A Farewell to Imperial Istanbul by Ayşe Gülnev Osmanoğlu
A Farewell To Imperial İstanbul
Set against the majestic backdrop of Imperial Istanbul in the aftermath of the First World War, A Farewell To Imperial Istanbul is a captivating tale of family, duty and the resilience of the human spirit.
İstanbul, 1922: As the Ottoman Empire crumbles in the wake of the Great War, the fate of the Imperial capital and the House of Osman come under threat. Emboldened following their victory in the Turkish War of Independence, the Turkish Nationalist Government in Ankara abolishes the Ottoman Sultanate, marking the end of over six centuries of Ottoman rule. The Ottoman Caliphate endures for now, but Istanbul, stripped of its Imperial mantle, mourns its lost glory. Prince Nihadfears for the nation and the fate of the Imperial family, while his son, Prince Vâsıb, envisions a hopeful future defined by peace following the signing of the Treaty of Lausanne.
As the new Republic of Türkiye emerges from the ashes of the once-mighty Ottoman Empire, Istanbul and the Ottoman Dynasty confront the crossroads of history, their destinies entwined with the shifting tides of the Bosphorus. Yet, amidst these perilous currents that separate East and West, where the deep waters threaten to engulf the city’s Imperial past and sweep away its soul embodied by the Imperial family, the Ottoman Dynasty must navigate a new and uncertain course.
The history of the Turks and their vast and powerful Empire has been intertwined with the Ottoman Dynasty for over six hundred years. But can the Imperial family survive the tempest of change as the world enters a new era?
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An Extract From A Farewell To Imperial İstanbul
Chapter Six
Thank you so much for being part of the Blog Tour for the launch of A Farewell To Imperial İstanbul. I am delighted to share this extract from the book with you and hope your readers enjoy it…
This passage is taken from a scene set in November 1922, amidst the majestic splendour of the Topkapı Palace, the former home of the Ottoman Sultans. It sees Prince Abdülmecid Efendi about to ‘visit’ the Holy Mantle – the sacred ceremony that will see him invested as Caliph Of Islam, the spiritual leader of the Moslem world.
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Light danced and flickered from the large bronze lanterns that hung outside the ornate Fountain Gate, illuminating the heavy gilded door that led into the Apartments of the Holy Mantle. As Abdülmecid stepped between the tall marble columns and beneath the pointed stone arches of the pavilion’s portico, he was enveloped by a world of breathtaking beauty. The first chamber welcomed him with sacred splendour, adorned with quotations from the Quran masterfully inscribed in mesmerising swirling calligraphy. Exquisite blue, white, and red İznik tiles adorned the walls, boasting geometric patterns and floral designs of tulips, carnations, and roses, each detail painted with an artist’s highly skilled hand.
The chambers were dimly lit, and it took a moment for his eyes to adjust to the light. Passing through an arched double door of rich walnut, embellished with geometric motifs inlaid in mother-of-pearl and tortoiseshell, Abdülmecid entered the former Throne Room which now housed the most precious of all these relics: the Holy Mantle, a cloak that had once belonged to the Prophet Muhammed and which now lay in a golden case adorned with rubies and emeralds. The case was wrapped in seven silk scarves, each embroidered with holy inscriptions in silver and gold. It sat in a gilded chest, inscribed with the words of the Shahada, the profession of faith, that rested on the dais where earlier Ottoman Sultans had once sat on their throne, veiled behind an ornate silver-filigree grating.
A learned imam reciting the Quran sat beside an imposing Baroque-style marble fireplace to the side of the dais – a tradition that had been observed continuously since the mantle’s arrival in İstanbul nearly four hundred years ago. The air within this sacred chamber was filled with the soft tendrils of incense emanating from silver burners, carrying the fragrant whispers of aloe and amber, infusing the room with an aura of sanctity. An overwhelming sense of peace and tranquillity transcended the thick stone walls, permeating the courtyard beyond, as Abdülmecid stood, ready to embrace his destiny.
Author Bio –
Ayşe Gülnev Osmanoğlu is a member of the Ottoman Imperial family, being descended from Sultan Murad V through her grandfather, and from Sultan Mehmed V (Mehmed Reşad) through her grandmother. After reading History and Politics at the University of Exeter, she obtained an M.A. in Turkish Studies from SOAS, University of London, where she specialised in Ottoman History. Her debut novel, The Gilded Cage on the Bosphorus was published in 2020.
Ayşe Osmanoğlu lives between Türkiye, France and the United Kingdom with her husband, five children and two cats. Her research and literary works concentrate on the late Ottoman period, exploring narratives embedded in her imperial heritage.
Social Media Links – https://www.facebook.com/ayseosmanogluauthor
https://www.instagram.com/aysegulnevsultan/
https://twitter.com/AyseGulnev
Author Website: www.ayseosmanoglu.com
Giveaway To Win an A Farewell to Imperial İstanbul prize bundle… (Open to UK Only)
The list of prizes is below:
- Paperback signed copy of A Farewell to Imperial İstanbul
- Scented Candle from the Imperial İstanbul Collection – Scent: Harem Garden (Jasmine, Rose & Orange Blossom)
- Black matchsticks
- Traditional Rose Turkish Delight
- A Farewell to Imperial İstanbul postcard
- Set of four A Farewell to Imperial İstanbul bookmarks
*Terms and Conditions –UK entries welcome. Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below. The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over. Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data. I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.
