Ottoman Sultan Mahmoud II writing a letter to a Somali merchant

[Khaem]

1817, izmir, Turkey.

Letter from the Ottoman Sultan Mahmoud II to a Somali merchant, one of Europe's prominent traders residing at the Khan Hotel in Izmir, granting him permission to conduct business and complete exemption from taxes.

x.com

x.com

 

[Idilinaa]

@Laser clarified it and said it was a ''firman'' which is more decorated than a normal letter, it is written directly to a Sultan themselves.

Firman - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

So cool, the somali must've been a man of very high statue because firmans are written by the sultans themselves and this one solely directed to him?

 

[Khaem]

@Laser clarified it and said it was a ''firman'' which is more decorated than a normal letter, it is written directly to a Sultan themselves.

I need a translation from ottoman Turkish. We need to find out who this nigga was

 

[Xassan]

Crazy to think that this is the first century since the death of Muhammad SAW without a widely recognized caliph...

 

[Rayaale]

We were very respected back then

 

[Idilinaa]

I need a translation from ottoman Turkish. We need to find out who this nigga was

He shared this description along with the firman

 

[Ashraf]

This may possibly be the worst era to be Somali reputation wise. It’s like being Chinese in the 1900s gangbanged by everyone and a shadow of its former self

 

[Idilinaa]

This may possibly be the worst era to be Somali reputation wise. It’s like being Chinese in the 1900s gangbanged by everyone and a shadow of its former self

It's not simply about reputation, it just history that shows Somalis emigrated to places and made name for themselves as important merchants/business men. Which is a historical trend that stands to this day.

There are Somalis in Turkey today with a flourishing Business community

Somali businesses in Turkish capital flourish as community grows​

Somali businesses in Turkish capital flourish as community grows

Istanbul might be the major attraction in Turkey for people from all around the world but for Somali nationals, the capital Ankara is the primary...

www.dailysabah.com

“People here welcomed us and we do not have any problems with locals. They embraced us. It has been years since I first arrived here but I have never encountered any discrimination,” he told AA.

They even have business street corner called ''little Somalia Street''

Ankara, easier to navigate and find accommodation than Istanbul, is a top choice for the community. In Kızılay, Sümer 1 and Sümer 2 streets are almost turned into a small Somalia, with a row of businesses catering to the community, including consultancy firms.