UI – Part 596 – The Ottoman Empire – Islam’s Aggressive Accomplishment

In the prior blog (“Islam’s Greatest On-Going Lie – Islam is not Aggressive,” #595) the aggressive nature of Islam was outlined from its historical roots at the death of Muhammad.  Islam’s success in areas of the Middle East resulted in the creation of an Empire (over time more than one Empire), an Empire dominated by Islam and whose residents were predominantly Muslims (others converted enslaved or murdered). The citizens of the Ottoman Empire, Turks, were born from the loins of Pagans, Jews, Zoroastrians, Christians, other religious groups that preceded Islam, and Arabs, who became Muslims by coercion and birth. The Christians were, however, a principle target of the aggressive Muslim raiders. The heritage of the Ottoman’s were Egyptian, Persian, Augustinian, Carthaginian, Moroccan, Algerian, Berbers, and mostly Turks, among others. Before Muhammad the history of the Turks domain had more to do with Christianity and the birth of Christ.  The founder was Osman I, a Turk, in 1299.  His name is the appellation for Ottoman.  

By the map above this Empire spread over a period of 600 years from its capital of Bursa (in the small black area in the center) around the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea and into Eastern Europe. 

Osman I had an army of Muslims raised on the spoils of battles with Christians, seeking territory for Allah and a lifestyle supported by riches gained by raping, pillaging and the taking of inhabited areas. 

Seljuk Turks

Prior to Osman I the Seljik Turks adopted the ideology of Islam and took hold of much of the Abassid Caliphate in Mesopotamia.  They became a Sunni Muslim dynasty stretching from Persia (Iran) to Anatolia (Asia Minor, westernmost Asia, Turkey). They were the target of the First Crusades (1095).  Their hold began in the mid 800’s. 

The Seljik’s (Turks) took over the power structure of the Abassid Sunni dynasty (beginning in 945) while the Abassid maintained a hold on religious matters. 

Complacency Weakens Defenses

The Byzantines had become complacent, enjoyed decadent lifestyles and were not militarily prepared to defend themselves against the violent attacks and savagery of the invading Muslims.  Constantinople was heavily fortified and withstood centuries (1100 years) without being overrun.  The Muslims had not the tools nor the patience for the siege needed to take this prized target.  The ghazi’s (Arabic for ‘raiders’) were fearsome.  As the conquests continued and new leaders emerged the victories over the hated Byzantines attracted urban Muslim undisciplined wanderers (mostly from the Seljik Turk arena) from lands already vanquished and offering fewer opportunities to steal and kill. That was their livelihood.  (They caused problems too, as they continued their penchant to steal even when living within the community of a conquered area, from their own).   Even slaves, or ex-slaves (from Belgrade) were conscripted, trained and paid to become elite fighters, soldiers, called Janissaries. 

The building of aggressive forces aimed at the destruction of Christianity was the jihad of Islam.  It remains so today. 

There were marriages between the courts of the Ottomans and the Christians.  This enabled some Christian influence on the Turks, mostly in forms of governance in major occupied areas. 

Requests were made by the Byzantines for Crusaders from the West to come to their aid, to fight the Muslims, to repel them and destroy them as the Muslims had done for far too often and with devastating results for Christians. It did not always turn out, however, as planned as these mercenaries were often convicted criminals given a chance at freedom if they joined the crusaders.  They were not seeking territory for Allah, but they did find opportunities with woman and raiding estates and villages for profit to their liking. 

From the Spoils Came Greater Power

As the treasury of the Ottoman raiding parties increased so did their power and want for more. By the year 1354 Gallipoli became a base for the Turks, between Turkey and Europe, providing a launch point to move West. Serbia and Hungary became accessible objectives (Aegean and Marmara Seas open to the Turks).

 Loyalty to the Sultans, the military leaders, remained as long as the victories continued. Unity may have existed when operating as a military force, while clans and tribes remained independent as to internal policies that effected family and communities. Disputes were settled by tribe and clan tribunals. There existed Muslim Law (Sharia) and Turkish Law. The Turkman war leaders were ‘beys,’ who were also the heads of their states or tribes.   As power and territory increased and the influence of the Turks became greater the Ottoman rulers became ‘sultans.’  With a broadening of territory, government became more centralized.  The Ottoman was the empire, within which there were States, made up of the clans or tribes.  Conquered territory was administered by the states, while the military by the Empire. Uncontrollable Muslim nomads who lived on loot were eventually replaced by paid soldiers. There were at times Christian soldiers (the Janissaries), not required to convert as long as they followed orders.   Taxes were collected to support the military, to exploit new lands, and the sultan  overseers, their administration, of the whole of the conquered lands. 

Government 

The Abassids greatly impacted the Islamic civilization, its administration, legal (and judicial) systems, financial, religious and educational institutions. Within the Ottoman empire there was leniency towards non-Muslims, notwithstanding a lesser status accorded those who did not convert. The receptivity towards non-Muslims came about through association and experience with the Byzantines, as well as other overtaken Christian areas, the Serbian and Bulgarian empires.

There were those that resented any effort to abandon the ghazi (feared warriors intent on destroying Christians) traditions.  Any influence by Christians in court systems of State areas was found to be appalling, while Sharia continued to be practiced, especially the violent penalty system of Sharia.  

Mehmed II became the most famous ruler in the Muslim world with the taking of Constantinople in 1453. His success made him want to dominate all of the Muslim world, as well as the entirety of the Christian world.  Constantinople was renamed Istanbul and opened to all, to include Christians and Jews, in an attempt to become a more productive Empire.  An industrious city was important to Mehmed II.  There were those that said ‘no’ to the invitation –  they were the Greeks and the Armenians. 

By 1517 the Ottomans conquered Egypt, the whole of the Muslim world coming under their flag. 

 From Wikipedia:  “During the 16th and 17th centuries, at the height of its power under the reign of Suleiman the Magnificent, the Ottoman Empire was a multinational, multilingual empire controlling most of Southeast Europe, parts of Central Europe, Western Asia, parts of Eastern Europe and the Caucasus, North Africa and the Horn of Africa. At the beginning of the 17th century, the empire contained 32 provinces and numerous vassal states. Some of these were later absorbed into the Ottoman Empire, while others were granted various types of autonomy during the course of centuries.”  

In each area dominated by Muslim heads of state or Empires thousands of Christian slaves were kept to serve the Muslims as well as satisfy their pleasures, often in a most vile and violent fashion.  

Islam and Idols

Historically Islam objected to material representations of their religion. They found idols offensive. It is curious that they continue to idolize Mohammed and have a famous mosque in Medina to honor him. There is a Suleiman Mosque, the Imam Mosque, a Mosque in Damascus, and although no longer a Mosque, a structure in Cordova, Spain, that was built to honor and represent Islam. And know that the Dome of the Rock, in Jerusalem, which is not a Mosque, is a structure as a reminder of Islam and its objectives, it’s want for recognition in the holiest of places in the world. A Mosque as the worship center is one thing, be it humble and purposeful, but when adorned with ornate and elaborate jewels and stones and architectural statements it is more like a false representation. More than likely the adornments in these elaborate Mosques built by Caliphs, Sultans and other Islamic Empire leaders were taken from Christians (or each other), their homes and their churches. Many of the world’s largest Mosques were at one time churches, converted for the use of the invading hoards. These mosques reflect the aggressive nature of Islam as an imperial power, in the name of Allah, destined in their teachings and brainwashing tactics to conquer the world.

 Vienna

After Constantinople the taking of Europe was as primary goal of Islam and the Turks.  Vienna was “a strategic gateway into the heart of Europe” (pg. 267, Sword and Scimitar).

From the time of Muhammad destroying the Byzantine Empire with Constantinople (founded in 325, the continuation of the Roman Empire – founded 753BC) as the crown Jewel was the objective.  

The Cross adorning churches and cathedrals was vexing to Muslims, as it represented God, the biblical God, the competitor to Allah, their god. From the time of Muhammad’s death the Muslims were intent on taking territory occupied by Christians.  That included most areas to the West and North of Arabia, as to the East was the remnants of the Persian (Sassanid) Empire. In the 600 plus years after the crucifixion of Christ the body of the followers of Christ grew and cities expanded with churches and populations.  Egypt and north Africa, Rome and Europe, Anatolia, Mesopotamia and Constantinople, Jerusalem and the Levant were predominantly Christian. Then the Caliphs with their armies under the Black Flag of Muhammad found opportunities as an organized gang of marauders to suddenly raid, and conquer, peaceful areas of unsuspecting residents, many having no idea of who Muhammad was, taking their possessions, destroying their worship centers, raping their women, sodomizing their children, murdering the handicapped and elderly, and forcing conversions to a new religion.  The choice convert, pay a tax for protection (submit Mafia style), or die.  Villages were set on fire, Raymond Ibrahim writes (Sword and Scimitar), “they wickedly committed immoralities inside churches.” 

In 1683 the Ottoman empire was detoured. If Vienna had fallen, Rome and Catholicism would have fallen. Mustafa failed. “the largest Muslim force ever to march on Europe,” (R. Ibrahim, Sword and Scimitar, pg. 278), failed. It was a holy war. The Turks siege of Vienna almost succeeded, but at the final hour the Holy League against Islam arrived. It comprised Polish, Austrian, Lithuanian and Germans, a feared Polish King, Jan Sobieski, leading the way. Pope Innocent provided indulgence for all men going into battle.  The Ottoman’s prepared in part by killing over 30,000 male Christian slaves for fear they might defect and aid the enemy, ravishing the women and beheading the old among them. The Grand Vizier Mustafa’s “ostentatious” tent bearing the green flag of Islam became a target for the Pole’s artillery and “history’s largest cavalry charge” (pg. 276). Many died, but soon it ended.  The aggressive terrorizing and enslaving of Christians by Turks for over 300 years ebbed as other battles were lost, even Russia joining the League, with territories ceded back to the enemies of Islam. The 1000 year Muslim threat to Europe was thwarted.  

Protestant, Catholics and Ottomans

The world was changing as Christiandom had its divisions with the advent of the Reformation.  There were times, wrongly, the protestants sided with the Ottomans against the Catholics.  They did not understand Islam nor the nature of the Turks.  The Russians were seen by the British as trouble, the British developing, incorrectly, a pro-Ottoman posture. More politics than Islam versus Christians. In 1856 the Crimean War had Russian defending the Orthodox in Turkey from oppression by the Sultan. 

World War I

At the end of World War I, Ataturk, Turkey’s President declared an end to the Ottoman Empire, as well as Islam’s dominant influence on the Country.  In 1923 Turkey became a secular Republic with Ataturk as President.  His desire was to modernize Turkey and have it become a productive nation, contributing to the world economy.  Hijabs were gone.  Churches were being built. Bells rung.  Islam remained important to the people but it was not the law of the land.

Modern Turkey

Under Erdogan (President of Turkey) concerns have arisen that he wants to see Turkey embrace anew Islamic Law.  His personality is such that he seeks to curb the freedom of the press (he has blocked YouTube, Twitter and Wikipedia, in addition to local news outlets) when critical of his office and his proclamations. He appears to be strong handed in elections in an effort to have the Party (Justice and Development Party – AKP) favorably inclined towards his objectives and power, locally and nationally.  A recent low for Erdogan was Ekrem Imamoglu’s stunning victory in the rerun (yes a rerun was needed because Erdogan did not like the outcome) of Istanbul’s mayoral election. The question, has democracy in Turkey been restored?  Do not count Erdogan out. 

Summary

Islam’s history is one of aggression.  The growth of the Ottoman empire and the methods employed by the Turks are examples of the horrific practices of the Muslims, the sultans and viziers of this Empire.  But they reflect the practices of other Islamic Dynasties and Empires since the death of Muhammad. Hatred of Jews and Christians, as well as conquests, taking of new territories, the treasuries and human slaves made available, churches destroyed and vile acts committed against persons of other religions, humiliation a desire, women raped, others killed in unimaginable ways, as spoils and rewards for the soldiers of Islam, as well as the military leaders, dominated Islamism. All in the name of their god, in victory the spoils, in death paradise with houris and abundant pleasures.  There were holy wars fought to curb the on-going aggression.  Towards the end of the 1800’s the Islamists were contained.  The British, French and others attempted to colonize, modernize, educate and civilize persons in the regions that comprised much of the taking of Christian areas by the aggressive Muslims, their Berber converts, the Seljiks and Turks comprising the Ottoman Empire. After the Ottomans were suppressed at Vienna, all did not end, as the control of the Mediterranean, the Corsairs, the Berbers, wreaking havoc, kidnapping for profit, terrorizing the West, Christians and Jews, continued.  

The liberation of Christian lands will never be complete.  Global powers in free nations do not seem to have the stomach to resist the intolerance, and terrorism, of Islamists.  Their nature is to appease and believe they can reform those culturally incompatible souls that have immigrated.  But they do not understand Islam.  They however must. Raymond Ibrahim concludes his book, Sword and Scimitar, by this, “If Islam is terrorizing the West today, that is not because it can, but because the West allows it to.  For no matter how diminished, a still swinging Scimitar will always overcome a strong but sheathed Sword” ((pg. 297).

Beware. Islam is not an ideology of Peace.  It is an aggressive plan of destruction for profit and for extracting evil pleasures in ways harmful, hurtful and debasing to non-Muslims, and those they consider heretics. Slaves, mostly white (Caucasian), still occupy many sheikdoms and palaces of the demonic overlords of the persons identified as Muslim.  They will rise when they can to continue their plan of the extirpation of Christianity, as well as all Jews.  They cannot be appeased.  To even try is to appear weak in their eyes and ripe for conquest.  A treaty may be made, and kept, until a better deal or alternative is provided.  That is their lie, the Takiyya of Islam.  Do not trust any ideology that has apostasy laws that seek to kill those that express their independence and choose not to continue as a Muslim.  We read daily of persons converting to become a Christian being jailed in Pakistan, Indonesia, Iran, Syria, and other Muslim majority Nations.  We know no churches are being built in the latter nations.  We have read all too often as well of the killing of Christians walking to and from their worship centers, or gathering as a group.  Islam is not a religion of peace, unless you are a Muslim (and even then peace is not a certainty). 

Grace and Peace