Osman Aga of Timişoara
Encyclopedia
Osman Aga of Temesvar was an Ottoman
army officer (1670–1725?). He is known as one of the few Turkish
-language autobiographers of the era. More important than that, he was a prisoner of war and he wrote mostly about his adventures in Habsburg Austria which makes the autobiography the sole Turkish
example of its kind. He was born to a family of South Slav origin in Temesvar (modern Timişoara
in Romania
).
, which is now in west Romania
. The originally Hungarian
city had been conquered by the Ottoman Empire in 1552. Osman Aga was a low-ranking army officer in Temesvar. He excelled in equitation.
After the unsuccessful siege of Vienna in 1683, the tide turned and the Holy League of Europe
an nations began forcing the Ottomans out of Hungary
in the Great Turkish War
between 1683–1699.
), to the north. While they were in Arad, it was attacked by superior Austrian forces and the city council decided to surrender. Osman thus became a prisoner of war at the age of eighteen.
and Vienna
. He spent several months in dungeons and was frequently beaten or even whipped by his masters during the early years. But his skill in equitation and learning German
helped him to live a relatively less stressful life in later years. One of his masters even offered him freedom in return for converting to Christianity
which he refused.
After the treaty of Karlowitz
, he was able to return to Temesvar in 1700.
In Temesvar, with the help of the German he had learned during his servitude, he became the official translator and served in several diplomatic missions to Austria. However his comfortable days were over at the outbreak of a new war between the Ottoman Empire and Austria in 1715. This time Eugene Savoy
of Austria captured Temesvar in 1716. Osman Aga fled to Belgrad (modern Serbia
). But Belgrad shared the same fate in 1717. Shortly before the final assault of the Austrians on Belgrad, the Austrians were able to explode the ammunition dump of the fort on 14 August 1717 resulting in the death of some 3,000 people. Most of Osman's family members were among the 3,000. After the loss of Belgrad he served in Vidin
(in modern Bulgaria
) and then came to Istanbul
where he continued his civil service.
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
army officer (1670–1725?). He is known as one of the few Turkish
Turkish language
Turkish is a language spoken as a native language by over 83 million people worldwide, making it the most commonly spoken of the Turkic languages. Its speakers are located predominantly in Turkey and Northern Cyprus with smaller groups in Iraq, Greece, Bulgaria, the Republic of Macedonia, Kosovo,...
-language autobiographers of the era. More important than that, he was a prisoner of war and he wrote mostly about his adventures in Habsburg Austria which makes the autobiography the sole Turkish
Ottoman Turkish language
The Ottoman Turkish language or Ottoman language is the variety of the Turkish language that was used for administrative and literary purposes in the Ottoman Empire. It borrows extensively from Arabic and Persian, and was written in a variant of the Perso-Arabic script...
example of its kind. He was born to a family of South Slav origin in Temesvar (modern Timişoara
Timisoara
Timișoara is the capital city of Timiș County, in western Romania. One of the largest Romanian cities, with an estimated population of 311,586 inhabitants , and considered the informal capital city of the historical region of Banat, Timișoara is the main social, economic and cultural center in the...
in Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
).
Background
Temesvar was a city in BanatBanat
The Banat is a geographical and historical region in Central Europe currently divided between three countries: the eastern part lies in western Romania , the western part in northeastern Serbia , and a small...
, which is now in west Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
. The originally Hungarian
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
city had been conquered by the Ottoman Empire in 1552. Osman Aga was a low-ranking army officer in Temesvar. He excelled in equitation.
After the unsuccessful siege of Vienna in 1683, the tide turned and the Holy League of Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an nations began forcing the Ottomans out of Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
in the Great Turkish War
Great Turkish War
The Great Turkish War refers to a series of conflicts between the Ottoman Empire and contemporary European powers, then joined into a Holy League, during the second half of the 17th century.-1667–1683:...
between 1683–1699.
Osman Aga in the war
During the war, the Austrians were unable to capture Temesvar. But in 1688, Osman's squadron of 80 men was given a special task. They had to deliver the salaries of army officiers to the city Arad (now LipovaLipova
-Czech Republic:* Lipová – village in Děčín District* Lipová – village in Cheb District* Lipová – village in Prostějov District* Lipová – village in Přerov District...
), to the north. While they were in Arad, it was attacked by superior Austrian forces and the city council decided to surrender. Osman thus became a prisoner of war at the age of eighteen.
Osman Aga as a prisoner of war
Osman Aga was awarded to a military judge in Austrian army who asked for ransom. Although he was able to pay for his freedom, he was not released. He was sold to several new masters in KapfenbergKapfenberg
Kapfenberg is a city in Styria, Austria, near Bruck an der Mur. The town's landmark is Burg Oberkapfenberg. Main employer in the city of Kapfenberg was and still is the steel manufacturer Böhler....
and Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
. He spent several months in dungeons and was frequently beaten or even whipped by his masters during the early years. But his skill in equitation and learning German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
helped him to live a relatively less stressful life in later years. One of his masters even offered him freedom in return for converting to Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
which he refused.
After the treaty of Karlowitz
Treaty of Karlowitz
The Treaty of Karlowitz was signed on 26 January 1699 in Sremski Karlovci , concluding the Austro-Ottoman War of 1683–1697 in which the Ottoman side had been defeated at the Battle of Zenta...
, he was able to return to Temesvar in 1700.
Aftermath
Prince Eugene of Savoy
Prince Eugene of Savoy , was one of the most successful military commanders in modern European history, rising to the highest offices of state at the Imperial court in Vienna. Born in Paris to aristocratic Italian parents, Eugene grew up around the French court of King Louis XIV...
of Austria captured Temesvar in 1716. Osman Aga fled to Belgrad (modern Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
). But Belgrad shared the same fate in 1717. Shortly before the final assault of the Austrians on Belgrad, the Austrians were able to explode the ammunition dump of the fort on 14 August 1717 resulting in the death of some 3,000 people. Most of Osman's family members were among the 3,000. After the loss of Belgrad he served in Vidin
Vidin
Vidin is a port town on the southern bank of the Danube in northwestern Bulgaria. It is close to the borders with Serbia and Romania, and is also the administrative centre of Vidin Province, as well as of the Metropolitan of Vidin...
(in modern Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
) and then came to Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
where he continued his civil service.