156 honored by the glory of islam
incited by his impending arrival, then used all possible force to take the citadel,
ultimately conquering it in this way.^57 According to Hasan Agha, in the sum-
mer of 1 667, the sultan continued to watch events closely and sent a concerned
writ to his grand vizier and commander in chief. Again he desired to know the
exact status of his deputy and armed forces. He constantly humbled himself in
prayer for God’s assistance, confi dent that because his men followed the model
of Muhammad they would be victorious in their efforts for Islam, the House
of Osman, and God, and that the enemies of Islam and the Ottoman dynasty
would be utterly frustrated. He urged Fazıl Ahmed Pasha to gird the “saber
associated with victory from the sovereign’s swords possessed of victory,” and
with the advantageous costume of a sumptuous sable fur from the sultan’s
own furs, “with heart and soul use every effort without pause for religion, my
dynasty, and the honor of my sultanic reign.”^58
The sultan did not want to be, like his father, deposed for waging an incon-clusive military campaign for Crete. His honor was on the line. For this reason
he took personal interest in the outcome of the campaign, in this writ claiming
to have read the letter the grand vizier sent to him, and pledging, “God willing
in no time I will personally set out and day by day try to draw near to that region
and my servants who are the ghazis of Islam. I pray night and day that God the
Creator does not turn my hope to disappointment.”^59
He would not be disappointed. By the fall of 1 668, after fi fteen months, Ot-toman forces reached the walls of the citadel. According to his writ, this made
the sultan excessively joyous and demonstrated that he was following events
closely. He expressed pleasure that the effort was going well, since victory was
as close as the walls of the fortress. Delighted at the good news, he thanked and
praised God, and he wished to reward his ghazis and mujahids on the great,
blessed ghaza. He hoped that very soon illustrious conquests would gladden all
Muslims and that all enemies would be crushed by irresistible might and end
up suffering in Hell. Then the sultan challenged the grand vizier to display his
martial manliness to the sultanic gaze: “Complete courage means the spilling
of blood, and manliness and bravery are commended. When you bestir your-
self to manly bravery and display your total zeal, the citadel’s conquest will be
divinely facilitated.”^60
Urging the grand vizier to victory for the sake of the sultan’s honor, Meh-med IV wrote, “Be vigilant to strengthen the ghazis who are sacrifi cing heart
and soul in ghaza.” The sultan then informs his grand vizier that he too has
joined him on the path of jihad: “In order to aid the manifest religion, and
resolving to join in ghaza, I too, set out on campaign from Edirne in state
with my complete retinue during the month of Rabia al-Awwal on a blessed
Thursday, preferring to suffer hardship on the path of God.” He had reached