History of Islam Vol 3 of 3 by Akbar Shah Najeebabadi

civ il Wars after Sultan the Conqueror 445
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battlefield,
deserted him and went over to Bayazid's side. He fled the
took a ship and reached the Crimea to join his father-inlaw
and plunged into collecting fighters from among the Turks and
the Tartars.
Ahmad, in Asia Minor, completed his preparations to conquer
Constantinople and dethrone Bayazid. When Sultan Bayazid returned
to Constantinople
after driving away his son, Salim from Adrianople,
he heard of the ensuing attack of Ahmad. In view of this situation,
Sultan Bayazid became embarrassed and his courtiers started doubting
his abilities as a ruler. Now, following the advice of his courtiers or on
his own, Bayazid sent word to Salim to come to Constantinople along
with his army and join the royal forces to put a check on the
impending onslaught of Ahmad. This message filled Salim with joy
and he took with him three or four thousand soldiers and arrived in
Adrianople passing through difficult routes and passes and along the
coast of Black Sea and from there he went to Constantinople. Hearing
of Salim's arrival in this manner Bayazid sent him orders to go back to
the
province of Samundra, which he had been nominated for, as his
help was no longer needed. But the courtiers and military commanders,
on the other hand, sent word not to return but to come straight to
Constantinople for he would never have such an opportunity again.
Thus, Salim reached Constantinople and was accorded a warm
welcome by the courtiers and military commanders. Salim then
reached the gate of the royal palace and sent his message to Bayazid
U to grant him an audience in the court. Thus, Bayazid convened an
open court. The courtiers, religious scholars and jurists, advocates of
the people and commanders expressed themselves with one accord
that since the Sultan had grown old and weak it was desirable that
he should abdicate his throne in favor of his son, Salim. Bayazid
heard them patiently and declared Salim his successor without loss
of time and quit the throne. Salim moved ahead and kissed the
shoulder of the Sultan. Following this, the Sultan gave him some
wise counsel and then got in the palanquin and moved on. Salim too
walked along catching the foot of the palanquin. Bayazid II left
Constantinople to settle in the city of Demotika and pass the rest of
his life in peace and prayer. Salim escorted his departing father on