The Blue Hour

Glossary

I have compiled the glossary below to the best of my ability. I am neither Muslim nor Arabic speaking so please forgive me for any mistakes I may have made, and let me know if you have suggestions for improvements.

Agha (or Aga) - a person of high social rank in the Ottoman Empire, either in the military, the administration or in the Imperial Harem in which case they were eunuchs. The highest ranking Agha in the harem was the Kizlar Agha, or the Chief Black Eunuch, who held one of the most important posts in the Empire! Another important eunuch was the Kapi Agha, Master of the Privy Chambers.

Alhamdulillah - means "praise be to God", or simply "thank God". It is Arabic and the term has its roots in the Qur'an. Even so, Jews and Christians in the Middle East also often use this expression. Apparently, the root of three consonants, H, M, D (meaning praise), are to be found in names like Muhammed, Mahmoud and Hamid. Once again, I feel that I should emphasise that I do not speak Arabic so please don't hesitate to correct any mistakes I may have made, and my apologies in advance if so be the case.

Baklava - is a favourite Turkish desert made of fine layers of phylo dough - the more the better - chopped nuts, butter, syrup and honey. Actually, it's popular in the whole of the Levant. The version known today is thought to have been developed in the Sultan's kitchens at Topkapi Palace in Constantinople, a recipe has been found in kitchen notebooks which dates back to 1473. On the 15th of each Ramadan, the Sultan would serve baklava to the Jannisaries.

Balkans - or the Balkan peninsula is a geographical area in southeastern Europe. At the end of the 19th century, it was synonymous with the European provinces of the Ottoman Empire at that time, Serbia, Montenegro, Croatia and Bosnia, but not Greece.

Brougham - A popular horse-drawn carriage in the 19th century, light with two doors and generally sitting two persons. It had four wheels that could take sharp turns. A novelty of the model was the glazed front window so the passengers could see forward.

Caliph - The Caliphate of the Ottoman Empire in 1876 refers to the religious authority held by the Sultan as the Caliph, the spiritual leader of the Sunni Muslim community, and the successor to the Prophet Muhammad. The Caliph wielded significant influence over Sunni Muslims worldwide, with the Ottoman Empire being considered the center of the Sunni Islamic world.

Dervish - refers to the members of a Sufi order or, more generally, to religious persons who have chosen a life in poverty. Dervishes congregate around a grand master and meet for spiritual sessions in zawlyas or tekkes, i.e. Sufi monasteries.

Effendi - a title meaning Lord, or Master. Effendim means "my master" but can substitute for "excuse me" (real Arabic speakers, please correct me if I am wrong).

Eastern Question - Key aspects:

Ottoman decline: The Empire faced internal struggles, military defeats, rising nationalism among its subject peoples, and significant economic and financial challenges.

Russian ambitions: Russia sought to expand its influence in the Balkans and gain access to the Mediterranean through the Turkish Straits, often using the Ottoman Empire's economic vulnerabilities to its advantage.

Balkan nationalism: The rise of nationalist movements in the Balkans, such as those in Greece, Serbia, and Bulgaria, led to uprisings and wars against Ottoman rule, further weakening the empire's political and economic stability.

European intervention: The Great Powers intervened in Ottoman affairs, sometimes supporting the empire's integrity and other times backing nationalist movements, based on their own political and economic interests.