History of Islam Vol 3 of 3 by Akbar Shah Najeebabadi

402 The History of Islam
all such troubles by various crafty devices. But, finding no other
means to save his country this time, he sent his emissary to Murad to
seek forgiveness for his fault of lending his help to Mustafa. However,
Sultan Murad returned the envoy with contempt.
Following this Murad reached Constantinople in 826 A H. (June, 1422
A.C.) at the head of a 20 thousand-man army and laid his siege
around Constantinople. Even though the occupation of Constantinople
was not an easy job his expert use of explosive mines, catapults and
moving towers brought him very near to success. Caesar too was
clever
to accept his defeat very easily. He had his own secret plans to
cause armed insurgence in Asia Minor. Thus, Murad had to raise his
siege of Constantinople and rush to Asia Minor when he was near to
victory,
like his grandfather who had raised his siege of Constantinople
to hurry to Asia Minor to take on Timur.
Muhammad was survived by four sons two young and two of tender
age. The eldest among them, Murad II was 18 and the next one,
Mustafa was 15 at the time of Muhammad's death. After ascension,
Murad U sent his youngest brothers to Bursa for upbringing and
education and his brother Mustafa, younger than him by three years,
to Asia Minor, as a governor or commander.
When Murad II got rid of his so called uncle, Mustafa, the Caesar of
Constantinople started his efforts to bring the next Mustafa round to
his view and kept convincing him through his emissaries and spies
that
he supported his right to the throne and he would lend all help in
case he staked his claim. He then began to persuade the Seljuk
commanders stationed in Konya and other cities as the feudal lords of
the Ottoman Empire and most of them were related to the ruling
family,
Murad and his efforts brought fruits.
to rise against Murad II and in favor of Mustafa, the brother of
At last, Mustafa took up arms against the Ottoman Empire with the
active support of the Seljuk commanders. Thus, when Murad II was
about to conquer Constantinople, Mustafa very hastily occupied a
number of cities of Asia Minor and besieged Bursa. In view of the
prevailing situation, the Ottoman troops in Asia Minor joined the
camp of Mustafa. When Murad witnessed that Asia Minor was
gradually slipping out of his hands, he grew anxious and rushed to