Letters from Turkey
Encyclopedia
Letters from Turkey are actually memoirs written by Europeans who had been to Ottoman Empire
. Usually, the series of letters had been collected and published later on with various titles. But they are popularly known as Letters from Turkey or Turkish letters. Below is the summary of these.
(1522-1592) was a diplomat in Holy Roman Empire
. He was sent to Ottoman Empire to discuss over the disputed territory of Transylvania
(modern west Romania
) in 1554. During his stay his addresses were Rüstem Pasha
and Semiz Ali Pasha
both of which were grandviziers. Upon returning to his country he published the letters he had written to his colleague Nicholas Michault under the title Turcicae epistolae. Busbuecq is also known for his introduction of tulip
, from Turkish flora to Europe.
(1689-1762) was the wife of Edward Wortley Montagu
, the British
ambassador to Ottoman Empire between 1716-1718.The letters about her travels and observations about Ottoman life was published under the title Turkish Embassy Letters. One of her important observations was the primitive form of smallpox
vaccination.
(1690–1761) was a Hungarian essayist, noted for his rebellious activities against the Habsburg Monarchy
. Although backed by Ottoman Empire, Hungarian rebels were defeated and had to choose a life in exile. After, 1715 Mikes spent the rest of his life in Tekirdağ
, a city near to İstanbul
. His work is known as Letters from Turkey.
(1800-1891) was an officier in Prussian army
. (later victorios Generalfeldmarschall in the Franco-Prussian War
of (1870–71)) He spent four years in the Ottoman Empire as a military advisor between 1835-1839. Upon returning to Germany, he published Letters on Conditions and Events in Turkey in the Years 1835 to 1839 .
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
. Usually, the series of letters had been collected and published later on with various titles. But they are popularly known as Letters from Turkey or Turkish letters. Below is the summary of these.
Letters by Busbecq
Ogier Ghiselin de BusbecqOgier Ghiselin de Busbecq
Ogier Ghiselin de Busbecq was a 16th century Flemish writer, herbalist and diplomat in the employ of three generations of Austrian monarchs...
(1522-1592) was a diplomat in Holy Roman Empire
Holy Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire was a realm that existed from 962 to 1806 in Central Europe.It was ruled by the Holy Roman Emperor. Its character changed during the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period, when the power of the emperor gradually weakened in favour of the princes...
. He was sent to Ottoman Empire to discuss over the disputed territory of Transylvania
Transylvania
Transylvania is a historical region in the central part of Romania. Bounded on the east and south by the Carpathian mountain range, historical Transylvania extended in the west to the Apuseni Mountains; however, the term sometimes encompasses not only Transylvania proper, but also the historical...
(modern west Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
) in 1554. During his stay his addresses were Rüstem Pasha
Rüstem Pasha
Rüstem Pasha Opukovic was a Croat who became an Ottoman general and statesman. He served as the Grand Vizier of Suleiman the Magnificent. Rüstem Pasha is also known as Damat Rüstem Pasha and Rüstem Paşa .-Biography:Rüstem Pasha was born in Skradin, Croatia...
and Semiz Ali Pasha
Semiz Ali Paşa
Semiz Ali Pasha was an Ottoman statesman. He was Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire from 1561-1565. Semiz Ali Pasha was born in Bosnia, and replaced Rüstem Pasha as a Grand Vizier. After palace schooling, he discharged high-level functions along the Ottoman Empire.- References :...
both of which were grandviziers. Upon returning to his country he published the letters he had written to his colleague Nicholas Michault under the title Turcicae epistolae. Busbuecq is also known for his introduction of tulip
Tulip
The tulip is a perennial, bulbous plant with showy flowers in the genus Tulipa, which comprises 109 species and belongs to the family Liliaceae. The genus's native range extends from as far west as Southern Europe, North Africa, Anatolia, and Iran to the Northwest of China. The tulip's centre of...
, from Turkish flora to Europe.
Letters by Montagu
Lady Mary Wortley MontaguLady Mary Wortley Montagu
The Lady Mary Wortley Montagu was an English aristocrat and writer. Montagu is today chiefly remembered for her letters, particularly her letters from Turkey, as wife to the British ambassador, which have been described by Billie Melman as “the very first example of a secular work by a woman about...
(1689-1762) was the wife of Edward Wortley Montagu
Edward Wortley Montagu
Edward Wortley Montagu was an English author and traveller.He was the son of Edward Wortley Montagu, MP and of Lady Mary Wortley Montagu, whose talent and eccentricity he seems to have inherited....
, the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
ambassador to Ottoman Empire between 1716-1718.The letters about her travels and observations about Ottoman life was published under the title Turkish Embassy Letters. One of her important observations was the primitive form of smallpox
Smallpox
Smallpox was an infectious disease unique to humans, caused by either of two virus variants, Variola major and Variola minor. The disease is also known by the Latin names Variola or Variola vera, which is a derivative of the Latin varius, meaning "spotted", or varus, meaning "pimple"...
vaccination.
Letters by Mikes
Kelemen MikesKelemen Mikes
Kelemen Mikes was a Transylvanian-born Hungarian political figure and essayist, noted for his rebellious activities against the Habsburg Monarchy. Mikes is referred to as the "Hungarian Goethe", made famous by his Letters from Turkey...
(1690–1761) was a Hungarian essayist, noted for his rebellious activities against the Habsburg Monarchy
Habsburg Monarchy
The Habsburg Monarchy covered the territories ruled by the junior Austrian branch of the House of Habsburg , and then by the successor House of Habsburg-Lorraine , between 1526 and 1867/1918. The Imperial capital was Vienna, except from 1583 to 1611, when it was moved to Prague...
. Although backed by Ottoman Empire, Hungarian rebels were defeated and had to choose a life in exile. After, 1715 Mikes spent the rest of his life in Tekirdağ
Tekirdag
Tekirdağ , the ancient Bisanthi , is a city in Eastern Thrace, in the European part of Turkey. Tekirdağ is the capital of Tekirdağ Province, felt by the local people to be a quieter and more pleasant town than the industrial centre of Çorlu, which it administers. The city population as of 2009 was...
, a city near to İstanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
. His work is known as Letters from Turkey.
Letters by Moltke
Helmuth von Moltke the ElderHelmuth von Moltke the Elder
Helmuth Karl Bernhard Graf von Moltke was a German Field Marshal. The chief of staff of the Prussian Army for thirty years, he is regarded as one of the great strategists of the latter 19th century, and the creator of a new, more modern method of directing armies in the field...
(1800-1891) was an officier in Prussian army
Prussian Army
The Royal Prussian Army was the army of the Kingdom of Prussia. It was vital to the development of Brandenburg-Prussia as a European power.The Prussian Army had its roots in the meager mercenary forces of Brandenburg during the Thirty Years' War...
. (later victorios Generalfeldmarschall in the Franco-Prussian War
Franco-Prussian War
The Franco-Prussian War or Franco-German War, often referred to in France as the 1870 War was a conflict between the Second French Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia. Prussia was aided by the North German Confederation, of which it was a member, and the South German states of Baden, Württemberg and...
of (1870–71)) He spent four years in the Ottoman Empire as a military advisor between 1835-1839. Upon returning to Germany, he published Letters on Conditions and Events in Turkey in the Years 1835 to 1839 .