DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.37730#0129
Die „Alte Bibliothek“ -— ein Archiv.
117
Der Zeitungsbericht, der auf ein Flugblatt oder eine Relation
zurückgehen wird, und Ricaut stimmen darin überein, daß das
Feuer im Harem ausgekommen und von da auf den Diwan und
„einige andere Orte von Bedeutung“, fügt Ricaut hinzu, über-
gesprungen ist. Ein Blick auf den Plan genügt, um die Richtigkeit
dieser Angaben zu erhärten: dicht neben dem sich an den Diwan
anschließenden Turm Kubbe Alti liegt auf der einen Seite das
Tor zum Frauenhaus1, auf der andern Seite des Diwan liegt die
— Kanzlei, die heute als „Alte Bibliothek“ (Plan: 5) bezeichnet
wird, fälschlich, wie wir gleich sehen werden. Orte, die Akten,
Archivalien enthalten, werden von Laien nur allzuoft mit Biblio-
again in a private place, where it was not easily found. Not many days after
the Queen-Mother wanting the Cradle of so much value and antiquity, where
many of the young Sultans had lain, sent to the Seraglio at Constantinople to
fetch it thence. But it notbeing found, inquisition was made into all secret Corners,
the Wardrobs were searched, but nothing appeared, to the great fear of those to
whose care it was committed, one accusing the other to acquit himself. In fine,
the matter was so traced, that some whispers there were concerning those in whose,
hands the Cradle not long before was seen to remain. The Women having guilty
consciences were amazed in being so closely followed, and fearing the matter
should be perfectly discovered, entred into consultation what course they should
take to save their lives and their honour. In fine, they both concluded, that in
such an extremity desperate remedies ouglit to be used, than which none was
better than to set fire to the Seraglio, by which means, either the thing sought for
would be esteemed for burnt and consumed by the fire, or in so great a loss it
might be hoped that malters of smaller moment would not be remembred. Where-
fore the bold Wenches without other consideration gave fire with their candle to
the roof of Cedar, of which wood most of the Womens rooms in the Seraglio are
made, which in a moment made such a flame, as with the help of a little wind,
was carried through all the quarters of the W omens Ap artements,
and thence took its way to the D io an Chamb er, and other consi-
derable parts of the Court, where many Records and Registers of
Law were consumed to ashes, to gether with one of the lesser Trea-
suries, wher much riches, which endured not the test of fire, peri-
shed: and the whole Seraglio had run an evident hazard, had not the Bostangees
and other Servants of the Court ventured far into the flames, in which many of
them miserably perished. The fire being quenched, and the Women aftenvards
(I know not how) detected to have been the Authors thereof, were sent to Adria-
nople, and being therce accused, were strangled by the immediate order of the
Grand Signior. — But the destruction of that considerable pari of te Seraglio
was no Impediment to the Grand Signior return to Constantinople, being rebuilt
with that speed and industry, equal or excelling the magnificence of the former,
that the day prefixed for the Journey thither was not prolonged byreason thereof. ..
1 Gurlitt, Die Baukunst von Konstantinopel, Textbd., S. 93.
117
Der Zeitungsbericht, der auf ein Flugblatt oder eine Relation
zurückgehen wird, und Ricaut stimmen darin überein, daß das
Feuer im Harem ausgekommen und von da auf den Diwan und
„einige andere Orte von Bedeutung“, fügt Ricaut hinzu, über-
gesprungen ist. Ein Blick auf den Plan genügt, um die Richtigkeit
dieser Angaben zu erhärten: dicht neben dem sich an den Diwan
anschließenden Turm Kubbe Alti liegt auf der einen Seite das
Tor zum Frauenhaus1, auf der andern Seite des Diwan liegt die
— Kanzlei, die heute als „Alte Bibliothek“ (Plan: 5) bezeichnet
wird, fälschlich, wie wir gleich sehen werden. Orte, die Akten,
Archivalien enthalten, werden von Laien nur allzuoft mit Biblio-
again in a private place, where it was not easily found. Not many days after
the Queen-Mother wanting the Cradle of so much value and antiquity, where
many of the young Sultans had lain, sent to the Seraglio at Constantinople to
fetch it thence. But it notbeing found, inquisition was made into all secret Corners,
the Wardrobs were searched, but nothing appeared, to the great fear of those to
whose care it was committed, one accusing the other to acquit himself. In fine,
the matter was so traced, that some whispers there were concerning those in whose,
hands the Cradle not long before was seen to remain. The Women having guilty
consciences were amazed in being so closely followed, and fearing the matter
should be perfectly discovered, entred into consultation what course they should
take to save their lives and their honour. In fine, they both concluded, that in
such an extremity desperate remedies ouglit to be used, than which none was
better than to set fire to the Seraglio, by which means, either the thing sought for
would be esteemed for burnt and consumed by the fire, or in so great a loss it
might be hoped that malters of smaller moment would not be remembred. Where-
fore the bold Wenches without other consideration gave fire with their candle to
the roof of Cedar, of which wood most of the Womens rooms in the Seraglio are
made, which in a moment made such a flame, as with the help of a little wind,
was carried through all the quarters of the W omens Ap artements,
and thence took its way to the D io an Chamb er, and other consi-
derable parts of the Court, where many Records and Registers of
Law were consumed to ashes, to gether with one of the lesser Trea-
suries, wher much riches, which endured not the test of fire, peri-
shed: and the whole Seraglio had run an evident hazard, had not the Bostangees
and other Servants of the Court ventured far into the flames, in which many of
them miserably perished. The fire being quenched, and the Women aftenvards
(I know not how) detected to have been the Authors thereof, were sent to Adria-
nople, and being therce accused, were strangled by the immediate order of the
Grand Signior. — But the destruction of that considerable pari of te Seraglio
was no Impediment to the Grand Signior return to Constantinople, being rebuilt
with that speed and industry, equal or excelling the magnificence of the former,
that the day prefixed for the Journey thither was not prolonged byreason thereof. ..
1 Gurlitt, Die Baukunst von Konstantinopel, Textbd., S. 93.