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{{Short description|Ottoman soldier and writer}}
'''Osman Aga of Timişoara''' was an [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] army officer lived between 1670-1725 (?). He is known as one of the few [[Turkish people|Turkish]] autobiographers of the era. More important than that, he was a prisoner of war and he wrote mostly about his adventures in [[Habsburg Austria]] which makes the autobiography the sole [[Ottoman Turkish|Turkish]] example of its kind.
{{family name hatnote|Osman|Ağa||lang=Ottoman Turkish}}
{{Infobox writer
| name = Osman Aga of Temesvar
| image = <!-- No known image available -->
| caption =
| birth_date = 1670
| birth_place = [[Temeşvar]], [[Ottoman Empire]] (now Timișoara, Romania)
| death_date = 1725
| death_place = [[Istanbul]], Ottoman Empire
| nationality = Ottoman
| occupation = Army Officer, Historian, Travel Writer
| notable_works = Autobiography detailing his adventures and imprisonment in [[Habsburg monarchy|Habsburg Austria]]
| genre = Autobiography, Ottoman history
}}


'''Osman Ağa of Temeşvar''' ({{langx|tr|Temeşvarlı Osman Ağa}}; 1670–1725) was an [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] army officer, historian, and travel writer, as well as one of the few [[Turkish language|Turkish]]-language [[Autobiography|autobiographers]] of the era.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Westermann |first=Jacob |others=Sumeyra Aslihan Gurbuzel (Supervisor) |title=The self in captivity: Slavery and autobiographical rebirth in the memoirs of Osman Aga (1670-1725) |url=https://escholarship.mcgill.ca/concern/theses/1n79h893j |access-date=2023-02-16 |website=escholarship.mcgill.ca}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |last=Aksan |first=Virginia |title=The Question of Writing Premodern Biographies of the Middle East |date=2001 |url=https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-62114-9_13 |work=Auto/Biography and the Construction of Identity and Community in the Middle East |pages=191–200 |editor-last=Fay |editor-first=Mary Ann |place=New York |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan US |language=en |doi=10.1007/978-1-349-62114-9_13 |isbn=978-1-349-62114-9 |access-date=2023-02-16}}</ref> The former [[prisoner-of-war]] wrote mostly of his adventures - and imprisonment - in [[Habsburg monarchy|Habsburg Austria]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Skenderović |first=R |date=2022 |title=Descriptions of the Forests of Slavonia in Travelogues of the Early Modern Age |url=http://ojs.elte.hu/hsce/article/download/2529/3477 |journal=Historical Studies on Central Europe|volume=2 |pages=27–44 |doi=10.47074/HSCE.2022-1.02 |s2cid=249947124 |hdl=10831/85239 |hdl-access=free }}</ref> His autobiography was the sole [[Ottoman Turkish language|Ottoman Turkish]] example of its kind.
== Background ==


==Life==
[[Timişoara]] ({{lang-tr|Temeşvar}}) is a city in [[Transilvania]], what is now west [[Romania]]. The city had been conquered by Ottoman Empire in 1552. Osman Aga was a low rank army officer in Timişoara . He was excelled in equitation.
Osman was born in Temeşvar ([[Timișoara]]), [[Temeşvar Eyalet]] (now in western [[Romania]]), probably in a family of [[South Slavs|South Slavic]] origin.<ref name="Bracewell2009">{{cite book|author=Wendy Bracewell|title=Orientations: An Anthology of East European Travel Writing, ca. 1550-2000|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=k3EcXPgSd-sC&pg=PA42|year=2009|publisher=Central European University Press|isbn=978-963-9776-10-4|pages=42–|quote=Osman-aga, born to a family of South Slav origin in Temesvar (present- day Timisoara in Romania)}}</ref> He spoke [[German language|German]] and [[Serbo-Croatian]] (South Slavic).<ref name=Zbornik25-186>{{cite book|title=Зборник за историју|issue=25–26|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sRgWAQAAMAAJ|year=1982|publisher=Матица српска, Одељење за друштвене науке|page=186|quote=То је Осман-ага, тумач родом из Темишвара (око 1671—1725?), образован човек, добар зналац српскохрватског и немачког језика. Он сведочи о устанку српске paje (Die serbischen Raiáyá).“ Да бих показао да Станојевић пише....}}</ref> Temesvár was inhabited by Romanians, Southern Slavs (Serbs), and Hungarians at the time and had been conquered by the Ottoman Empire in 1552.
⚫
After the unsuccessful siege of [[Siege of Vienna (1683)|siege of Vienna]] in 1683, the tide turned and the [[Holy League (Great Turkish war) |Holy Leage]] of European nations began forcing Ottomans out of [[Hungary]] in [[Great Turkish war]] between 1683-1699.


Osman Aga was a low-ranking army officer in Temesvár who excelled in learning foreign languages and [[equitation]].
== Osman Aga in the war ==


⚫
After the unsuccessful [[Siege of Vienna (1683)|Siege of Vienna]] in 1683, the tide turned and the [[Holy League (Great Turkish war)|Holy League]] of [[Europe]]an nations began to force the Ottomans out of [[Hungary]] during the [[Great Turkish War]] between 1683–1699.
During the war, Austrians were not able to capture Timişoara. But in 1688, Osman's squadron of 80 was given a special task. They had to deliver the salaries of the army officiers in a nearby town [[Lipova, Arad|Lipova]]. However while they were in Lipova, supperior Austrian forces attacked the city and city council decided to surrender. Like others, he became a prisoner of war.


===Military service===
The Austrians were unable to capture Temesvár during the war. In 1688, Osman's squadron of 80 men were tasked with delivering the salaries of army officers to [[Lipova, Arad]], just north of Temesvár.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Hanß |first=Stefan |date=2019 |title=Hair, Emotions and Slavery in the Early Modern Habsburg Mediterranean |url=https://academic.oup.com/hwj/article-abstract/doi/10.1093/hwj/dbz004/5369196?login=false |journal=History Workshop Journal |volume=87 |issue=Spring 2019 |pages=160–187|doi=10.1093/hwj/dbz004 }}</ref> They were attacked by superior Austrian Forces in [[Arad County]]. The city council decided to surrender, leading Osman to become a prisoner-of-war at the age of 18.<ref name="Bracewell2009"/>


== Osman Aga was a prisoner war ==
===Prisoner-of-war===
⚫
Osman Aga was awarded to a military judge in the Austrian Army who asked for a ransom. Despite having the means to pay for his freedom, he was not released. He was sold to several new masters in [[Kapfenberg]] and [[Vienna]]. He spent several months in dungeons and was frequently beaten and whipped by his masters during the early years, but his skill in equitation and learning [[German language|German]] helped him to live a relatively stress free life in later years. One of his masters offered him freedom in return for converting to [[Christianity]], which he refused.<ref name="Ağa1971">{{cite book|author=Osman Ağa|title=Gâvurların esiri|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-NzNAAAAMAAJ|year=1971|publisher=Milliyet Yayınları}}</ref> After the [[Treaty of Karlowitz]], he returned to Temesvár in 1700.
⚫
Osman Aga was awarded to a military judge in Austrian army who asked for ransom. Although he was able to pay for his freedom, he was not released. He was sold to sevaral new masters in [[Kapfenberg]] and [[Vienna]]. He spent several months in dungeons and was frequently beaten by his masters during early years. But his skill in equitation and learning [[German language|German]] helped him to live a relatively less stressed life in later years. One of his masters even offered him freedom in return for converting to Christianity which he refused. <ref> Osman Aga: ''Gavurların Esiri'' (Modern Turkish:Esat Mermi), Milliyet yayınları, İstanbul, 1971</ref>


===Austrian-Ottoman War and later life===
After the the [[treaty of Karlowitz]], he was able to return to Timişoara in 1700.
[[File:Belagerung belgrad 1717.jpg|250px|right|thumb|Austrian forces led by [[Eugene of Savoy]] besieged [[Belgrade]] in 1717, during the [[Austro-Turkish War of 1716-18]].]]


As a result of the German he had learned during his servitude, he became the official [[dragoman]] (translator) of Temesvár and served in several diplomatic missions to Austria. However, his newly-comfortable lifestyle was shattered at the outbreak of a new war between the Ottomans and the Austrians in 1715. This time [[Prince Eugene of Savoy|Eugene Savoy]] of Austria captured Temesvár in 1716. Osman Aga fled to [[Belgrade]] (now in [[Serbia]]). Despite Osman Aga's retreat, Belgrade shared the same fate in 1717. Shortly before the final assault of the Austrians on Belgrade, they blew up the ammunition dump of the fort on 14 August 1717. This resulted in the deaths of 3,000 people, which included most of Osman's family. After the loss of Belgrade, he served in [[Vidin]] (now in [[Bulgaria]]) and then came to [[Istanbul]], where he continued his civil service as dragoman.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Nostalgia of a Frustrated Ottoman Subject: Reading Osman Agha of Timișoara's Memoirs as Self-Narrative &#124; International Journal of Middle East Studies &#124; Cambridge Core |journal=International Journal of Middle East Studies |doi=10.1017/S0020743821000386 |publisher=Cambridge.org |date=2021-07-02 |volume=53 |issue=2 |pages=323–330 |s2cid=235717050 |last1=Sheridan |first1=R. Aslıhan Aksoy |doi-access=free }}</ref>


== Aftermath ==
== Work ==


⚫
Osman Aga's most important work is ''Prisoner of the Infidels'' (1724), which summarizes his adventures in Austria between 1688 and 1700. He also wrote ''Austrian History'' ({{langx|tr|Nemçe Tarihi}}), an unfinished work up to 1662. His other works include notes about his diplomatic missions after 1700.


*''Austrian History'' ({{langx|tr|Nemçe Tarihi}}, 1722), an unfinished work up to 1662.
In Timişoara, with the help of German he learned during his servitude, he became the official translator and served in several diplomatic missions to Austria. However his comfortable days were over at the outbreak of a new war between the Ottoman Empire and Austria in 1715. This time Austrians were able to conquer both Timişoara (1716) and [[Belgrad]] (1717) where he had fled from Timişoara. (Shortly before the conquest of Belgrad Austrians were able to explode the ammunition dump of the fort on the 14th of August 1717 resulting the death of some 3000 people. Most of Osman's family members were among the 3000.) After the loss of Belgrad he served in [[Vidin]] and then came to [[İstanbul]] where he continued his civil service.
*''Prisoner of the Infidels'' ({{Langx|tr|Gâvurların Esiri}}, {{langx|de|Der Gefangene der Giauren}}, 1724), his summary of his adventures in Austria between 1688 and 1700. (British Museum NR. MS Or. 3213<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kitapmekani.com/kitaplar/23794/bir-osmanli-askerinin-siradisi-anilari.kitabi |title=Kitapmekani: Prisoner of the Infidels |access-date=2010-05-24 |archive-date=2016-08-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160828124153/http://www.kitapmekani.com/kitaplar/23794/bir-osmanli-askerinin-siradisi-anilari.kitabi |url-status=dead }}</ref>) ({{Cite book|url=https://www.ucpress.edu/book/9780520383395/prisoner-of-the-infidels|title=English language edition|date=September 2021 |isbn=9780520383395 |last1=Timisoara |first1=Osman of |publisher=Univ of California Press }} published in 2021)


== His Works ==
==See also==
*[[Ottoman-Habsburg wars]]
*[[Nikolai Spathari]]


⚫
== References ==
⚫
His most important work is '''Prisoner of the Infidels''' ({{Lang-tr|Gavurların Esiri}}) where he summerizes his adventures in Austria between 1688-1700. (British Museum NR. MS Or. 3213 <ref> [http://www.kitapmekani.com/kitaplar/23794/bir-osmanli-askerinin-siradisi-anilari.kitabi]</ref>) He also wrote about '''Austrian History''' ({{lang-tr|Nemçe Tarihi}}), an unfinished work up to 1662. His other works includes notes about his diplomatic missions after 1700.
{{reflist}}


{{Ottoman historians}}
{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Osman Aga Of Temesvar}}
⚫
== References ==
[[Category:17th-century Ottoman military personnel]]
<references/>
[[Category:18th-century Ottoman military personnel]]

[[Category:Ottoman Empire]]
[[Category:18th-century historians from the Ottoman Empire]]
[[Category:House of Habsburg]]
[[Category:Writers of captivity narratives]]
[[Category:Memoirs of imprisonment]]
[[Category:1670 births]]
[[Category:18th-century deaths]]
[[Category:Ottoman prisoners of war]]
[[Category:Autobiographers]]
[[Category:Ottoman people of the Great Turkish War]]
[[Category:Writers from Timișoara]]
[[Category:Dragomans]]
[[Category:Converts to Islam from Eastern Orthodoxy]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Timișoara]]
[[Category:Non-fiction writers from the Ottoman Empire]]

Latest revision as of 17:38, 23 October 2024

In this Ottoman Turkish style name, the given name is Osman, the title is Ağa, and there is no family name.
Osman Aga of Temesvar
Born1670
Temeşvar, Ottoman Empire (now Timișoara, Romania)
Died1725
Istanbul, Ottoman Empire
OccupationArmy Officer, Historian, Travel Writer
NationalityOttoman
GenreAutobiography, Ottoman history
Notable worksAutobiography detailing his adventures and imprisonment in Habsburg Austria

Osman Ağa of Temeşvar (Turkish: Temeşvarlı Osman Ağa; 1670–1725) was an Ottoman army officer, historian, and travel writer, as well as one of the few Turkish-language autobiographers of the era.[1][2] The former prisoner-of-war wrote mostly of his adventures - and imprisonment - in Habsburg Austria.[3] His autobiography was the sole Ottoman Turkish example of its kind.

Life

[edit]

Osman was born in Temeşvar (Timișoara), Temeşvar Eyalet (now in western Romania), probably in a family of South Slavic origin.[4] He spoke German and Serbo-Croatian (South Slavic).[5] Temesvár was inhabited by Romanians, Southern Slavs (Serbs), and Hungarians at the time and had been conquered by the Ottoman Empire in 1552.

Osman Aga was a low-ranking army officer in Temesvár who excelled in learning foreign languages and equitation.

After the unsuccessful Siege of Vienna in 1683, the tide turned and the Holy League of European nations began to force the Ottomans out of Hungary during the Great Turkish War between 1683–1699.

Military service

[edit]

The Austrians were unable to capture Temesvár during the war. In 1688, Osman's squadron of 80 men were tasked with delivering the salaries of army officers to Lipova, Arad, just north of Temesvár.[6] They were attacked by superior Austrian Forces in Arad County. The city council decided to surrender, leading Osman to become a prisoner-of-war at the age of 18.[4]

Prisoner-of-war

[edit]

Osman Aga was awarded to a military judge in the Austrian Army who asked for a ransom. Despite having the means to pay for his freedom, he was not released. He was sold to several new masters in Kapfenberg and Vienna. He spent several months in dungeons and was frequently beaten and whipped by his masters during the early years, but his skill in equitation and learning German helped him to live a relatively stress free life in later years. One of his masters offered him freedom in return for converting to Christianity, which he refused.[7] After the Treaty of Karlowitz, he returned to Temesvár in 1700.

Austrian-Ottoman War and later life

[edit]
Austrian forces led by Eugene of Savoy besieged Belgrade in 1717, during the Austro-Turkish War of 1716-18.

As a result of the German he had learned during his servitude, he became the official dragoman (translator) of Temesvár and served in several diplomatic missions to Austria. However, his newly-comfortable lifestyle was shattered at the outbreak of a new war between the Ottomans and the Austrians in 1715. This time Eugene Savoy of Austria captured Temesvár in 1716. Osman Aga fled to Belgrade (now in Serbia). Despite Osman Aga's retreat, Belgrade shared the same fate in 1717. Shortly before the final assault of the Austrians on Belgrade, they blew up the ammunition dump of the fort on 14 August 1717. This resulted in the deaths of 3,000 people, which included most of Osman's family. After the loss of Belgrade, he served in Vidin (now in Bulgaria) and then came to Istanbul, where he continued his civil service as dragoman.[8]

Work

[edit]

Osman Aga's most important work is Prisoner of the Infidels (1724), which summarizes his adventures in Austria between 1688 and 1700. He also wrote Austrian History (Turkish: Nemçe Tarihi), an unfinished work up to 1662. His other works include notes about his diplomatic missions after 1700.

  • Austrian History (Turkish: Nemçe Tarihi, 1722), an unfinished work up to 1662.
  • Prisoner of the Infidels (Turkish: Gâvurların Esiri, German: Der Gefangene der Giauren, 1724), his summary of his adventures in Austria between 1688 and 1700. (British Museum NR. MS Or. 3213[9]) (Timisoara, Osman of (September 2021). English language edition. Univ of California Press. ISBN 9780520383395. published in 2021)

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Westermann, Jacob. "The self in captivity: Slavery and autobiographical rebirth in the memoirs of Osman Aga (1670-1725)". escholarship.mcgill.ca. Sumeyra Aslihan Gurbuzel (Supervisor). Retrieved 2023-02-16.
  2. ^ Aksan, Virginia (2001), Fay, Mary Ann (ed.), "The Question of Writing Premodern Biographies of the Middle East", Auto/Biography and the Construction of Identity and Community in the Middle East, New York: Palgrave Macmillan US, pp. 191–200, doi:10.1007/978-1-349-62114-9_13, ISBN 978-1-349-62114-9, retrieved 2023-02-16
  3. ^ Skenderović, R (2022). "Descriptions of the Forests of Slavonia in Travelogues of the Early Modern Age". Historical Studies on Central Europe. 2: 27–44. doi:10.47074/HSCE.2022-1.02. hdl:10831/85239. S2CID 249947124.
  4. ^ a b Wendy Bracewell (2009). Orientations: An Anthology of East European Travel Writing, ca. 1550-2000. Central European University Press. pp. 42–. ISBN 978-963-9776-10-4. Osman-aga, born to a family of South Slav origin in Temesvar (present- day Timisoara in Romania)
  5. ^ Зборник за историју. Матица српска, Одељење за друштвене науке. 1982. p. 186. То је Осман-ага, тумач родом из Темишвара (око 1671—1725?), образован човек, добар зналац српскохрватског и немачког језика. Он сведочи о устанку српске paje (Die serbischen Raiáyá)." Да бих показао да Станојевић пише....
  6. ^ Hanß, Stefan (2019). "Hair, Emotions and Slavery in the Early Modern Habsburg Mediterranean". History Workshop Journal. 87 (Spring 2019): 160–187. doi:10.1093/hwj/dbz004.
  7. ^ Osman Ağa (1971). Gâvurların esiri. Milliyet Yayınları.
  8. ^ Sheridan, R. Aslıhan Aksoy (2021-07-02). "Nostalgia of a Frustrated Ottoman Subject: Reading Osman Agha of Timișoara's Memoirs as Self-Narrative | International Journal of Middle East Studies | Cambridge Core". International Journal of Middle East Studies. 53 (2). Cambridge.org: 323–330. doi:10.1017/S0020743821000386. S2CID 235717050.
  9. ^ "Kitapmekani: Prisoner of the Infidels". Archived from the original on 2016-08-28. Retrieved 2010-05-24.
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