Illustrated Gazetteer of the Maritime Kingdoms, Vol. 26

From the 39th year of the Kangxi era 1700, the empire gradually declined. By the 1800s, around the 5th year of the Jiaqing era 1800, the King Referring to the Ottoman Sultan was addicted to wine and women. The various Pashas Pasha: "巴札" (Bāzhá) in the text; a high-ranking title for governors or generals in the Ottoman Empire who were under his rule each occupied their own territories.

The various tribes within Europe that had been captured in earlier times all raised armies and drove the Turkish people entirely out of their borders. Russia also sent forth massive armies to attack. Turkey met with repeated defeats in battle and lost several wealthy and populous regions. From then on, the empire was unable to recover its former strength.

The Pasha of Egypt original: "伊揖" (Yīyī), a phonetic transcription of Egypt was originally a long-standing vassal of Turkey, but by this time, the Egyptians no longer accepted Turkish jurisdiction. The Pasha's armies nearly destroyed Turkey; it was only after the ceding of the two regions of Syria original: "西里阿" (Xīlǐ'ā) and Baghdad original: "巴里達" (Bālǐdá) that the Sultan finally requested a cessation of hostilities and the fighting stopped.

Matters of military and government are different from those of the various nations of Europe. Power is held entirely by the one at the top; once an order is issued, it is carried out immediately and none dare rebel. The King is called the Alam Zillullah original: "額蘭西尼阿" (Élánxīní'ā), a transcription of the Arabic/Persian title meaning 'The Shadow of God on the World'. The term Zillullah original: "西尼阿" (Xīní'ā) means "Shadow of God." It is believed that the King rules the country by divine mandate. The people of the nation cherish the virtue of their former King, Ottoman original: "荷夛曼" (Héduōmàn), referring to Osman I; thus, although later generations have experienced turmoil and have been...