Encyclopaedia Britannica, or, a Dictionary of arts, sciences, and miscellaneous literature : enlarged and improved. Illustrated with nearly six hundred engravings > Volume 1, A-AME

A’lp Arflan.
ALP [ 721 ] ALP
in the ftruggle ; and after offering up a devout prayer,
granted free permiHion to all who chofe it to retire
from the field. Then with his own hand he tied up
his horfe’s tail, exchanged his how and arrows for a
mace and fcymitar, and robing himfelf in a white gar¬
ment perfumed with muik, refolved to perifh on the
fpot unlefs he came off victorious. The fkiiful move¬
ments of the Turkifh cavalry foon made an impreflion
on the fuperior numbers of the Greeks, who were
thrown into great diforder, and after a terrible flaugh-
ter, were totally routed. Romanus, defected by the
main body of his army, with unfiiaken courage kept
his Ration, till he was recognized by a Have, taken pri-
foner, and conducted into the prefence of Alp Arf¬
lan. In the Turkilh divan, the captive emperor was
commanded to kifs the ground as a degrading mark of
fubmiflion to the power and authority of the fultan,
who, it is faid, leapt from his throne and fet his foot
on his neck. But this is fcarcely probable or confif-
tent with the generous and rcfpedtfnl treatment which
he other wife experienced. For the fultan inftantly
railed him from the ground, embraced him tenderly,
and affured him that his life and dignity fhould remain
inviolate under the protection of a prince who had not
forgotten the rcfpect due to the majeity of his equals,
and the viciflitudes of fortune. When the terms of
his ranfom were about to be fettled, Romanus was alk-
ed by Alp Arllan what treatment he expedted to re¬
ceive. To this quefiion the emperor, with feeming in¬
difference, replied, “ If you arc cruel, you will take
my life j if you follow the dictates of pride, you will
drag me at your chariot wheels j if you confult your
intereft, you will accept a ranfom, and reRore me to
my country.” “ But what,” fays the fultan, “ would
you have done in Rich circumltances ?” “ Had I been
victorious,” faid the infolent Romanus, “ I would have
inflicted on thy body many a Rripe.” The conqueror
fmiled at the fierce and unfubdued fpirit of his captive j
obferved that the Chriftian precepts Rrongly inculca¬
ted the love of enemies and the forgivenefs of injuries ;
and, with a noble greatnefs of mind, declared that he
would never imitate an example which he difapproved.
A ranfom of a million, an annual tribute of 3000 pieces
of gold, an intermarriage between the families, and
the deliverance of all the captive Muffulmans in the
power of the Greeks, were at lafi agreed to as the
terms of peace and the liberty of the emperor. Ro¬
manus was now difmiffed loaded with prefents, and re-
fpectfully attended by a military guard. But the dif-
tradted Rate of his dominions, the confequence of a re¬
volt of his fubjedts, precluded him from fulfilling the
terms of the treaty, and remitting the Ripulated price
of his ranfom. The fultan feemed difpofed to favour
and fupport the declining fortunes of his ally ; but the
defeat, imprifonment, and death of Romanus interrupt¬
ed the accomplifliment of his genei-ous, or rather am¬
bitious, defign.
At this time the dominion of Alp Arflan extended
over the fairelt part of Afia *, 1200 princes, or fons of
princes, furrounded his throne; and 200,000 foldiers
were ready to execute his commands. He now medi¬
tated a greater enterprife, and declared his purpofe of
attempting the conqueR of TurkeRan, the original feat
of his anceRors. After great preparations for the ex¬
pedition, he marched with a powerful army, and arrived
YOU I. Part II.
at the banks of the Oxus. Before he could pafs the ri¬
ver with fafety, it was neceflary to gain poffellion of
fome fortrefles in its vicinity 5 one of which was for
feveral days vigoroufly defended by the governor, Jo-
feph Cothual, a Carizmian. He was, however, obli¬
ged to furrender, and was carried a prifoner before the
fuitan, who, being enraged at his obllinacy and pre-
fumption, addrefl’ed him in very reproachful terms.
Jofeph replied with fo much fpirit, that he roufed the
refentment ofAAlp Arflan, and was commanded in-
Rantly to be faflened by the hands and feet to four
Rakes, to fuller a painful and cruel death. Jofeph, on
hearing this fentence, became furious and defperate ;
and drawing a dagger which he had concealed in his
boots, rulhed towards the throne to Rab the fultan ;
the guards railed* their battle-axes, and moved forward
to defend their fovereign; but Alp Arflan, the moR
expert archer of his age, checking their zeal, forbade
them to advance, and drew his bow : his foot flipped,
and the arrow miffed Jofeph, who rulhed forward, and
plunging his dagger in the brcaR of the fultan, was
himfelf inRantly cut in pieces. The wound proved
mortal, and the fultan expired in a few hours after he
received it, in the year 1072. When he found his
end approaching, he addrefl'ed himfelf in thefe words
to his attendants : “ In my youth,” faid he, “ I was
advifed by a wife man to humble myfelf before God,
never to confide in my own Rrength, or to defpife the
moR contemptible enemy. Thefe leffons I have ne-
gledted, for which I have now met deferved punilh-
ment. YeRerday, when I beheld from an eminence
the number and difeipline of my troops, I faid in the
confidence of my heart, ‘ What power on earth can
oppofe me ? what man dares to attack me ?’ To day,
vainly truRing to my own Rrength and dexterity, I
foolilhly checked the prompt zeal and alacrity of my
guards for my fafety, and now I have fallen by the
hand of an affaffin : But I perceive that no force or
addrefs can refiR fate.” He died in the 10th year of
his reign, at the age of 44. He was buried at Maru,
one of the four cities of Khorafan, in the tomb of the
Seljukian dynafiy. On his tomb was inferibed the fol¬
lowing epitaph •, “ All you who have beheld the gran¬
deur of Alp Arflan exalted to the heavens, come to
Maru, and you will fee it buried in the duR.”
This prince was diRinguiflied for his valour, libera¬
lity, and piety. He was patient, juR, and fincere.
His Rature, afpedt, and voice, commanded the refpedt
of all who approached him. He had long whilkers,
and ufually wore a high turban in the form of a crown.
He was fucceeded by his fon Malek Shah, who had
been proclaimed and acknowledged fultan of the Turks
during his life. {Mod. Univ. Hi/}. Gibbon's Hi/}./
ALPHA, the name of the firR letter of the Greek
alphabet, anfwering to our A. As a numeral, it Rands
for one, or the firll of any thing. It is particularly
ufed, among ancient writers, to denote the chief or
firR man of his clafs or rank. In this fenfe, the word
Rands contradiRinguifhed from beta, which denotes
the fecond perfon. Plato was called the Alpha of the
wits : EratoRhenes, keeper of the Alexandrian library,
whom fome called a Second Plato, is frequently named
Beta.
Alpha is alfo ufed to denote the beginning of any
thing. In which fenfe it Rands opp&fed to omega,
4 Y which
Alp Arflan,
Alpha.
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