Full twelve thousand men he mustered.

Out before them came the sultan:

“Listen to me, oh my children!

If you’ve any qualms at dying,

If you here regret your coming,

To your homes you may return now!”

“Father, we’ve no qualms at dying,

For we wish to die as martyrs!”

Then the sultan did approach them,

Gave each man a shroud to carry,

Said a final prayer for each one.

So the army set off marching,

Moving ’til it reached the seaside.

Father Sultan said a sura

And, behold, the sea did open,

All the soldiers crossed it safely!

To his men then spoke the sultan:

“Listen to me, oh my children!

If you’ve any qualms at dying,

Go back now, the sea’s still open,

No returning once it closes!”

“We have no regrets, oh father,

For we wish to die as martyrs,

For we want to take Kosova!”

Then the army started forward,

Off to war the sultan sent it.

First of all it moved on Peja,

Twelve full days and nights besieged it,

Firing full with guns and cannons,

’til it snared and captured Peja.

Thence it marched upon Kosova,

Twelve full days and nights besieged it,

Firing full with guns and rifles,

Yet Kosova was not conquered!

Much afflicted was the sultan,

Came out to address the soldiers:

“Listen to me, oh my children,

Have you eaten things forbidden,

Have you any sin committed,

For our war is not succeeding?”

 

“We have eaten naught forbidden,

 

Father, we’ve no sin committed.”

At a distance crouched one soldier,

Who no doubt was up to something!

So the sultan then approached him:

“Listen to me well, my youngster,

Is there something you repent, lad?

Have you eaten things forbidden?”

“I have no repentance, father,

I have eaten naught forbidden,

In my bag, however, I’ve an

Apple, I’m the one who plucked it.”

“Tell me, lad, where did you get it?

You must now return the apple

And must pay the price to buy it.”

To the Slav the soldier took it,

“How much money for this apple?”

“Give me nine mules heavy laden

All with gold and I’ll forgive you!”

So nine mules of gold he sent him,

And the deed was thus forgiven.

Once again resumed the fighting,

Twelve full days and nights they battled,

Firing full with guns and cannons,

’til they finally took Kosova.

And the sultan died a martyr!

Albanian traditional

Well the sultan did die a martyr! Not to the assassins hand this time but charged down by Serbian Knights. In our refight the Bosniacs held firm and stopped Bayezid from flanking the Serb host. The Serbian Knights not only claimed the life of Murad but also carved a hole though the jannisaries.

It was the winning combination of heavily armoured Knights  and elite impact hussars that did for the Ottoman horse. One or two units of hussars can get behind evading horse and let the chivalric host close. My thanks to H Seferoglu  for her translation of the poem. Thank you for reading and Dave for a most exciting game. The opening attack on the akijis column will long be remembered amongst the coffee and hula pipes of West Cardiff.