[IRANIAN BOOK OF EMBASSY: ALLIANCE OF NAPOLEON AND THE SUBLIME PORT AGAINST RUSSIA] Iran sefaretnâmesi

MEHMED REFÎ, (Ottoman diplomat and statesman), (18-19th century).

Hilâl Matbaasi., Istanbul, [AH 1333], 1917.

Modern 1/4 leather bound in Ottoman lettered gilt. Large Roy. 8vo. (25 x 18 cm). In Ottoman script. 31 p. Roumi: 1333 = Gregorian: 1917.

Some of the books of the embassy are only about how they fulfill their embassy duties. The "Iranian Book of Embassy" (1807) by Sayyid Mehmet Refi 'Efendi is an example of this. The embassy of Mehmed Refi 'Efendi (d.1224), was sent as an ambassador to Iran by the Ottoman Empire in 1222/1807, is the work of the tradition of writing an embassy book, which emerged as a result of new style diplomatic relations. This Iranian embassy book provides information about the Ottoman-Iranian political relations as well as the diplomatic tradition of both countries, the political history of Europe, and many other areas.

Napoleon, who was also fighting against Russia in Europe, evaluated this situation as a suitable opportunity and, at his request, by Bab-i Ali [i.e. The Sublime Port], Seyyid Mehmed Refi Efendi decided to send him to Iran as an ambassador. The duty of Refi Efendi, who was sent to Iran by the Ottoman State, was to bring an "alliance to Russia" between the Ottoman Empire and Iran and France. According to the information he gave in his book, Refi Efendi set out from Dersaadet to Iran on May 23, 1807. On the first day of the "Zilkadde" month of the same year (30 December 1807, Thursday) he returned to "Daru'l-hilafe Kostantiniyye".

In his book, Refi Efendi explains why he was sent to Iran. In the face of the anarchy in Istanbul, Refi Efendi decided to go with him to consult with seraskier Yusuf Pasha, who is in charge of carrying out the operation against the Russians in order to continue or return. Thus, when he came to Erzurum on the way back, Seraskier Yusuf Pasha was on the border of Arpaçayi, which was 12 hours away from Kars city with a great army against the Russians. Refi Efendi talks about an attack against the Russians and a retreat towards Kars upon the subsequent defeat. After that, Refi Efendi was allowed to set off for Iran and moved from Kars with a hundred soldiers appointed by Pasha. After a two-week journey, he arrived at the tent of the prince's vizier Mirza Bozorg and chatted together on a Friday. Soonly after, he was admitted to the presence of Prince Abbas Mirza, where Mirza Bozorg read aloud the letter brought by Refi Efendi. The book ends with this meeting.

(Source: Üstün: Osmanli sefaretnameleri...).

Özege: 9308.; Akyüz, Matbu sefaretnameler, I. Extremely rare. The book of Iran embassy.

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