Die Gesandtschaft des Johann Jakob Kurtz von Senftenau 1623/24

26. Jänner 1624

Konstantinopel nach Wien

Johann Jakob Kurtz von Senftenau

Ferdinand II.

ÖStA, HHStA Wien
Staatenabteilungen, Türkei I
Kt. 109, Kv. 2, fol. 45r-52v

Aneliya Stoyanova, Zsuzsanna Cziráki, Manuela Mayer

Stephan Kurz, Jakob Sonnberger, Dimitra Grigoriou

Aneliya Stoyanova, Zsuzsanna Cziráki, Manuela Mayer, Stephan Kurz, Jakob Sonnberger

In keeping with his earlier promise, Kurtz reports on the financial transaction with Ali Agha: he promised him 8,000 thalers, and then received another 5,000 thalers from him for a gift to the grand vizier, so that he owes him a total of 13,000 thalers. The money is to be sent to Buda from Vienna, and Kurtz will not be able to travel on from there until it arrives. This should not be a problem, for, in accordance with the emperor’s orders, Hieronymus Bonacina has promised a financial envelope of 30,000 thalers for the mission. Kurtz justifies the need for this transaction in 18 points: he would not receive an audience with the grand vizier without a gift; other envoys also gave gifts; in this way he could influence the orders to the pasha of Buda; Ali Agha is the grand vizier’s most important adviser on Hungarian affairs, there is no one else at the Porte who understands them; he has already helped a lot in peace matters; Ali Agha can help to detach the pasha of Buda from Gábor Bethlen; if not financed, Ali Agha could do a lot of harm to the cause of peace; he was forced to borrow money due to lack of sufficient cash; if he stays longer at the Porte it will cost even more money; he had to obtain information on rebels from Abaza Hasan Pasha; as his departure is uncertain, he asks for a bill of exchange for further expenses. The envoy sent by the sultan to the emperor is Ali Agha’s son-in-law, so he should be provided with an appropriate gift. He recommends Sebastian Lustrier and Giovanni Paolo Damiani, who work at the Habsburgs’ permanent mission in Constantinople. He urgently requires further instructions from Vienna, because their lack impairs his ability to negotiate and gives off the impression that he lacks authority. PS. A courier arrived to him with the documents still requested from Sofia after this letter had been closed, so that in a few days he will appear for an audience with the grand vizier and ask for compensation for the damages on the border and the release of the prisoners. He endeavours to dissuade the Porte from supporting Bethlen, but in this matter the pasha of Buda has the greatest say. Kurtz has learned from Michael Starzer that the Ottomans have captured Bujak in Hungary. He asks him to send the bills of exchange urgently through his Venetian colleague Bonacina.

Johann Jakob Kurtz von Senftenau an Ferdinand II., Konstantinopel, 26. Jänner 1624, dechiffrierte Abschrift, Edition: Aneliya Stoyanova, Zsuzsanna Cziráki, Manuela Mayer, Datenmodellierung: Stephan Kurz, Jakob Sonnberger, Dimitra Grigoriou, in: Die Gesandtschaft des Johann Jakob Kurtz von Senftenau (1623–1624), hg. von: Aneliya Stoyanova, Zsuzsanna Cziráki, Manuela Mayer, Stephan Kurz, Jakob Sonnberger (Digitale Edition von Quellen zur habsburgisch-osmanischen Diplomatie 1500–1918, hg. von Arno Strohmeyer, Projekt 4), Wien 2024.
Online unter: https://gams.uni-graz.at/o:kuse.l.hbg.16240126
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