Tamburlaine the Great by Christopher Marlowe
"Tamburlaine the Great" is a play by Christopher Marlowe that chronicles the rise and fall of its titular character, Tamburlaine, a Scythian shepherd turned conqueror. The narrative begins with political tension in Persia, where King Mycetes faces threats from his brother Cosroe and the ambitious Tamburlaine, who aspires to dominate the East. The play explores themes of ambition, power, and the nature of kingship as Tamburlaine garners followers and allies, defeating various opponents and ultimately claiming the Persian throne.
Tamburlaine's conquest extends to Egypt, leading to a tumultuous relationship with Zenocrate, the daughter of the sultan, revealing his depth of emotion amidst his ruthless pursuit of power. As the narrative unfolds, it depicts Tamburlaine's escalating brutality as he subdues opponents, including the Turkish king Bajazeth, whom he humiliates by imprisoning. However, his fatal flaw emerges in his disregard for the consequences of his actions, ultimately leading to personal tragedy with the death of Zenocrate.
The play concludes with Tamburlaine facing his own mortality, reflecting on his legacy and the devastation left in his wake. Through its dramatic arcs and rich characterizations, "Tamburlaine the Great" examines the complexities of ambition and the often destructive quest for power, resonating with themes that remain relevant across cultures and eras.
Tamburlaine the Great by Christopher Marlowe
First produced: Part 1, ca. 1587; part 2, 1587; first published, 1590
Type of work: Drama
Type of plot: Tragedy
Time of plot: Fourteenth century
Locale: Asia
Principal Characters
Tamburlaine , the Scythian conquerorZenocrate , his wifeBajazeth , the emperor of the TurksCallapine , his sonMycetes , the king of PersiaCosroe , his brotherTheridamas , ,Techelles , andUsumcasane , followers of TamburlaineOrcanes , the king of Natolia
The Story
When Mycetes becomes king of Persia, his brother, Cosroe, tells him openly that he is not fit for the office. Among Mycetes’s greatest concerns are the raids of Tamburlaine, the Scythian shepherd who became a bandit. Because it is rumored that this robber chief aspires to rule the East, Mycetes sends Theridamas with a thousand troops to capture Tamburlaine, and he orders another lord named Menaphon to follow Theridamas. Cosroe sarcastically points out to the king that Menaphon is needed in Babylon, where the province is about to revolt against a sovereign as inferior as Mycetes. At this insult, Mycetes threatens he will be revenged against his brother.
Menaphon asks Cosroe if he is afraid of the king’s threat, but Cosroe assures the Persian lord that there is a plot afoot to make Cosroe himself emperor of Asia. He claims that it hurts him to witness the scorn now heaped on Persia, which formerly awed the entire world. Soon afterward, the revolt Cosroe predicts takes place. The rebellious lords offer Cosroe the crown, and he sets out to annex the thousand troops of Theridamas and to conquer his brother Mycetes.
On a Scythian hill, Tamburlaine is holding Zenocrate, the daughter of the sultan of Egypt. He speaks grandly of kingdoms he will conquer, and Techelles and Usumcasane echo his boasts, vowing to follow Tamburlaine to the death. The ambitious leader is in love with Zenocrate, and he promises her all the wealth and power in his kingdom. Suddenly, Mycetes’s thousand-horse troops attack Tamburlaine’s five hundred foot soldiers. When Theridamas accosts the Scythian, he is so impressed with his appearance and with Tamburlaine’s visions of mighty kingdoms and power that the outlaw is able to persuade Theridamas to become an ally.
Cosroe prepares to send troops to join Tamburlaine and Theridamas by the river Araris and there to engage the forces of Mycetes, who is fuming with rage at the revolt. Meander, a follower of Mycetes, conceives the proposal that he who conquers Tamburlaine will be offered the province of Albania, and he who takes Theridamas can have Media. Mycetes stipulates, however, that Cosroe be captured alive. Mycetes is convinced that the followers of the bandit Tamburlaine can be bribed to desert their leader, since he purchased their loyalty by bribes in the first place.
When Cosroe meets Tamburlaine, the Scythian boasts of his great future; Theridamas indicates to Cosroe that he believes in Tamburlaine’s ability. Certain of victory, Cosroe promises Techelles and Usumcasane rewards for their deeds, and, indeed, Mycetes is defeated. After the victory, Tamburlaine then bribes Theridamas, Techelles, and Usumcasane with a promise of kingdoms of their own if they will attack Cosroe. Marveling at Tamburlaine’s arrogance and daring, Cosroe prepares for battle. Cosroe is wounded in battle, and Tamburlaine, gloating over his easy conquest, proclaims himself king of Persia.
At the court in Algiers, the kings of Fez, Morocco, and Algiers fume at the thought that a bandit took Persia and is now forcing them to raise their siege of Greek Constantinople. Bajazeth, king of the Turks, dispatches a message to Tamburlaine, threatening him if he dares set foot in Africa. Meanwhile, the kings plan to take Greece by siege.
Zenocrate slowly grows to admire Tamburlaine, who is now plotting the conquest of the Turkish kings. Zabina, wife of Bajazeth, sneers at Zenocrate and calls her a concubine. After subduing Bajazeth, Tamburlaine makes Zabina Zenocrate’s attendant slave. To show his might, Tamburlaine puts Bajazeth in a cage and uses it as a footstool. Bajazeth and Zabina continue, however, to hurl disdainful remarks and threats at him.
The next victim of the Scythian’s lust for power is the sultan of Egypt, Zenocrate’s father. As Tamburlaine’s armies prepare to take Damascus, Zenocrate gently asks her lover to deal kindly with the city of her father, but he refuses. Zenocrate grieves until Tamburlaine promises not to harm her father when Damascus falls. By now the Scythian conqueror loves Zenocrate dearly. While ordering three emissaries from Damascus to be killed, he thinks of his beloved’s beauty and tenderness. Zenocrate herself is torn between her conscience, which revolts against her lord’s cruelty, and her love for him.
When Tamburlaine brings the sultan to Zenocrate alive, the conqueror promises to give the sultan’s kingdom back to him if Zenocrate will accept the title of queen of Egypt. She readily accepts this condition and Tamburlaine begins planning the wedding.
By this time, Bajazeth and Zabina have killed themselves by dashing their heads against the bars of the cage in which Tamburlaine imprisoned the Turkish monarch. Orcanes, the king of Natolia, preparing for a battle with Sigismund, the king of Hungary, learns that Tamburlaine is mustering an attack. He sends for all the Christian rulers of Europe to form an alliance against an invasion by the Scythian. The former enemies Sigismund and Orcanes the Mohammedan enter into a pact of friendship with the rulers of Buda and Bohemia.
Callapine, son of Bajazeth and a prisoner of Tamburlaine, is guarded by Almeda, whom the young prince bribes with offers of wealth and power if he will help him escape. Tamburlaine and Zenocrate by now have three sons, Calyphas, Amyras, and Celebinus. Calyphas expresses a desire to lead a peaceful life with his mother.
The treaty of the monarchs against Tamburlaine does not hold. When Orcanes withdraws his troops from his campaign against the Christians, Sigismund is urged by his allies to attack Orcanes. Orcanes is trapped, for he is at the same time preparing to attack Tamburlaine. The betrayed monarch, crying for his enemies’ Christ to help him defeat the traitors, prepares to defend himself. In the battle, Sigismund is killed and Orcanes emerges the victor.
Zenocrate becomes ill. When she dies, Tamburlaine is overcome with such grief that he will not have her buried until after his own death. Escaping with the aid of Almeda, Callapine returns to his father’s kingdom and marshals the allies to defeat Tamburlaine and avenge Bajazeth’s death. Inconsolable in his grief for Zenocrate, Tamburlaine prepares to fight the forces of Callapine. The Scythian’s sons, Amyras and Celebinus, are eager for battle, but Calyphas, who dislikes bloodshed, refuses to join the fighting.
After he vanquishes his Turkish enemies, Tamburlaine returns to his camp and wrathfully stabs Calyphas, who remained in his tent all the while. The Turkish monarchs are bridled like horses and, under Tamburlaine’s whip, forced to pull his carriage. The conqueror then takes Babylon, which leads to terrible plunder, rape, and murder. Tamburlaine is now mad with lust and power. Only Callapine is still able to oppose him.
Finally, Tamburlaine falls ill with a mysterious malady, and his physician declares that he is dying. After crowning his son Amyras monarch of his empires, the dying conqueror sends for Zenocrate’s hearse. Bidding his son to reign with power, Tamburlaine, the scourge of God, leans over his beloved Zenocrate’s coffin and dies.
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