The Sultan and His PeopleOscanyan, C. (Christopher)
History
The Sultan and His People
Oscanyan, C. (Christopher)
Turkey -- Description and travel; Turkey -- Social life and customs
The ceremony of the coronation consists simply in escorting the
new sultan in a state procession, to a particular mosque at Eyoub,
at the northern extremity of the city, where he girds on the sword
of state after suitable prayers, and is thus constituted Padishah.
The Princes Regent of Turkey, were formerly shut up at a place called
Kafes or Cage, within the old Seraglio, where they were watched
and closely guarded, and never allowed to go abroad--with a view to
avoid intrigue or civil commotion. But Sultan Mahmoud first broke the
unsocial chains of ancient usages; his successor has nobly followed
in his father's footsteps, and allows his brother liberty to go out
when he wishes, but not without a formal application for permission,
which is enjoined upon him by court etiquette.
The two brothers differ very materially from each other, in temperament
and character. The sultan is of a mild and affable disposition, and so
willing and yielding is he on matters of state to please his people,
that he is more ready to be governed than to govern. His brother,
on the contrary, is very stern and passionate, and has the same
determined character as his father.
Abd-ul-Medjid is of medium stature, rather delicately formed. His eyes
are dark and heavy in expression, with lofty and arched eye-brows;
his beard and moustaches of a dark auburn hue, are carefully trimmed
and completely conceal the expression of his lower features.
His complexion is very pallid, and his whole air decidedly nonchalant.
On all state occasions he appears in public on horseback, wearing
the national fess, ornamented with the royal aigrette in brilliants.
His short Spanish cloak falls in graceful folds around his person,
the collar of which is also adorned with diamonds. In a word, his
lofty carriage and beautifully caparisoned steed quite realize the
picturesque ideas generally conceived of an Eastern monarch.
He never salutes any one in public or private, save by a single glance
of his eye.
His favorite residence is the palace of Tchiraghan on the European
shore of the Bosphorus, a few miles from the city.
In order to accommodate the numerous and peculiar retinue of an Osmanli
sovereign, there is a similarity in the internal arrangements of all
the royal residences.
These palaces, like all other Osmanli houses, are divided into
two compartments; the first is called the Selamluk or the place of
salutation, and is appropriated to the men; the second is the Harem,
which belongs exclusively to the ladies. Between these two are the
apartments of the sultan, called Mabeyn.
The personnel of a sultan formerly consisted of many
functionaries. Their number has of late been much reduced, though
they are still very numerous.
The principal honorary officer is the Silahdar or Imperial
sword-bearer, whose office being a sinecure, he only enters the
presence when specially summoned, or to make some official reports.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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