#Ottoman Turkey

[sheltiechicago]

Stunning Examples of Calligraphy on Dried Leaves by the Ottoman Turks

Arabic calligraphy is known for its beautiful, artistic lines; but, in Ottoman Turkey, calligraphers really took things to a whole new level. Over the course of 500 years, the Ottoman Turks perfected many different script styles and elevated the art form. Recently, Bayt Al Fann, an online art platform celebrating Islamic art, called attention to a unique canvas used for such calligraphy—a dried leaf.

[archaeologyinbulgaria]

Happy Independence Day: Bulgaria Celebrates 116th Anniversary since Declaration of Independence from Ottoman Turkey in 1908

This political cartoon on the cover of French periodical Le Petit Journal illustrates the Bosnian Crisis of 1908: Knyaz (King) Ferdinand (middle) of Bulgaria declares independence and becomes Tsar (Emperor), Austro-Hungarian Emperor Franz Joseph (L) annexes Bosnia and Herzegovina, while Ottoman Sultan Abdul Hamid looks on. Photo: Cplakidas, Wikipedia Bulgaria celebrates on Sunday, September 22,…

[willigula]

The Tortoise Trainer by Osman Hamdi Bey, 1906

[knockout1207]

花言葉 Language of flowers

花言葉の起源。

“18世紀 花言葉ビクトリア朝時代。

花言葉への関心が高まったその起源は、オスマン帝国時代にコンスタンティノープルの宮廷のチューリ���プに執着したことにあるそうです。

18世紀前半、植物学への関心の高まりと同時に、秘密のコミュニケーション手段とし��花が使用されました。

花と象徴的な定義を関連付けた最初に出版されたリストはジョゼフ ハマー -パーグストールの『花辞典』（1809年）であると思われるが、最初の花言葉辞典は1819年にルイーズ・コルタンベールがマダム・シャルロット・ド・ラ・トゥールというペンネームで執筆した『Le langage des』とされる。”

どこかの誰かが勝手に決めたことなので、今に伝えられている花言葉を暗黙の共通言語にしなくても良いと思います。

悪い意味を持たされた花に

罪は無い。

[theglintofyourblade]

Dagger with Sheath | Turkish | 19th century | Met Museum

[ancientsstudies]

Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque by paandeli.

[bobemajses]

Torah Ark Curtain from Ottoman Turkey, 19th century

[livesunique]

Dolmabahçe Palace, Istanbul, Turkey

[dominadespina]

THE SINS OF DESPINA HATUN

Since the 14th century, one woman has haunted the history of the Ottoman Empire and the very minds of their historians with her influence over a Sultan who suffered a hummiliating fate.

The only wife of a Sultan who has been the target of curses; Despina Hatun. 

The reason for this great hatred of her has to do with the fact that she was influential and remain christian throughout her marriage. She was able to maitain the first and main place in the harem of her husband and to make him like her. A likeness that overtime grew into love and devotion. 

Her wishes did not remain mere wishes, and for this reason the muslim associates of Sultan Yildirim Bayezid Han, as well as later Turksih historians resented her. Today most people remember her as “Bayezid’s great love”. 

To Ottoman sources she was a fatal woman who lured their Sultan into sin. It can be concluded from that amount of hatred that she was allowed privileges and more power than was allowed for a foreign wife of a Sultan, or an imperial wife in general.

SHE MADE THE SULTAN FALL FOR HER

"As for Yıldırım, let's say that he fell in love with the princess." - Necdet Sakaoğlu. Bu Mülkün Kadın Sultanları, pg 83

"Throughout his life he was devoted to Despina, and his brother-in-law Stephen in turn was a devoted and steadfast friend." - Herbert Gibbons. The Foundation of the Ottoman Empire

According to Chalkokondyles, when Bayazit's favorite wife, Lazareva [daughter], whom he took everywhere with him into battle, was captured and handed over to Tamerlane, he ordered that wine be served to him there, in front of her husband. The enraged Bayazit told Tamerlane that what he was doing was not worthy of his father and mother. - Две српске султаније : Оливера Лазаревић (1373-1444), Мара Бранковић (1418-1487), pg 107

"When the latter's wife, the daughter of Lazar, whom he loved more than any of the others, had been taken away, and Timur was taking her around in the camp with him, he made her pour his wine in front of Bayezid, her husband." - Laonikos Chalkokondyles

"He kept her close – she accompanied him everywhere - he appeared unable to part from her. She was the one person, who influenced him most and was of course blamed by the Ottoman chroniclers for the fall of Beyazid’s empire into the hands of Timur. They considered the young sultan totally captivated by her."- Anna Buxton. The European Sultanas of the Ottoman Empire

It is widely understood that throughout their marriage Despina and Bayezid shared a devoted sentiment-perhaps more on his part-despite the circumstances that brought them together. The couple had similar interests such as politics, wine, partying, European customs, conversations and according to historians found constant erotic pleasure with each other. Though all of these cited interests might just be Ottoman historians attempts to depict this woman as deceitful.

" The sexually robust woman – she satisfies all his desires- but remains a Christian." - Richard Franz Kreutel performs a service to Ottoman polemic.

It is said that for some days, Bayezid remained in Despina's chamber and completely forgot about state affairs.

Olivera (Despina Hatun) is accused by Ottoman historians of using her charms and beauty to lure Bayezid to her. This seems highly untrue as Bayezid's harem is labeled as being filled with "forbidden beauties." He could have set his sight on another with more charm and beauty, and in fact he did, but still remained devoted to Despina.

It seems they use her beauty and political influence only as a means to label her as a Femme Fatale who is cunning, power-hungry and worst even, an infidel. Yet, when we look at foreign sources about the personality of Despina Hatun, she is describe as being gentle and flowery.

SHE WAS ALLOWED POLITICAL INFLUENCE

According to Dr. Zeljko Fajfric in his work "Srpske kraljice i princeze," released in 2007, no sultana before Olivera, who did not convert to Islam, managed to become so influential.

Yet something that is enough to critize him on is that he only puts this influence of hers to be due to her charms and beauty, yet again unintentionally labeling her as a femme fatale.

If beauty was all it took to have political influence, dozens more like her would have succeeded in that aspect, but she remains the only wife of Bayezid who had significant importance on politics.

Either Bayezid often sought after her opinion in matters of state or he took her as an advisor which might be the reason she was often with him, but no, a good scent, a soft spoken voice, long hair or enchanting glances will work, at least not for very long, even for a man prone to pleasure like Bayezi, and as we know Despina's political influence grew more with time than it decline.

A few things that are attributed to her council...

I: She helped accelerate the transfer of Prince Lazar's body back to Serbia.

II: She freed and paid ransoms for enslaved christians with the help of her brother; Stefan.

SHE BROUGHT DEBAUCHERY TO THE OTTOMAN COURT

Despina is often blamed for having introduced wine at the Ottoman court.

This sin that Bayezid's partook in can not be credited to Despina because he was already throwing such feasting assemblies ever since his princehood. Him and Despina married in 1390, he was well too familiar with wine and pleasure prior to their marriage.

Despina, later on, might have organized such festivities for him.

" Wine and kebab assembly was established. The infidel's daughter came and toasted Ali Pasha. The lady said, see the moment." - Aşıkpaşazade.

Still it is highly unlikely that Despina, who comes from a culture where married women do not speak in the presence of men would even partake in such assemblies filled with drunk men.

What is more likely is that she organized her own wine assemblies in the harem, with the presence of other women, but the chances of her doing such a thing as drinking in the presence of men is highly unlikely.

She might have even brought wine and so called debauchery to the once "pious" court of the harem, but as for the men; who take up the majority parties in politics and war, they were already familiar with the beverage.

[illustratus]

View of the Bosphorus, Istanbul by Auguste Étienne François Mayer

[archaeologyinbulgaria]

Happy Unification Day: Bulgaria Celebrates 139th Anniversary since National Reunification of Principality of Bulgaria and ‘Eastern Rumelia’ in 1885

This rare postcard showcased by the National Museum of History in Sofia depicts the arrival of triumphant volunteer units in Plovdiv to support and celebrate the Unification of the Principality of Bulgaria and Eastern Rumelia on September 6, 1885. Photo: National Museum of History Bulgaria celebrates on Thursday, September 6, 2018, the 139th anniversary since the Unification of what is today…

[chaiaurchaandni]

it is imp to remember that this is not about religion and the ethnic cleansing of artsakh proves this. all oppressive regimes are connected regardless of religion and that is why azerbaijan and israel have good relations. another example is saudi arabia having good relations with america and israel while also killing other muslims in yemen.

interestingly, like israel, saudi also uses religion to gain credibility (recently got holy mosque imam to give statement condemning boycotts and encouraging muslims to not be involved in the situation in palestine) and recruit muslim supporters from all over the world, while simultaneously killing/imprisoning muslim critics of the kingdom.

similarly, israel sells itself as a safe haven for jews and convinces jews around the world to migrate to israel while also simultaneously criminalizing antizionist jews all over the world, even suggesting that theyre not 'real jews' (reminiscent of takfirism which is a core part of saudi wahabi ideology) [ fun fact: the house of saud came into power in arabia with help from the british, just like the zionists in palestine! ]

oppressive regimes are directly connected and mirror each other in several ways. this is why liberation and resistance movements need to unite and work together across the world

[mapsontheweb]

Non Muslims in Turkey c. 1900

[keepingitneutral]

Zeyrek Çinili Hamam, Istanbul, Türkiye,

In Turkish, “çinili” translates to “tiled bath house.”

Mrs Koza Gureli Yazgan acquired an abandoned hamam in Istanbul’s historic yet overlooked Zeyrek district in 2010.

While freshening the place up, she kept unearthing priceless artifacts from Ottoman, Byzantine, and Roman times, soon discovering fragments of more than 3,000 vivid turquoise-blue ceramic tiles. More than 10,000 such tiles once adorned the building’s interior until a Parisian dealer sold the tiles to museums and private collectors around Europe as the hamam sat dormant.

After more than 13 years of conservation, which involved restoring the tiles and wall paintings dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries, Mrs Gureli Yazgan is gearing up to reopen Çinili as a contemporary art venue on September 30.

A museum dedicated to Byzantine cisterns will occupy the lower levels, which feature newly uncovered wall carvings of boats suspected to have been made by slaves. When the baths aren’t offering full-service spa services, they’ll host a rotating art program that glimmers under the domed roof’s array of crescent-shaped skylights.

[songs-of-the-east]

Elderly Nekrasov Cossacks.

The Nekrasov Cossacks are descendants of Don Cossack Old Believers who left Imperial Russia and sought refuge in the Ottoman Empire, first in the Black Sea coast of Romania and then in Northern Turkey.

[barbucomedie]

Model 1861 Breech Loading Converted Springfield Rifle from the United States of America dated to the 19th Century on display at the Black Watch Castle and Museum in Perth, Scotland

This rifle was captured from the Arab Auxiliary Force by the 2nd Battalion The Black Watch at Sanai in Mesopotamia, 1917. The rifle is a breech-loading Springfield Model 1861. This type of rifle was used by the US Army during the American Civil War, 1861 - 1865. Large quantities of these surplus rifles were sold to the Ottoman Empire in 1869 and were still in use by auxiliary units during the First World War.

Photographs taken by myself 2024