The Ottoman Narrative Sources Related to the 17th-18th Century Safavid History

Abstract

At the end of the 17th and the beginning of the 18th century, a large number of works were written in the Western and Eastern countries on the political and economic fight between the Ottoman-Safavid-Russian states for the territories of the North Caucasus and Azerbaijan, both at the time when the events took place, and in later century. Among the historical sources of the period, the works by chroniclers and envoys of the Ottoman state, one of the Muslim-eastern countries, also occupy an important place. Unfortunately, the Ottoman historical sources, widely studied by Turkish historians, have been little studied by Azerbaijani researchers as a result of the pressure of the comunist political regime that existed in our country in the last century. That is why the article contains Ottoman narrative sources of the last quarter of the 17th century and the beginning of the 18th century and they are presented to the attention of domestic researchers. The article provides extensive information about nine Ottoman chroniclers, three Ottoman ambassadors and their works. The chroniclers whose works are presented in the article are Abdi Efendy, Dastari Saleh Efendy, Faraizzade Mehmed Said Efendy, Ismail Asim Efendy, Mehmed Rashid, Mustafa Nuri Pasha, Mehmed Subhi Efendy, Silahdar Fyndiglili Mehmed Aga, Shamdanizade Fyndigili Suleiman Efendy, and ambassadors Durry Efendy, Arutin Tamburi Efendy, Mustafa Rahmi Efendy from the Crimea. Many works of ambassadors and chroniclers were published with the permission of the Sultan at the time they were written. This situation deserves attention in terms of the importance given to them by the Ottoman sultans. The fact that the works of authors such as Durry and Arutin Efendy were published abroad, especially in France, is one of the important facts in terms of reflecting the interest of Western intellectuals in political events taking place in the countries of the East.