or **AMURATH**, I. the fourth emperor of the Turks, and one of the greatest princes of the Ottoman empire, succeeded Soliman in 1560. He took from the Greeks Gallipoli, Thrace, and Adrianople, which last he chose for the place of his residence. He defeated the prince of Bulgaria, conquered Misnia, chastised his rebellious bawhaws, and is said to have gained 36 battles. This prince, in order to form a body of devoted troops that might serve as the immediate guards of his person and dignity, appointed his officers to seize annually, as the imperial property, the fifth part of the Christian youth taken in war. These, after being instructed in the Mahometan religion, inured to obedience by severe discipline, and trained to warlike exercises, were formed into a body distinguished by the name of **Janissaries**, or **New Soldiers**. Every sentiment which enthusiasm can inspire, every mark of distinction that the favour of the prince could confer, were employed in order to animate this body with martial ardour, and with a consciousness of its own pre-eminence. The Janissaries soon became the chief strength and pride of the Ottoman armies, and were distinguished above all the troops whose duty it was to attend on the person of the Sultan.—At length the death of Lazarus, despot of Servia, who had endeavoured in vain to stop the progress of Amurath's arms, touched Milo, one of his servants, in so sensible a manner, that, in revenge, he stabbed the sultan in the midst of his troops, and killed him upon the spot, A.D. 1389, after he had reigned 23 years.

**AMURAT** II. the 10th emperor of the Turks, was the eldest son of Mahomet I. and succeeded his father in 1421. He besieged Constantinople and Belgrade without success; but he took Theflalonica from the Venetians, and compelled the prince of Bosnia and Amyclae, a city of Laconia, distant about 18 miles from the metropolis, founded by Amyclas the son of Lacedaemon, and famed afterwards for the birth of Caecus and Pollux the sons of Tydeus, eighth king of Sparta. It was afterwards famed for sending a considerable colony of its own inhabitants into Upper Calabria, who built there a city which they called by the same name. This last city was situated between Caieta and Terracina, and gave its name to the neighbouring sea. According to Pliny and Solinus, the territory of Amyclae was so infested with vipers and other serpents, that the inhabitants were obliged to abandon their dwellings and settle elsewhere. Among the ancient poets, the Amyclaeans, or inhabitants of this city, obtained the epithet of taciti or silent. The reason of this was, either because it was built by the Lacedaemonians, who, as they followed the doctrine of Pythagoras, were always inculcating the precept of silence, and thence called taciti: or because of a law which obtained in this place, forbidding any one, under severe penalties, to mention the approach of an enemy. Before this law was made, the city was daily alarmed by false reports, as the enemy had been already at the gates. From terrors of this kind the abovementioned law indeed delivered them; but in the end it proved the ruin of the city: for the Dorians appearing unexpectedly under the walls, no one ventured to transgress the law; so that the city was easily taken. They reduced it to an inconsiderable hamlet; in which, however, were seen some of the remains of its ancient grandeur. One of the finest buildings that escaped the common ruin, was the temple and statue of Alexandra, whom the inhabitants pretended to be the same with Cassandra the daughter of Priam.