İsveçli diplomat ve yazar Ignace Mouradja d' Ohsson (1740-1807) Ermeni kökenli olup İstanbul'da doğar. İsveç kralının Babıali'deki elçisinin yazmanı, tercümanı, vekili (maslahatgüzar) görevlerinde bulunur, tam yetkili bakan olur, daha sonra ise Wasa Şövalye sınıfı üyesi rütbesini alır. 1784 yılında yüksek kademelerde bulunan kişilerle ilişkileri sayesinde bir Batı Avrupalı için erişilmez bir ortam olan Osmanlı Sarayı yaşamına ve ayrıntılarına "sokulma"yı başarır.

1788 yılında Paris'te yayınlanan «Tableau général de l’empire Othoman» başlıklı görkemli eserinde islâm dini kurumlarından başka, cami, mezar, dua, dinî tören gibi konuları işler; kitabın 1789'da yayınlanan ikinci kısmında Osmanlı devletinin tarihini yazar. Mouradja'nın ölümünden sonra oğlu tarafından yayınlanan üçüncü kısım ise sulh, siyaset, ağır ceza ve askerî hukuk kanununu içerir. Yedi yada sekiz kitap olarak tamamlanması planlanan eser ne var ki bu sayıya erişemedi.

Mükemmel baskısı, büyük sayıda gravür içermesi ve özellikle siyasi ve toplumsal betimlemeler (Avrupa yayın dünyasında o sıralarda hakim olan eğilim), hatta saray yaşamına ilişkin ayrıntılar, Mouradja'nın eserine Osmanlı İmparatorluğu başkentinin toplumsal kurumları ile örf ve adetleri hakkında değerli ve özgün bir tanıklık niteliği vermektedir.

Yazan: İoli Vingopoulou

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  The tomb of Osman I in Bursa. Ottoman books, probably from one of the public libraries of Istanbul.

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  Title page of the first volume of the edition.

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  Title page of the first volume of the edition.

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  Adam and Eved according to Islamic tradition.Prophet Muhammad ascends to heaven. Drawing of the Mosque of Mecca (Al-Masjid al-Haram) and the Holy Rock (Kaaba).

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  The first four Caliphs, heirs of Prophet Muhammad, in chronological order: Abu Bakr as-Siddiq, Umar ibn al-Khattab, Uthman ibn Affan, Ali ibn Abi Talib.

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  Muslim man performing ritual ablution before prayer.

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  Scene at a public bath, possibly in Istanbul.

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  Muslim man doing his prayers. Depiction of the sequence of Muslim prayer.

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  Muslim woman doing her prayers. Depiction of the sequence of Muslim prayer.

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  Open-air praying site; such sites existed on all big commercial routes in the Ottoman Empire.

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  View of the central nave of Hagia Sophia in Istanbul.

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  Muslim children in their circumcision costume. Animals destined to be sacrificed on the day of Kurban Bayram.

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  Rites of passage in the Muslim cemetery of Eyüp, Istanbul.

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  Official prayer to celebrate the Birth of Prophet Muhammad (Mawlid) in the presence of the Sultan and other supreme officials, at the mosque of Sultan Ahmed, Istanbul.

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  Hagia Sophia, Mosque of Sultan Ahmed I (Blue Mosque) and Laleli Mosque, Istanbul.

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  The public library of Sultan Abdul Hamid I in Istanbul.

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  The public library of Grand Vizier Recip Paşa in Istanbul.

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  The tomb of Valide Sultan Turhan Hatice, mother of Mehmed IV at the mosque of Valide Sultan or New Mosque (Yeni Camii) in Eminönü, Istanbul.

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  Title page of the second volume of the edition.

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  The Grand Vizier offers dinner (Ifter) to other Ottoman officials during the Ramadan.

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  Parade of horses in the Sultans's honour, in the Second Court of Topkapi Palace, on the eve of the Bayram.

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  Religious ceremony in the Audience Hall of Tokapi Palace on the eve of the Bayram.

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  Panoramic view of Mecca. On the foreground, the Mosque of Mecca (Al-Masjid al-Haram) and the Holy Rock of Kaaba.

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  A caravan departs from Istanbul to the Holy Mosque of Mecca during the Ramadan, with sacred camels and gifts from the Sultan.

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  Camel carrying gifts from the Sultan to the Holy Mosque of Mecca during the Ramadan. Auxiliary camel forming part of the Caravan to Mecca.

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  Mules of the Imperial Caravan carrying gifts to Mecca from the Sultan, during the Ramadan.

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  View of Medina in Saudi Arabia, with Al-Nabawi Mosque.

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  The private quarters of an Ottoman official.

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  A Muslim woman of aristocratic descent in winter costume. A Muslim woman of aristocratic descent in spring costume. A Muslim woman of aristocratic descent in summer costume. A slave woman, escort to a Muslim lady.

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  Muslim women of Turkey in promenade costume. Muslim woman of Egypt in promenade costume. European woman covered with a shawl. European woman wearing a mahrama, embroidered head cover typically used by Muslim women.

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  Muslim women entertaining themelves in their private quarters.

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  Leisure scene at Sweet waters of Europe (Kağithane). Saadabad palace in the distance.

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  Ottoman dancers.

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  Greek women dancing in Istanbul.

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  Dance of the dervishes of the Kadri order.

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  Exercises of the dervishes of the Rifa'i order.

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  Exercises of the dervishes of the Rifa'i order.

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  Exercises of the dervishes of the Rifa'i order.

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  Exercises of the dervishes of the Rifa'i order.

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  Dance of the dervishes of the Mevlevi order.

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  Title page of the third volume of the edition.

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  The main entrance to Tokapi Palace in Istanbul. Hagia Sophia on the right, the Fountain of Sultan Ahmed III on the left.

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  Ottoman soldiers exercising in Tomak, a martial art practiced with wooden balls.

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  Ottoman soldiers exercising in Cirit, a martial art practiced with a javelin.

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  The Chief Admiral of the Ottoman fleet shows himself before the Sultan. In the background (right to left) the Mosque of Sultan Ahmed I, Hagia Sophia and Hagia Irene.

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  Public scribes of the Ottoman state.

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  A trial in the presence of the Grand Vizier.

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  A Pasha, governor of an Ottoman province, marching towards Istanbul.

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  A European ambassador has dinner with the Grand Vizier.

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  A European ambassador appears before the Sultan.