Events of the Year 1024, H.
The Grand Vezír and Commander-in-Chief March to Reván
We lately left the grand vezír and commander-in-chief, Mohammed Páshá, at Aleppo; we now return to record his operations against the Persians. On the arrival of spring the various troops began to move from their respective cantonments, and in the beginning of Rabia II. the general’s pavilion was erected in the Kokmaidan. On the 7th of the month such of the army as could be collected in so short a time marched off for Reván. After crossing the meadows of Koksú and arriving at the plains of Aksheher, the commanding-general was joined by Dávud Páshá beglerbeg of Romeili, with his provincial troops, having also been entrusted with funds for the grand army. About the beginning of Jemadi II. the army reached Erzerúm; from the fortress of which the commanding-general took seven pieces of ordnance. After distributing provisions, &c. among the household troops, the royal camp was joined by the troops of Anatolia, Caramania, and Sivás. Firmáns were also sent to the beglerbeg of Diárbeker, Diláver Páshá, and Tekelí Mohammed Páshá, beglerbeg of Wán, to march with their respective troops towards Reván. The válí of Baghdád, Mustafa Páshá, also collected a number of Mosul and Seyed Khán troops, and sent forward two divisions of these foreigners under the command of proper officers. Towards the end of the month the grand army reached Kars, which had formerly been destroyed by the Persians, but was now rebuilt, and was furnished with a garrison and cannon. About the middle of Jemadi II. the grand army reached the plains of Reván. During the season preparations for opening trenches were attended to, and thus the siege of Reván was commenced. Amir Gunah Khán had taken good care to have the fortress not only strongly fortified, but also well filled with troops and ammunition. The sháh himself, with the army under his own command, was at Nakhcheván. The Moslem army in the meantime surrounded Reván with field-pieces, and for the space of twenty days continued battering its walls; but without visible advantage. Finding their efforts in this way to be vain, they began to collect earth, which during the night-season they formed into mounds for their artillery, in order to employ this apparatus more effectively. After accomplishing this vast labour, they succeeded in effecting some breaches, and then commenced a general assault; but were repulsed with immense loss. The ághá of the janissaries, Mesli Aghá, perished; and Turkijeh Bilmaz was wounded: the troops who had been engaged in the assault were withdrawn. It is said, however, that one night, when Tekelí Mohammed Páshá, governor of Wán, was on guard, some thousands of red-heads, under the guidance of four kháns, issued forth and entered into a narrow pass, with the view of lying in ambush. Tekelí, however, observed them, immediately marched against them, and defeated them most completely. One thousand heads and five hundred living infidels were conveyed to the Moslem camp, as trophies of Tekelí’s victory. The fame of his bravery was spread abroad.
The sháh, in order to make a display of his own might, was in the habit of causing fires to be kindled on the tops of the surrounding hills, but the Moslems continued to carry on the siege with all the vigour they were able, but were opposed, inch by inch, by the red-heads, who frequently rushed out even as far as the trenches, and fought most furiously. At length, however, the Moslems succeeded in beating down a considerable portion of their walls and battlements. This so alarmed the besieged, that they, in order to prevent another general assault, which they saw would be fatal to them, proposed an armistice for four days. “We will consult our sháh,” said they, “and afterwards deliver up the place to you.” Their request was agreed to, and for four days not a gun was fired on either side. But the execrable race completely deceived the commanding-general.
Hasan Beg Zádeh says in his history that the chief-cannoneer had directed the mouth of a cannon against the palace of Amir Gunah Khán, but instead of hitting it, it struck the house of the avaricious sháh’s ignorant chancellor, and shattered it to pieces. He tried a second time, but failed.
It is certain that after the Moslems had succeeded in beating down the wall they ought to have pursued their advantages, and have pushed into the city; but it would appear they altogether neglected this. During the armistice they repaired the breaches which had been made, and again commenced hostilities. Forty days were spent in the siege of Reván, and nothing more was effected than what we have related. The Moslems, indeed, tried the springing of mines, but to no purpose; and at last the whole of their ammunition was expended: winter was drawing on; and, in short, they were obliged to withdraw their artillery from Reván. The loss sustained by the Moslems on this occasion obliged them to make a disadvantageous peace, in which it was agreed to take one-half of the silk and presents which had been stipulated in the treaty that was made when Nesúh Páshá was grand vezír. The whole of the provisions, &c. which had been sent forward for the use of the troops at Reván would have proved insufficient, and at any rate have been lost.
After the last treaty above alluded to was settled and signed, the Kizilbáshes came into the camp of the Moslems, when a mutual exchange of articles took place. The Moslem army, having first sent their artillery away to Kars, retired from Reván in the month of Ramazán. Whilst passing through the plains of Loghan, immense numbers of them perished from the cold. Having supplied Kars with military stores, the army advanced to Erzerúm, where the household troops were paid off and sent away into Romeili for the winter. The commander-in-chief and his suite remained at Erzerúm.