Keywords
Black Propoganda
the Tomb of the Prophet Mahomet-Muhammed
Turks
Fake News
the Illusion of truth
Bigotry
Barbarity
How to Cite
Abstract
The subject of this paper is a series of variants on an alleged translation into English first published in the late 17th c. of what was said to be an ordinance-order-command-proclamation-decree, a firman, allegedly issued in consequence of Ottoman military defeats, by the Ottoman Sultans Süleyman II. (1687-1691), Mustafa II. (1695-1703), and Ahmed III. (1703-1730), for fasting throughout Ottoman territory on Mondays and Fridays by all Ottoman subjects, and, a procession to be held three times in three consecutive months at Mecca. This procession was to transport the coffin of the Prophet Mohammed over a distance of 20 or 10 or 25 miles, with lamentations and flagellations and a number of human sacrifice per mile, all specified in the alleged Order of Procession, to obtain the intercession of the Prophet Muhammed with the Almighty to ensure the future success of Ottoman arms. Published in English as a broadside pamphlet in 1687, and then in a journal article entitled Advice From Turky –News from Turkey in 1697, but which are in fact examples of black propaganda. This series of alleged Ottoman decrees was published in English in variant forms in a variety of publications over the course of nearly two centuries. Doubtless many readers over these two centuries believed the allegations made in these alleged Ottoman decrees to be true, not the malicious fabrications they are, thereby reinforcing the illusion of truth concerning the bigotry and barbarity of “the Other”.
References
Anno 1686, Littera Zz, Num. 46, 16 Novemb., Mercurii Relation, oder wochentliche Reichs Ordinari Zeitungen. München.
Benson R. L. 2021, Imperial Lives and Letters of the Eleventh Century: With an Historical Introduction. Oregon.
Bergmann C. C. 1687, Der Christliche Held, Siegprächtig zu Feld, im Türckischen Zelt. Frankfurt-Leipzig.
Collective 1688, Historische Erzehlung Der Heldenwürdigen Kriegs-Thaten, Welche in höchst-tapferster Bestreitung des allgemeinen Erb-Feindes der Christenheit, des Türckens, zu der Röm. Käyserl. Majest. Dero sambtlichen Hohen Aliirten und der Durchläuchtigsten Venetianischen Republic immerwährender Glori im 1686, 1687, und 1688, Jahr.
Collective 1753, Histoire de Maurice Comte de Saxe, Maréchal Général Des Camps Et Armées de Sa Majesté Très-chrétienne, Duc Elu de Courlande Et de Semigalle, et Chevalier des Ordres de Pologne et de Saxe, Dressée Sur Les Mémoires de M. D’Alençon, T. I., A Londres, Chés Jean Nourse, près de St. Paul.
D’Expagnac M. le baron 1773, Histoire de Maurice, comte de Saxe, duc de Courlande et de Sémigalle, maréchal général des camps & armées de Sa Majesté très chrétienne. Paris.
Ernst G. 2018, Textes français privés des XVIIe et XVIIIe siècles. Berlin.
Francklin W. 1790, Observations Made on a Tour from Bengal to Persia, in the Years 1786-7: With a Short Account of the Remains of the Celebrated Palace of Persepolis; and Other Interesting Events. London.
Happelio E. G. & Happel E. W. 1686, Der Spanische Quintana, Oder So genannter Europaeischer Geschicht-Roman, Auf Das 1686 Jahr. Wein.
Hasher L., Goldstein D. & Toppino T. 1977, “Frequency and the conference of referential validity”, Journal of Verbal Learning & Verbal Behavior 16/1, 107-112.
Hunter T. 1744, Moral Discourses on Providence and Other Important Subjects, vol. II. London.
Kerr R. 1812, A General History and Collection of Voyages and Travels, vol. VII. Edinburgh & London.
Minuti R., J. Ehrard, S. Rotta, C. Volpihac Auger & C. de Secondat baron de Montesquieu 2002, Oeuvres complètes de Montesquieu: Spicilège, T. 13. Napoli.
Néel L. B. 1752, Histoire de Maurice, comte de Saxe etc. enrichie des plans, T. I., A Mittaw.
Patai R. 1997, Jadīd Al-Islām: The Jewish “new Muslims” of Meshhed. Detroit.
Pérau M. L. 1757, Mes rêveries, Ouvrage posthume de Maurice Comte De Saxe, augmenté d’une histoire abrégée de sa vie, & de différentes pièces qui y ont rapport. Amsterdam & Leipzig.
Prideaux H. 1697, The True Nature of Imposture Fully Displayed in the Life of Mahomet, with A Discourse annexed, for the Vindicating of Christianity from this Charge; Offered to the Consideration of the Deists of the present Age. London.
Šamin S. & Watson C. 2014, “The Apocryphal ‘Instruction from the Turkish Sultan’: the European Tradition and the Russian Translation from 1697”. Slovo, Journal of Slavic Languages, Literatures and Cultures 55, 169-190.
Schwarzbaum H. 1989, Jewish Folklore Between East and West: Collected Papers. Beer-Sheva.
Taylor J. 1676, The Rule and Exercises of Holy Living. London.
Thevenot J. de 1687, The Travels of Monsieur De Thevenot into the Levant: In Three Parts. Turkey, Vol. I., London.
Thevenot J. de 1689, The Travels of Monsieur De Thevenot into the Levant: In Three Parts, Persia, vol. II. London.
Valdeón R. A. 2013, “From the Dutch corantos to Convergence Journalism: The Role of Translation in News Production”. Meta Journalisme et traduction 57/4, 850-865.
“Advice from Turkey and Germany” 21., The Present State of Europe, or, The Historical and Political Mercury, Vol. IX., for the Month of January, 1698, London, 1698, 21.
“Moslem Pilgrim Rites”. The Wray Gazette, Vol. 25, No. 28, Wray, Colorado, Thursday, 7 July 1927, page 5; ‘Moslem Pilgrim Rites’. Healdsburg Enterprise Vol. 1, No. 5, Healdsburg, Sonoma Co., Ca., Thursday, 28 July, 1927, page 3; ‘Moslem Pilgrim Rites’, Highland Recorder, Vol. 49, No. 32, Monterey, Va., Friday, 12 August 1927, page 1.
“The War between the Turks and the Venetians”. The Historical Register, Containing an Impartial Relation of All Transactions Foreign and Domestick I, 1-8. For the Year 1716, London, 1717.
The Historical Register, Containing an Impartial Relation of All Transactions Foreign and Domestick. Vol. I.., For the Year 1716, London, 1717, ii-iii.
“Moslem Pilgrim Rites”. The Wray Gazette, 7 July 1927.
“Moslem Pilgrim Rites”. Healdsburg Enterprise, 28 July 1927.
“Moslem Pilgrim Rites”. Highland Recorder, 12 August 1927.The Historical Register, Containing an Impartial Relation of All Transactions Foreign and Domestick, vol. I. For the Year 1716, London, 1717.
“The War between the Turks and the Venetians”.’ 1-8, The Historical Register, Containing an Impartial Relation of All Transactions Foreign and Domestick, Vol. I., 1-8. For the Year 1716, London, 1717, 5.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.