Some have asserted that he was of very mean parentage, his father having been a simple shepherd, and that he himself had been engaged during his early youth in super-intending the pasturage of his flocks. Others again endeavour to trace his descent from the great Djenghis Khan. Whichever may be the correct version, there is no doubt that he established his power entirely by the strength of his own right hand, and that from the most slender beginnings, he raised himself to a dominion over the countries of the East so extensive as to have excited within his breast the hope of some day aspiring to universal empire. The character of Timour was one which marked him as a being destined to play no ordinary part on the stage of life. With all the qualities requisite for a great commander, he was at the same time endued with the keenest politioal sagacity,