Dragoman of the Porte
The Dragoman of the
History
In the
In 1661, the
All dragomans had to be proficient in the 'three languages' (elsine-i selase) of
Nikousios and his successors managed to attach to their office a number of great privileges, such as tax exemption for themselves, their sons, and 20 members of their retinue; exemption from all customs fees for items destined for their personal use; immunity from all courts except from that of the Grand Vizier; permission to dress in the same kaftans as the Ottoman officials, and use ermine fur; or the permission to ride a horse. These made the position highly coveted, and the object of the Phanariotes' aspirations and rivalries.[8] The salary of the Dragoman of the Porte amounted to 47,000 kuruş annually.[9]
The success of the post led to the creation of a similar post, that of
The Phanariotes maintained this privileged position until the outbreak of the
List of Dragomans of the Porte
Name | Portrait | Tenure | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Panagiotis Nikousios | 1661–1673[15] | ||
Alexander Mavrocordatos
|
1673–1709[15] | ||
Nicholas Mavrocordatos | 1689–1709[15] | Son of Alexander. Subsequently Prince of Wallachia (1715–1716, 1719–1730)[15]
| |
John Mavrocordatos | 1709–1717[15] | Son of Alexander. Subsequently Caimacam of Moldavia (1711) and Prince of Wallachia (1716–1719)[15]
| |
Grigore (II) Ghica | 1717–1727[15] | Subsequently Prince of Moldavia (1726–1733, 1735–1739, 1739–1741, 1747–1748) and of Wallachia (1733–1735, 1748–1752)[15] | |
Alexander Ghica | 1727–1740[16] | 1st term[16] | |
John Theodore Callimachi | 1741–1750[16] | 1st term[16] | |
Matei Ghica | 1751–1752[15] | Son of Grigore. Subsequently Prince of Wallachia (1752–1753) and of Moldavia (1753–1756)[15] | |
John Theodore Callimachi | 1752–1758[16] | 2nd term. Subsequently Prince of Moldavia (1758–1761)[16] | |
Grigore (III) Ghica | 1758–1764[16] | Son of Alexander. Subsequently Prince of Moldavia (1764–1767, 1774–1782) and of Wallachia (1768–1769)[16] | |
George Caradja | 1764–1765[16] | ||
Skarlatos Caradja | 1765–1768[16] | Son of George. 1st term.[16] | |
Nicholas Soutzos | 1768–1769[16] | ||
Mihai Racoviță | 1769–1770 | Subsequently Prince of Moldavia (1703–1705, 1707–1709, 1716–1726) and of Wallachia (1730–1731, 1741–1744) | |
Skarlatos Caradja | 1770–1774[16] | 2nd term[16] | |
Alexander Ypsilantis | 1774[16] | Subsequently Prince of Wallachia (1774–1782, 1796–1797) and of Moldavia (1786–1788)[16] | |
Constantine Mourouzis | 1774–1777[16] | Previously Dragoman of the Fleet (1764–1765).[16] Subsequently Prince of Moldavia (1777–1782) | |
Nicholas Caradja | 1777–1782[16] | Son of Skarlatos. Subsequently Prince of Wallachia (1782–1783)[16] | |
Michael (I) Drakos Soutzos | 1782–1783[16] | Subsequently Prince of Wallachia (1783–1786, 1791–1793, 1801–1802) and of Moldavia (1793–1795)[16] | |
Alexander Mavrocordatos Firaris | 1782–1783[16] | Subsequently Prince of Moldavia (1785–1786)[16] | |
Alexandru Callimachi
|
1785–1788[16] | 1st term.[16] | |
Manuel Caradja | 1788–1790[16] | ||
Alexander Mourouzis | 1790–1792[16] | Son of Constantine. Subsequently Prince of Moldavia (1792, 1802–1806, 1806–1807) and of Wallachia (1793–1796, 1799–1801).[16] | |
George Mourouzis | 1792–1794[16] | Son of Constantine. 1st term.[16] | |
Alexandru Callimachi
|
1794–1795[16] | 2nd term. Subsequently Prince of Moldavia (1795–1799)[16] | |
George Mourouzis | 1795–1796[16] | 2nd term.[16] | |
Constantine Ypsilantis | 1796–1799[16] | Son of Alexander. Subsequently Prince of Moldavia (1799–1801) and of Wallachia (1802–1806).[16] | |
Alexandros Soutzos | 1799–1801[16] | Son of Nicholas. Previously Dragoman of the Fleet (1797–1799). Subsequently Prince of Moldavia (1801–1802) and of Wallachia (1819–1821).[16] | |
Scarlat Callimachi | 1801–1806[16] | Subsequently Prince of Moldavia (1806, 1812–1819).[16] | |
Alexandros M. Soutzos | 1802–1807[17] | ||
Alexander Hangerli | 1806–1807[16] | Subsequently Prince of Moldavia (1807).[16] | |
John Caradja | 1807–1808[16] | 1st term.[16] | |
John N. Caradja | 1808[16] | Previously Dragoman of the Fleet (1799–1800).[16] | |
Demetrios Mourouzis | 1808–1812[17] | Elder brother of Panagiotis. In 1812 he took part in the negotiations which ended the war with Russia. The Ottomans became dissatisfied with the peace settlement after Topkapi Palace.[18]
| |
Panagiotis Mourouzis | 1809–1812[16] | Younger brother of Demetrios. Previously Dragoman of the Fleet (1803–1806).[16] | |
John Caradja | 1812[16] | 2nd term. Subsequently Prince of Wallachia (1812–1819).[16] | |
Iakovos Argyropoulos | 1812–1817[17] | Previously Dragoman of the Fleet (1809)[17] | |
Michael Soutzos | 1817–1819[17] | Subsequently Prince of Moldavia (1819–1821)[17] | |
Constantine Mourouzis | 1821[17] | ||
Stavraki Aristarchi | 1821–1822[17] |
References
- ^ a b c d e Bosworth 2000, p. 237.
- ^ a b Patrinelis 2001, p. 181.
- ^ Vakalopoulos 1973, p. 237.
- ^ Vakalopoulos 1973, p. 238.
- ^ a b Philliou 2011, p. 11.
- ^ a b Eliot 1900, p. 307.
- ^ Strauss 1995, p. 190.
- ^ Vakalopoulos 1973, p. 242.
- ^ a b c Vakalopoulos 1973, p. 243.
- ^ Strauss 1995, p. 191.
- ^ Patrinelis 2001, pp. 180–181.
- ^ Philliou 2011, pp. 11, 183–185.
- ^ Philliou 2011, pp. 72, 92.
- ^ Philliou 2011, pp. 92ff..
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Philliou 2011, p. 183.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay Philliou 2011, p. 184.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Philliou 2011, p. 185.
- ^ Hart, Patrick; Kennedy, Valerie; and Petherbridge, Dora (Eds.) (2020), Henrietta Liston's Travels: The Turkish Journals, 1812 - 1820, Edinburgh University Press, pp. 140 - 141
Sources
- ISBN 978-90-04-11211-7.
- Eliot, Charles (1900). Turkey in Europe. London: Edward Arnold.
- Patrinelis, C. G. (2001). "The Phanariots Before 1821". Balkan Studies. 42 (2): 177–198. ISSN 2241-1674.
- Philliou, Christine M. (2011). Biography of an Empire: Governing Ottomans in an Age of Revolution. Berkeley, Los Angeles and London: University of California Press. ISBN 978-0-520-26633-9.
- Strauss, Johann (1995). "The Millets and the Ottoman Language: The Contribution of Ottoman Greeks to Ottoman Letters (19th-20th Centuries)". .
- Vakalopoulos, Apostolos E. (1973). Ιστορία του νέου ελληνισμού, Τόμος Δ′: Τουρκοκρατία 1669–1812 – Η οικονομική άνοδος και ο φωτισμός του γένους (Έκδοση Β′) [History of modern Hellenism, Volume IV: Turkish rule 1669–1812 – Economic upturn and enlightenment of the nation (2nd Edition)] (in Greek). Thessaloniki: Emm. Sfakianakis & Sons.