The territory of Kafa, lying on the shores of the Black Sea, having for many ages been in the possession of the Genoese, the Turkish and Tartar princes, though united by their proximity to each other, had never, as yet, on account of its strong fortifications, been able to reduce it. In 880 (A. D. 1475), the victorious sultan Mohammed Khan, having resolved upon its subjugation, gave orders to Keduk Ahmed Pasha to prepare the fleet. The pasha immediately collected a number of galleys, triremes, &c., amounting in all to three hundred vessels, and having prepared his Janissaries and Azabs,[6] kissed his hand, and according to custom bowed to the princes and nobles; after which he left the divan, went down to the harbour and embarked. With favourable winds he arrived in a short time on the shores of Kafa, where he landed and laid siege to the castle.[7] The Christians not daring to stand against the arms of the Faithful, delivered up the castle with stipulations, and left it. The castle being taken, they proceeded to subjugate its dependencies; and Azak, which is the boundary of the Sakalaba kingdoms,[8] being also reduced, by proper management they subjugated all the disaffected. The people of Kafa had their rights restored to them, and the place became subject to the Ottoman power. The date of this victory was called _A Favour_.[9]
Keduk Ahmed Pasha, having been dismissed from the office of grand vezier and imprisoned, was by some circumstance brought before the Sultan Mohammed Khan on his return from an expedition to Eskenderia. On this occasion the Sultan was pleased to bestow the _sanjak_ of Avlona on the pasha. In 884 he came to court, and having represented the facility with which Puglia, a district of Italy opposite Avlona, might be conquered, he petitioned for forces, and accordingly orders were issued to prepare a fleet. The necessary provisions were given him, and having collected a select troop of the bravest men of Roumelia and Anatolia, and some thousands of janissaries and Azabs, the pasha sailed for the coast of Puglia. In his first attack he took the castle of Taranto, and reduced by force of arms several other places in the neighbourhood, in each of which he stationed troops. But the governor of Puglia, an infidel called Raika, represented his case to the king of Spain, who immediately sent assistance to him. Of this the pasha had information, and Sultan Mohammed Khan[10] dying at that time, he embarked for the Porte under the pretence of paying his respects to the new Sultan. In 886 the infidel, having arrived with forty vessels and an army, retook the whole of the fortresses, and put to the sword most of the troops that were stationed in them. Elated by this success, he resolved on overtaking the pasha, and for this purpose pursued him at sea for some time; but the pasha had reached the Porte in safety.