Chapter VII: The Period of Subjection 117

The Armenians in Cilicia--Mongolian Invaders--Condition of Western Asia--Rise and Growth of Ottoman Power--The Standing Army--Compulsory Service of Conquered Christians--A Tax of Every Fifth Child--A Military Caste--Extent of Turkish Empire--Armenian Exiles--A New Calamity--Treachery and Cruelty--“The Lord of Asia”--Crossing the Bosphorus--The Turkish Capture of Constantinople--All Europe Filled with Consternation--Luther’s Hymn Containing Prayer for Deliverance--Divisions and Famine--God’s Purpose in Sparing Armenia--Bitterness between Turkish and Persian Mohammedans--Deportation of 25,000 Families--Comparative Rest for Eighty Years--Hope for Emancipation--Russia Offers Protection--Faithless to Promises--Russian Armies in Armenia.