[Manuscript]. [Tamburi Arutin]. [The Chronicles of Tahmaz Gu - Lot 278

[Manuscript]. [Tamburi Arutin]. [The Chronicles of Tahmaz Gulu]. [ca. XVIII-XIX th century]. In-8, (ca. 18 x 13 cm.), 103 p., contemporary oriental binding in full contemporary fawn basane, spine with 3 nerves, framing and central decoration on the boards (work disbound (p. 23-102 flying), spine partly missing, boards rubbed, edges worn, corners dull, soiling and wetness). Manuscript written in Ottoman Turkish with Armenian characters, recounting an eight-month voyage to Iran begun in 1748. Historical text written in Ottoman Turkish with Armenian characters by Tamburi Arutin (Հարութին Թամբուրի, also known as Քյուչուկ Արութին), a XVIIIᵉ century Armenian historian and musician from Constantinople. A polyglot (he was fluent in Armenian, Turkish and Persian) and a virtuoso on the tambur (a classical Turkish instrument), he owes his nickname to his musical mastery. Arutin recounts his eight-month journey to Iran in 1748, as well as major episodes in the life of Nader Shah Afshar, including his expedition to India and his accession to the throne. Sent to Persia in 1736 as a musician accompanying an Ottoman delegation led by Abdul-Baqi Khan, Arutin was noticed by Nader Shah, who invited him to join the royal court and the prestigious orchestra made up of artists from all over the Orient. He stayed there for several years. His work, entitled Պատմութիւն Թահմազ Ղուլի (Chronicle of Tahmaz Gulu better known as Nader Shah Afshar)), is a rare example of Armenian literature in Ottoman Turkish transcribed in Armenian characters. A copy of this manuscript is now preserved in Venice, and a copy in Yerevan's Matenadaran. The work was first printed in Venice in 1800, and a French translation was also produced. This chronicle is a precious testimony to the court of Nader Shah and illustrates the intercultural richness of Ottoman Armenian circles.