Tārīkh-i Muḥārabat-i Rusiyā

[Istanbul: Ṭakvīmḫāne-i ʿĀmire Press, 1858. Ornamental chapterpieces. 74, 79, 51, 54, 98, 78, 77, 80, 72, 64 pp. 8vo. Contemporary half red calf and cloth. Minor rubbing, very good plus. Ornamental chapterpieces. 74, 79, 51, 54, 98, 78, 77, 80, 72, 64 pp. 8vo. First edition of Ṣādiq Rifʿat Pasha’s historical and memoiristic treatise documenting the destructive impact of Russian aggression on the Ottoman Empire during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. A leading Tanzimat-era statesman, Rifʿat Pasha, who served in high administrative and diplomatic posts, draws upon his experiences to chronicle Russian military campaigns, support for Christian insurgencies, (truncated) and their broader strategy to erode Ottoman sovereignty.

Divided into fifty chapters, Tārīkh-i Muḥārabat-i Rusiyā begins with prayers and affirmations of the Ottoman state’s enduring existence, then shifts into detailed descriptions of Russian incursions into Ottoman territories. Emphasis is placed on the loss of strategic fortresses such as İbrail, Isakçı, Maçin, Köstence, Cedid, Kars, and Erzurum, and the broader effects of nationalist uprisings fueled by Russian influence. Rifʿat Pasha underscores the geopolitical ambitions of Russia, particularly their designs on controlling the Mediterranean and exploiting Orthodox Christian populations to weaken Ottoman rule.

In addition to documenting military events, Rifʿat Pasha’s work subtly advocates for defensive modernization, urging the Ottoman state to emulate European technical and military advancements without succumbing to political dependency. His experiences as ambassador to Austria, where he engaged with figures like Metternich, inform his cautious but reformist outlook.

Published in 1858-59, this work captures both the historical realities of Russo-Ottoman conflict and the Tanzimat intellectual milieu’s attempts to conceptualize Ottoman survival amid European imperial pressures. (Inventory #: 372839)