The Swedish diplomat and author Ignace Mouradjea d'Ohsson (1740-1807), of Armenian descent, was born in Istanbul. During his career, he successively became secretary, interpreter and chargé d'affaires of the Swedish embassy in Istanbul, and eventually ambassador and ambassador plenipotentiary of Sweden. He was also named knight of the Wasa order.

Aided by his contacts and acquaintances, by 1784 D'Ohsson was able to penetrate into the everyday life of the Ottoman court, normally inaccessible to Europeans. The first part of his monumental work «Tableau général de l’empire Othoman» was published in Paris in 1788. It deals with Ottoman institutions, mosques, tombs, and religious practices such as prayers and ceremonies. The second part of the work (1789) is dedicated to the history of the Ottoman state. D’Ohsson’s son published the third part of the work posthumously. It deals with the civil, political, penal and military codes of the Ottoman Empire. D'Ohsson originally intended for his work to extend to seven or eight volumes, but was unable to complete his project.

The present edition is a characterized by excellent typography, and includes a large number of engravings. Above all, the political and sociological description of the empire (in accordance with an editorial practice prevalent in Europe at the time), and the inclusion of several details on palace life make this work an invaluable and highly original testimony on institutions and customs of the Ottoman capital.

Written by Ioli Vingopoulou

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  Title page of the first volume of the edition.

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  Title page of the first volume of the edition.

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  Adam and Eved according to Islamic tradition. Prophet Muhammad ascends to heaven. Drawing of the Mosque of Mecca (Al-Masjid al-Haram) and the Holy Rock (Kaaba).

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  The first four Caliphs, heirs of Prophet Muhammad, in chronological order: Abu Bakr as-Siddiq, Umar ibn al-Khattab, Uthman ibn Affan, Ali ibn Abi Talib.

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  Muslim man performing ritual ablution before prayer.

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  Scene at a public bath, possibly in Istanbul.

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  Muslim man doing his prayers. Depiction of the sequence of Muslim prayer.

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  Muslim woman doing her prayers. Depiction of the sequence of Muslim prayer.

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  Open-air praying site; such sites existed on all big commercial routes in the Ottoman Empire.

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  View of the central nave of Hagia Sophia in Istanbul.

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  Muslim children in their circumcision costume. Animals destined to be sacrificed on the day of Kurban Bayram.

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  Rites of passage in the Muslim cemetery of Eyüp, Istanbul.

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  Official prayer to celebrate the Birth of Prophet Muhammad (Mawlid) in the presence of the Sultan and other supreme officials, at the mosque of Sultan Ahmed, Istanbul.

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  Hagia Sophia, Mosque of Sultan Ahmed I (Blue Mosque) and Laleli Mosque, Istanbul.

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  The public library of Sultan Abdul Hamid I in Istanbul.

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  The public library of Grand Vizier Recip Paşa in Istanbul.

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  The tomb of Valide Sultan Turhan Hatice, mother of Mehmed IV at the mosque of Valide Sultan or New Mosque (Yeni Camii) in Eminönü, Istanbul.

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  The tomb of Osman I in Bursa. Ottoman books, probably from one of the public libraries of Istanbul.