Full resolution (TIFF) - On this page / på denna sida - XIII. Reign of Charles XII, 1697–1718 - G. Charles XII in Turkey
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Charles XII in Turkey 235
The Sultan’s Efforts to Get Rid of diaries. The
Swedish king and his men were expensive guests to
the sultan. He let it be known to Charles that however
much he appreciated his highly esteemed guest he
would prefer to have him depart. But Charles had dis-
covered a secret correspondence, showing that Augus-
tus II had bribed the commander of the guards whom
the sultan would furnish Charles as an escort to de-
liver Charles into the hands of Augustus.
The sultan, however, knew nothing of this plot. He
only noticed that Charles remained obstinate, and got
offended. At last he ordered the pasha of Bender to
force Charles to depart for home. But Charles, who
would rather fall into the hands of the Turks than into
the power of Augustus, prepared for defense and
raised palisades in front of his quarters outside of
Bender. Ten thousand Turks and Tartars were sent
against the Northern Lion and his 500 men.
The Kalabalik. Charles went out to fight them, but
most of his men, convinced of the futility, laid down
their arms. With a band of about fifty of his most faith-
ful champions he defended himself in his house. The
Turks then attacked the house with arrows wrapped
in flaming tow. The building caught fire and parts of
the roof fell in. But the king only remarked, "There
is no danger as long as our clothes are not afire."
Finally when smoke and flames enveloped the king
and his men, Charles decided to fight his way to a stone
building and there continue the defense. The doors
were thrown open and out rushed the king with the
sword in his right hand and a pistol in his left, fol-
lowed by his men. They had forced their way nearly
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