The history of the Turks. Beginning with the Year 1679. Being a full relation of the last troubles in Hungary, with the sieges of Vienna, and Buda, and all the several battles both by sea and land, between the Christians, and the turks, until the end of the year 1698, and 1699. In which the peace between the Turks, and the confederate Christian princes and states, was happily concluded at Carlowitz in Hungary, by the mediation of His Majesty of Great Britain, and the States General of the United Provinces

London: Robert Clavell, 1700. FIRST EDITION. With frontispiece plus 6 additional engraved portraits. Text in double columns. Later calf-backed cloth, spine in compartments with red morocco spine label, new endpapers; interior excellent. First edition. Rycaut recounts the stories, myths and truths about the leadership and religious wars of the Ottomon Empire at the end of the seventeenth century. He describes the lives of Mehmed IV, Suleiman II, Ahmed II, and Mustafa II with their portraits. The Great Turkish War pitting the Empire against European nations is detailed, as is the Siege of Vienna in 1683. Rycaut also includes a copy of the Muscovite Treaty with the Turks.

This book is Rycaut’s third “history” and to a great extent is taken from Richard Knolles’ Generall historie of the Turks (first published in 1603). Knolles’ book, dedicated to “the High and Mightie Prince James” (who became James I of England) was the first significant history of the Ottoman Empire written in the English language. This 1700 first edition includes an account of Rycaut’s time in Constantinople.

Rycaut FRS (1629-1700) was an English diplomat, historian, and authority on the Ottoman Empire. A Fellow of the royal Society, he was the private secretary to Heneage Finch, 3rd Earl of Winchilsea, ambassador to the Ottoman Empire

Atabey 1077; Blackmer 1466; Wing R2408.