15/48 How was it that he had an opportunity of displaying his military genius? I can hardly tell you, but his valour soon made him famous; King Albert made him Ban of Szorenyi. He became eventually vaivode of Transylvania, and governor of Hungary. His first grand action was the defeat of the Bashaw Isack; and though himself surprised and routed at St.Imre, he speedily regained his prestige by defeating the Turks, with enormous slaughter, killing their leader, Mezerbeg; and subsequently, at the battle of the Iron Gates, he destroyed ninety thousand Turks, sent by Amurath to avenge the late disgrace. It was then that the Greeks called him Achilles. |