At this period the irresistible progress of the Turkish arms was the
subject of alarm throughout all Christendom.

Constantinople, then the capital of the Greek Empire, had already been
more than once besieged by the predecessors of Amurath, and had only
been preserved by fortunate accidents and humiliating terms. The
despots of Bosnia, Servia, and Bulgaria, and the Grecian princes of
Etolia, Macedon, Epirus, Athens, Phocis, Boeotia, and indeed of all the
regions to the straits of Corinth, were tributaries to Amurath, and the
rest of Europe was only preserved from his grasp by the valour of the
Hungarians and the Poles, whom a fortunate alliance had now united
under the sovereignty of Uladislaus, who, incited by the pious
eloquence of the cardinal of St. Angelo, the legate of the Pope, and,
yielding to the tears and supplications of the despot of Servia, had,
at the time our story opens, quitted Buda, at the head of an immense
army, crossed the Danube, and, joining his valiant viceroy, the famous
John Hunniades, vaivode of Transylvania, defeated the Turks with great
slaughter, relieved all Bulgaria, and pushed on to the base of Mount
Haemus, known in modern times as the celebrated Balkan. Here the
Turkish general, Karam Bey, awaited the Christians, and hither to his
assistance was Iskander commanded to repair at the head of a body of
Janissaries, who had accompanied him to Greece, and the tributary
Epirots.

Had Iskander been influenced by vulgar ambition, his loftiest desires
might have been fully gratified by the career which Amurath projected
for him. The Turkish Sultan destined for the Grecian Prince the hand
of one of his daughters, and the principal command of his armies. He
lavished upon him the highest dignities and boundless wealth; and,