Letter from Grand Vizier Sokollu Mehmed Pasha to Emperor Rudolf II, Constantinople, 3-11 November 1577

İftiḫārü’l ümerāi’l-ʿiẓāmi’l-ʿīseviyye muḫtārü’l-küberāi’l-fiḫāmi fīʾl-milleti’l-mesīḥiyye muṣliḥü meṣāliḥi cemāhīri’ṭ-ṭāifeti’n-naṣrāniyye ṣāḥibü eẕyāli’l-ḥaşmeti ve’l-veḳār ṣāḥibü delāyili’l-mecdi ve’l-iftiḫār vilāyet-i Beç Ḳrālı İkinci Rudolfo Ḳrāl ḫutimet ʿavāḳibühū bi’l-ḫayr imparādorluġuñuza lāyıḳ ve sezāvār olan duʿālar ve s̱enālar taḳdīm ve temīm olınduḳdan ṣoñra inhā-yı muḥibbāne budur ki bundan aḳdem saʿādetlü pādişāhımuz eʿazzullāhu enṣārahu ve żāʿafa iḳtidārahū ḥażretleriyle mābeynüñüzde olan ṣulḥ u ṣalāḥuñ istiḥkāmı ḫuṣūṣı-çün vārid olan nāmeñüz muḳteżāsınca ʿizzetlü Pādişāhımuzḥażretleri ṭarafından daḫı iltimās ve ricāñuz tīz ḳabūle vāḳiʿ olmaġla mādām ki sizüñ cānibüñüzden naḳż-ı ʿahd olur ḫuṣus irtikāb olınmaya bu cānibden daḫı ḫilāfına cevāz gösterilmeyüb dāʾimā şerāiṭ-i ʿahd ü emān riʿāyet olınur diyü nāme-i hümāyūnları gönderilmişdi ve muḳademmā gönderilmeyüb ḳalan virgüñüz daḫı bile gönderilüb teʾḫīr olınmaya şerāiṭ-i ʿahd riʿāyet olına diyü defʿātla iʿlām olınmışdı ḥālen daḫı bunlaruñ cevābı gelmeyüb ihmāl olınduġından māʿadā FilekBegiḤüseyn Begüñ voyvodası olan Ġażanfer voyvoda mīrīye olan deynin alub getürürken memālīk-i maḥrūse-i pādişāhīdenBazbırım nām maḥalde meẕkūr voyvoda baṣılub aḳçası alınub ve gendüsi biñ ġuruş behāya kesilüb ḳarındāşı yerine rehn ḳonılub ḫalāṣ olmış ve muḳademmā mürd olanbabañuz ḳrāl zamānındaʿOs̱mān nām yeñiçeri giriftār olub baʿdehū ıṭlāḳ olınmaḳ içün nāme-i hümāyūn-ı pādişāhī gönderilmekle mezbūr yeñiçeri ıṭlāḳ olınub gönderildi diyü nāmeleri gelmiş iken mezbūr ʿOs̱mān ṣulḥ u ṣalāḥ mūcebince gönderilmeyüb biñ flori behāya kesilüb dergāh-ı muʿallāya nekbe ile gelmişdür eyle olsa bu ḫuṣūṣlar bu vechle olub ve iki virgüñüz birine cemʿ olub zamānıyla gönderilmeyüb henüz daḫı gelmemegiñ meẕkūr voyvoda memālīk-ı maḥrūseye dāḫilinde ḫilāf-ı ʿahd baṣılub esbāb ve aḳçası ile alınub baʿdehu gerü ol miḳdār behāya kesilmek ve merḳūm yeñiçeri daḫı behā ile ḫalāṣ olmaḳ naḳż-ı ʿahd degil midür aṣlı nedir yoḫsa devletlü Pādişāhumuz ḥażretleri ile mābeynüñüzde olan ṣulḥ u ṣalāḥuñ ber-ḳarār ve üstüvār olması murāduñuz degil midür ṣulḥ u ṣalāḥ arasında memleket ve reʿāyāñuz ne-vechle āsūde olub gendü ḥallarında ve kār ü kesblerinde olduḳları maʿlūmuñuzdur ḫilāfı ẓuhūr itdükde serḥadda olan ʿasākir-i nuṣret-es̱erüñ teʿaddī ve tecāvüzleri sebebi ile memleket ve vilāyet ve reʿāyā ve berāyāñuz ne ḳadar istirāḥat idecegi mülāḥaẓa olınmaz mı muḳaddemā vārid olan nāmeñüz mūcebince devletlü Pādişāh ḥażretleri ile mābeynüñüzde münʿaḳd olan ṣulḥ u ṣalāḥuñ istiḥkāmında bu muḥibbüñüz ne ḳadar harr ü cehd ve saʿy-ı belīʿ itdügümüz ḫod mesmūʿñuz olmışdur ḫilāfına ẓāhib olmañuz memālīk ve vilāyetüñ ve kılāʿ ve buḳaʿ ve nevāḥīñün emn ü emānı ve reʿāyā ve berāyānuñ refāhiyyet ve istirāḥatları olmayub naḳż-ı ʿahd olmaġla muttaṣıl daḫl ü tecāvüzden ḫālī olmamasına sebeb ve bāʿis̱ olur mektūb-ı meveddet vuṣūl bulduḳda bu ḫuṣūṣāta oñat muḳayyed olınub göresüz eger saʿādetlü Pādişāhumuz ḥażretleri ile şimdiye degin mābeynüñüzde olan ṣulḥ u ṣalāḥ ve emn ü emān ḫuṣūṣunda s̱ābit-ḳadem ve rāsiḫ-dem olub naḳż-ı ʿahd olur ḫuṣūṣa rıżāñuz yoġsa muḳaddemā ṣādır olan nāme-i hümāyūn-ı pādişāhī mūcebince teʾḫīr ve terāḫī itdürilmeyüb birine cemʿ olan iki virgüñüz tedārik olınub vaḳtden tecāvüz itdürilmeyüb ikisi meʿān gönderilmek bābında ihtimāmuñuz ẓuhūra getürile ve meẕkūr voyvodanuñ daḫı ḫilāf-ı ʿahd alınan esbāb ve aḳçası bī-ḳuṣūr edā olınub ʿahd ü emāna muġāyir behā ṭaleb olınmayub ḳarındaşı daḫı ber-mūceb-i ʿahd ü emān ḫalāṣ olub emīn ü sālim gönderile ve meẕkūr yeñiçeri ʿOs̱māndan daḫı ḫilāf-ı ʿahd ü emān behā ṭaleb olınmayub şerāiṭ-i ʿahd dāimā riʿāyet olına ve’l-ḥāṣıl ḳāʿide-i ṣulḥ u ṣalāḥ ve emn ü emān merżīñüzle ẕikr olınan ḫuṣūṣlaruñ ḫilāfına cevāz göstermeyüb icrāsında iḳdām ve ihtimāmuñuz ẓuhūra getürilüb bu bābda cevābuñuz birle muʿaccelen südde-i senīye-i saʿādet-medār-ı pādişāhīye iʿlām olına ki aña göre pāye-i serīr-i ʿizzet- maṣīrlerine ʿarż olınub mūcebi ile ʿamel olına taḥrīren fī evāḫir i şehri Şaʿbānü’l-muʿaẓẓam min şehūr sene ḫams ve ѕemānīn ve tisʿa-miʾe Be-medīne-iḲosṭanṭiniyye

Höchstgebreister unnder den grossen cristlichen herrn und erwellter der fürnemisten unnd großmüetigen deß cristlichen gesaz, corrector aller ding in der ganzen nazarenischen nation, beckleidt mit dem glanz der herrlickheit und ehren, herr der zeichen des ruembs und der hochäit, könig der region Wienn, kaiser Rudolff der annder, des end sey mit glückhseligkeit und allem guetem.

Nachdem euer ksl. Mt. etc. unnsere, euer Mt. etc. kayserliche person wierdige unnd gezimende grüeß presentiert unnd angebotten sein, sey euer Mt. etc. freundtlichen zuwissen, das euer ksl. Mt. etc. schreiben nach, wellches verschiner zeit von wegen stabilierung unnd bekhrefftigung des frids unnd gueten rueh, so zwischen unnsern glückhseligen kayser, dem Gott sein sig sterkhe unnd sein macht mehre, unnd euer ksl. Mt. etc. etc. ist, hie ankhomen, dasselb euer Mt. etc. ersuchen unnd begern, von unnsern mächtigen kayser woll angenommen worden, doch der gestallt, alls lang von euer Mt. etc. thaill sich nichts so da zutrenn- und verwierung der fridß pacten geraichen möchte, erhebete. Es hatt auch sein hochait eure Mt. etc. damallß iren kayserlichen brief hinauß geschikht, wie nämblich sy gleichsfalls nit zuelassen wollte, das von disem irem thaill ichtes fridwiderwärtiges beganngen, sonnder die conditionen der pacten allzeit gehallten werden sollen. So ist aber seidher euer ksl. Mt. etc. zumehr mallen zu wissen gethan worden, das eure Mt. etc. das vorige ausstendige, sambt den yezigen anndern present, unnverzüglich und on alles verners auf hallten heräin ordern, darmit allso die conditionen der frids pacten geehrt würden.

Über das aber deßwegen noch bißhehr khain ainige antwort darauf herain khomen, ist noch darzue Casanfer, ain waivoda ~~vaivoda~~ des Hassan Beegs von Fileckh, alls er, Casanfer, etlich gelltt zu abzallunng der schulden, die gemellter Hassan Beeg seiner hochait zuthuen gewest, mit sich gefiert, in dem ksl. gebiedt bey ainem ort oder fleckhen, Jaßbring genannt, angefallen, im das gellt genomen, ehr gefanngen unnd umb tausent taller schazung, darumben ehr seinen brueder an seiner statt zum pürgen unnd pfanndt gelassen, ledig worden, den so ist auch hiernach bey euer Mt. etc. vatters zeitten Osmän Janizär gefanngen, unnd seiner erledigung halben irer Mt. etc. ain kayserlicher brief zuegeschikht, darüber ob woll ir Mt. etc. schrifftlich hieher bericht, das er, Osmän Janizär, schon ledig sey, noch dannocht ist er den gueten friden nach nit herain gelassen, sonnder im tausenndt tukaten schazung aufgelegt worden unnd mit grossen eisen ist er her an die erhebte Portten khomen.

Dem allem nach, weill sich dise sachen sollicher gestallt begeben haben, verner zwo presenten nit zusamen auf ain mall gericht, nit zu rechter zeit geschickht, auch noch nit hir sein, weill auch gedachter wayvoda wider die conditionen der pacten in seiner hochait gebiedt angesprengt, er auch sambt den gellt unnd andern sachen, so er bey sich gehabt, aufgehebt worden, und er, wie auch ernennter janizär soll erst mit aufladung sovil schazung ledig werden, ist das nit ein verwierung der pacten? Was ist die ursach oder villeicht haben eure Mt. etc. weidter nit lust oder verlanngen, das zwischen unnsern glückhseligen kayser unnd euer Mt. etc. khrefftige bestanndigkhäit deß fridß unnd gueten rueh verne sey? Euer Mt. etc. wissen woll, waß massen dero lanndt und unnderthannen in zeit des frids in so gueter stille unnd rueh sein und wie ain jeder seines thuens fridlich warten khan. Wan man aber von irern theill frids widerwärtighait erscheinen lasset, da gedenkht man nit, wievill überlasst unnd schaden alßdan umb obgedachter erzeigter widerwärtigkhait willen die soldatten deß sighafften seiner kayserlichen hocheit graniz hörs üeben unnd thuen, wievill und was füer rueh khünnen darnach, durch sollich übl unnd schäden euer Mt. etc. lannde gebiedt unnd unnderthannen haben. Was füer vleis, sorg unnd anhabickheit hab ich, euer Mt. etc. gueter freundt, auf ier hievor hergethannes schreiben umb die bekhrefftigung unnd bestättigung des frids unnd gueten rueh, so zwischen unnserm glückhseligen kayser und euer Mt. etc. ist, gemacht unnd beschlossen worden ist, an- und fürgewendt, dessen dan eure Mt. etc. guet wissen haben, eure Mt. etc. consentiren in khein frids widerwärtigkkeit, dan darauß würde ursach geschepfft unnd erwogen, das eure Mt. etc. reich, herrschafften, geschlesser, vestungen, stet unnd lannde, nicht wenige euer Mt. etc. lanndleüth unnd underthannen nicht im frid, sicherheit, stille noch rueh bleiben künden, daher auch, unnd umb sollicher fridß perturbierungen willen, allerley unräth unnd schaden nit manglen würden.

Wan dan nun diß unnser freundtlich schreiben euer ksl. Mt. etc. zu hannden gelanngt, so wellen eure Mt. etc. ir dise sachen woll angelegen sein lassen unnd acht haben, das eure Mt. etc. da sy anderst vermaint, in dem zwischen unnsern glückhafftigen kayser unnd euer Mt. etc. bißher wesenden gueten friden, rueh unnd sicherheit, steiff unnd bestandig zuverharren, nichts zuegeben oder nachsechen, so da die fridß packta verwierren möchte. Die present lasse sy, dem kayserlichen euer Mt. etc. zuekhommen schreiben nach, verne nit auf hallten, noch verziehen, sonnder die zwo presennten auf ain mall zusamen richten unnd sy weidter ir zeit nit überschreitten. Vill mehr brauchen euer Mt. etc. vleis, sy alle zwo mit einannder herein zuschickhen, item das die sachen und das gellt, so dem obberüerten wayvoda wider die pacta genomen worden, völlig widerumb restituiert, von ime, den fridß pacten unnd sicherheit zuwider, khain schazung begert, auch sein brueder, dem friden nach, frey, sicher, und mit haill weckhgelassen, gleichsfalls auch von mervermellten Osmän Jänizarn, wider die pacta unnd sicherheit, auch khein schazung mehr abgefordert, sonnder die conditionen der pacten allzeit geehrt unnd gehalltten werden, und beschließlich, da eure Mt. etc. des fondaments des fridens, gueten rueh, und sicherheit begern, so erzaig sy den obermellten sachen nichts widerigs, sonnder brauchen vlleis unnd sorgfelltigkhait, die selbigen zuvolzihen. Was nun hierüber dißorts euer Mt. etc. antwort, oder woran es ist, das werde aufs ehist herrain an die glückhselig hoch und kayserlich Porten zu wissen gethan, damit man derselben antwort nach sein kayserliche hochait berichten unnd das was, disfallß vönnötten, thuen unnd füernemen möge.

Laudable pride of the great commanders of Christendom, the elite of the illustrious magnates in the community of the Messiah, arbiter of the universal affairs of the community of the Nazarene, possessor of the trains of majesty and glory, possessor of manifestation of splendor and laudable pride, the king of the province of Vienna,King Rudolph II, – may he end his days propitiously. Following the presentation of abundance of prayers and praises worthy of friendship, here is the friendly communication: Formerly, your letter was received concerning strengthening peace and concord between you and his majesty, our prosperoussultan – may God glorify his supporters and multiply his power. Our sultanaccepted this request, and it was stated in the sultanic letter sent to you that so long as no action on your part breaches the treaty, no action on our part will contravene the agreement and the terms of the treaty and the trust will always be adhered to. We have repeatedly emphasized in previous letters that you should send the tribute that was previously not dispatched without delay and adhere to the terms of the agreement. However, there have been no responses to these letters thus far. Moreover, while Gazanfer voivode – who is to voivode of the governor of Fiľakovo,Hüseyin Bey – was bringing the debt owed to the state treasury, he was ambushed in a place named Veszprém that is part of the well-protected domains. His money was taken from him, a ransom of one thousand kuruş was demanded for his release, and he could only save himself by leaving his brother as a hostage. Additionally, during the time of your late father who was the King, a Janissary named Osman was taken prisoner, and a sultanic letter was sent for his release. You also sent a letter stating that he was released. However, the aforementionedOsman was not released in accordance with peace and concord, and a ransom of one thousand florins was demanded for his release. He could only reach the palace with great difficulty. While this are the events that occurred recently, the tribute [from last year] that was delayed and the current tribute [from this year] were not sent together on time and have still not been delivered. The fact that the aforementioned Voivode was ambushed within the well-protected domain in violation of the treaty, his belongings and money were taken, and a ransom was demanded for his release. Similarly, the aforementioned Janissary Osman was released for money. Are these not in violation of the treaty? What is the truth of these matters? Do you not desire the continuation of peace and concord with our fortunate Sovereign solidly and steadfastly? You are aware of how peaceful and undisturbed your country and subjects are during the time of peace and concord, continuing with their work. Do you not consider what would happen to the comfort of the country, province, and subjects in case of attacks and raids by my victorious army on the borders if the opposite occurs? Based on your previous letter, you have probably heard how ardently and diligently this friendly ally of yours has worked to strengthen the peace and concord signed with our fortunate Sovereign. If you act contrary to this, there will be no safety and security for your country, province, forts, places, and districts, and the well-being and comfort of your subjects. The treaty will be nullified, leading to incessant border violations and attacks. When this letter of friendship reaches you, take the utmost care regarding these matters. If you are steadfast and sincere in the peace, concord, safety, and security that have existed between you and our fortunate Sovereign until now, and if you do not consent to any matter that would nullify the treaty, promptly consolidate and send the overdue tribute with the current tribute without delay as per the previously issued sultanic letter. Completely return the goods and money taken from the aforementioned Voivode in violation of the treaty. Do not demand ransom contrary to the treaty and trust; release his brother according to the terms of the treaty and trust and send him back safely and securely. Similarly, do not demand ransom from the previously mentioned Janissary,Osman, in contradiction to the treaty and trust. Always adhere to the terms of the agreement. In conclusion, do not consent to anything contrary to the rules of peace, concord, safety, and security. Show diligence and care in their implementation. Your response to these matters should be promptly communicated to the felicitous and exalted threshold of the sultan so that it can be presented to the glorious foot of the throne and the necessary measures can be taken. Written in the last third of the blessed month of Shaʿban in the year 985. In the city ofConstantinople