The Life and Deeds of the Ever-Remembered Despot Stefan

ill and at the point of death. When the conversation began, (Tamerlane) began to vomit that blood, pretending to be dying. Those who had been so ordered led the envoys outside, and after a short time let them (go). And these, having gone to their lords, announced the joyful news that Tamerlane had died. But (Tamerlane) by night hurled himself upon the tower, which was unguarded, and took it. At dawn he overtook also the ruler of that land and laid the land waste. All this he did as though he had wings, and what he did not conquer himself, his army conquered, as it was at Ankara, where the great battle was fought, and his troops all at once conquered everything, even to both seas. He returned, then, to his home, having taken great and unspeakable booty from all those states. Nowhere did he leave (his) governors, but only destroyed and exhausted everything; he boasted that not even Alexander of Macedon conquered lands (for any other reason) than to mock them, for they gave him, as though in jest, small gifts and paid him court - they themselves kept everything in their own hands. And he gave them even greater gifts. This he told to an envoy who was called Ajdin, whom the ever-remembered (Despot Stefan) had sent (to Tamerlane) on account of certain agreements, as well as to seek out his sister (Olivera), whom Tamerlane held (in captivity) with all of Bayezid's (people); he brought her out of there (thanks to) great wisdom. At that time (Tamerlane) also said this: "When I go to you in the west, I shall not go by the eastern regions, but by the northern ones, and (going) by land I shall encompass it." For he was going to his home to devise the most incredible wars and to conquer India and the west, Amazonia and all the (other) lands, not knowing that: "His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish."⁷¹ Being near, (Tamerlane) sent envoys toward Constantinople to see (that city) and to inform him (what it was like); from tales he knew that in the world there was nothing mightier and better fortified (than it). But God instructed these (people of Constantinople), and they said to the envoys at their departure: "One cannot pass by land, but go toward this mighty (city) by ships toward the Iberian regions (together) with our men." Having waited a little they sent them off (by ship), then cast (the envoys) into the sea, and (they themselves) returned; and so (Tamerlane) remained without tidings of how things were there (in Constantinople); they reported that the ship had sunk. Tamerlane returned to Persia. There he armed and prepared himself and set out against the land of Khitai (that is, China), and from there (he headed) into the deserts of the land that is called Domuskhan.⁷² Throughout this land for six months he sowed millet in order to supply the army with food with which this enormous army was to cross the desert (going) toward other regions of the world. Having finished this, he returned to his fatherland by the name of Orar. From there he rose up and set out with all his army against China, and in those regions he waited out the winter, from whose cold many (soldiers) died. When they informed him that 110 tents had been emptied, because those who were in them had died of the cold, he put on 20 sheepskin coats and went to see what had happened; unable to see everything because of the winter, he returned to his camp. Since such (great) cold had penetrated his inward parts, he summoned the most skilled physicians; they hastened (to him) and imprudently gave him boiled honey to drink, which ruined his stomach; he lay six days, (and) after six days blood burst from his mouth and from behind; he lived three days more and