The Life and Deeds of the Ever-Remembered Despot Stefan

he might conclude and confirm peace. This one (Ibrahim Pasha) in like manner defected to the eastern (sultan). Musa, seeing this, left Selymbria and returned to Adrianople.

69. And while these wars were coming to an end, the aforementioned Sultan Mehmed, who was in the upper land, came and conquered all the eastern regions, (all the way) to the sea. The Greeks came to an agreement with him and ferried him over against Musa, having entertained him handsomely in Constantinople. And Sultan Musa, setting out with all his army, found (Mehmed) at the appointed tree (i.e., place) and declared war (on him); at first the eastern (sultan) was winning, but Musa, gathering his strength, carried off the victory. And so the eastern (sultan) returned to the east. And Musa, as culprits (for this fight with Mehmed), shut up in the city of Didymoteichon the chief of Constantine's land, named Yusuf, and Pasha Yiğit, the commander of the borderland; and they held cities and lands near the Despot (Stefan). These, however, fled from prison and (succeeded) in recovering each his own province, lands and cities; taking an army from the most pious (Stefan), they plundered the neighboring (lands of Musa) and agreed with the Despot that they would always be ready to serve him.

70. And Stefan, guardian of piety, learning that his nephew (Đurađ) had come from Selymbria to Thessalonica, sent all his army. He sent also the aforementioned Ishmaelite commanders; he sent too the supposed son of Savči¹¹³ in order, as it were, to make him sultan. In the end, (the Despot) did not know the true state of affairs. Having come, they took (Đurađ) and departed without any fear. Before their arrival (Đurađ) had gone out (from Thessalonica) and was on his way; he then heard that a certain namesake of Sultan Musa had been sent, the one who had freed him, and (that this man) was guarding the roads and regions with the fortress of Ranokisum. Then he returned to Thessalonica, where they took counsel that all the nobility should go together, for when they were seen, it would be thought that the lord (Đurađ) too was with them. And he (Đurađ), separating from them, went by the mountain, by a certain very steep path. And so they reached Thessalonica; no one rose against them nor pursued (them). (Đurađ) with five other (men), after hard roundabout (ways), came one night to a village he found, and went in to certain pious Christians, presenting himself (to them) as one of his own nobles. (These people) hid him in a granary, while the others took refuge in the forest with the horses. The Ishmaelites thought that (Đurađ) had entered with a regiment (of the army) into the city, in which the noble ones, (the fortunate), broke into great weeping. The next night they arose and departed. (A certain) woman recognized him and fed him with joy. And together they entered the city. When (Đurađ) reached his fatherland, to his extraordinary uncle (Stefan), there was unspeakable joy, for he both joined together the sundered members of the Church and strengthened the realm - that all-knowing, all-wise master and all-powerful laborer. And from that time one could see how a father rejoiced over a son (i.e., Stefan rejoiced over his nephew Đurađ).

71. When the eastern (ruler, i.e., the sultan named Kriščija) heard of this, he came in the winter season, crossing over to Constantinople, as though wishing to go to Despot Stefan to ask help of him. There were then such snows and rains that it could be said the windows of heaven were opened.¹¹⁴ At that time even the rivers, which had swollen, could not be crossed. (Mehmed) again returned to the east,