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Lot Essay
Showing the tughra of Mehmet IV, this large firman is addressed to the king of France Louis XIV (r.1643-1715), the 'sun king'. This lot reflects an uncertain time in Franco-Ottoman relations in the years preceding the Siege of Vienna in 1683. The firman acknowledges the arrival and court reception in Istanbul of Denis de la Haye, who served as the French Ambassador in Constantinople from 1665-70. These receptions were very formal ceremonial affairs and a greater discussion on the subject can be found in the note of lot 80. The firman conveys messages of goodwill to the French king and anticipates the revival of the Franco-Ottoman alliance against the Habsburgs. The firman also re-iterates the continued adherence to the established commercial agreements (uhudname-i humayun). Interestingly, Denis de la Haye was detained for several days in the grand vizier's palace in 1669 (C. White, Three Years in Constantinople, vol.I, London, 1845, p.136) however, despite this incident and the fact that Louis XIV was initially cold to the Ottoman Sultan, the period that followed the issuing of this decree was a positive one between Paris and Istanbul. France declined to join the 'Holy League' against the Ottomans and refused to come to the aid of the Austrians in the Siege of Vienna in 1683. In fact, by then attacking the Habsburgs in Alsace, the 'sun king' was indirectly aiding the Sublime Porte. This drew harsh criticism from Europe and in 1689 Louis was described to the House of Commons as "the most Christian Turk, the most Christian ravager of Christendom, the most Christian barbarian..." (Lord Macauley, The History of England from the Accession of James II, vol. I., London, 1864, p.303).
Deriving from the Persian work farman, which means 'command' or 'order', an Ottoman 'firman' is an edict issued by the Sultan, who is identified by an elaborate tughra above. Despite bearing his name, the Sultan himeself would not issue firmans except in exceptional circumstances, and the documents were usually decreed by high ranking officials of the Ottoman court following consultation at the imperial council chamber, diwan-i humayun, in the Topkapi serayi (B. Lewis, Ch. Pellat and J. Schacht (eds.), The Encyclopaedia of Islam, vol.II, Leiden, 1983, pp.803-4). These documents would address all manner of subjects, ranging from top level military, diplomatic and administrative issues, to more basic land grants and waqfs. Some firmans also were issued regarding general regulations pertaining to the population of the Ottoman Empire and these were later integrated into the secular law codes, the kannunnames (op. cit).
Another firman of Mehmet IV of a similar subject was sold in Sotheby's, 6 April 2011, lot 238, whilst an important firman bearing the tughra of Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent was sold in these Rooms 7 April 2011, lot 303.
Deriving from the Persian work farman, which means 'command' or 'order', an Ottoman 'firman' is an edict issued by the Sultan, who is identified by an elaborate tughra above. Despite bearing his name, the Sultan himeself would not issue firmans except in exceptional circumstances, and the documents were usually decreed by high ranking officials of the Ottoman court following consultation at the imperial council chamber, diwan-i humayun, in the Topkapi serayi (B. Lewis, Ch. Pellat and J. Schacht (eds.), The Encyclopaedia of Islam, vol.II, Leiden, 1983, pp.803-4). These documents would address all manner of subjects, ranging from top level military, diplomatic and administrative issues, to more basic land grants and waqfs. Some firmans also were issued regarding general regulations pertaining to the population of the Ottoman Empire and these were later integrated into the secular law codes, the kannunnames (op. cit).
Another firman of Mehmet IV of a similar subject was sold in Sotheby's, 6 April 2011, lot 238, whilst an important firman bearing the tughra of Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent was sold in these Rooms 7 April 2011, lot 303.