International conference: Anti-Ottoman Wars and the Culture of Nobility in East Central Europe, 16–18th Century

Leipzig, GWZO, 23–25th October, 2008

The various experiences of being a subject, a tributary state, a competing power or a simple neighbour of the Ottoman Empire made various impacts on the early modern states of East Central Europe. Despite the conflicts, which existed beyond doubt, it seems inadequate to talk about a global confrontation between Orient and Occident in this context. On the contrary – forms of cultural transfer were almost inevitable to develop. The reactions of different groups of East Central European nobility on the Ottoman expansion can be placed on a wide scale of real fear, tactic calculation, economic and social arrangements and pragmatic religious tolerance, even as far as the integration of oriental features in their own culture of representation.

The specific elements in this conflict area are researched by the interdisciplinary project “Ottoman Orient and East Central Europe: Comparative Studies in the Perceptions and Interactions in the Border Zones” at Geisteswissenschaftliches Zentrum Geschichte und Kultur Ostmitteleuropas (GWZO) in Leipzig. The conference, organised in the framework of the project, searches the answers to the question of the ways in which the expansion of the Ottoman Empire influenced the wide domain of East Central European noblemen’s culture.

The chronological fundaments shall on the one hand be 1521 and 1526, the occupation of Belgrad and the battle of Mohács, both decisive moments for the history of contacts between Europe and the Ottoman Empire. On the other, we take the peak of the relations between the two powers – the relief of the besieged Vienna in 1683. As a consequence of the latter, even if the developments in the perception of the anti-Ottoman wars were not absolutely contrary to the earlier situation, at least they were fundamentally changed. This led to the almost schematic “Turkish fashion”, or to a general Orientalism in the “long” 18th century.

The high and lower nobility, as politically involved social strata, had a distinct estate consciousness. Nevertheless, their groups often had a controversial relationship with the ruling dynasty, especially in cases when they belonged to different confessions, such as in the case of Bohemia. Therefore, the cultural contacts oscillated between an adaptation of and a demarcation from the culture of the Habsburg Imperial court, rendering the various noble families and their orientation as subjects of deeper research.

The concept of “noblemen’s culture” covers all domains of life, as shown by its connection to the confrontation with Ottoman expansion. The anti-Ottoman wars produced among others specific economic results, beneficial for some noblemen, who, for instance, used the prisoners of war as labour force on their private estates. Besides, a whole set of new trade and industrial opportunities opened up for them, such as that of Turkish luxury goods and their replicas.

Another important field of impact on the noblemen’s life in East Central Europe were the opportunities for social advancement, such as related to diplomatic services. In this case, personal experiences of travel and court ceremonies at various courts played an important role in perception.

Apart from these, special emphasis has to be given to the variety of written and visual sources of artistic and representative nature, which – all according to their character – aimed at an instrumentalisation of the participation in the war, a more or less strong symbolic elevation of the participants as anti-Ottoman heroes, and made a durable impact on the collective memory. Which were the points where travel literature, diaries, or pamphlets followed the same direction as architectonic and figural monuments, medallions, and depictions of battle scenes? Where did they differ? How did they achieve their impact? What role did (oriental) music and the theatrical staging of Ottoman culture – or the image people had about it – play in Hungarian, Transylvanian, Bohemian or Polish-Lithuanian noblemen’s culture? Also, the topic of developing habits of collecting come into the picture. Apart from the question of the respective objectives of information, legitimation and propaganda, in particular cases the target groups should be identified as well, in order to create a differentiated reception history of the anti-Ottoman wars.

In order to suit the research focus of the GWZO project, the contributions should primarily pay attention to the lands of East Central Europe. The territories under the rule of the Habsburg monarchy, Poland-Lithuania, the Hungarian territories under Ottoman rule, Transylvania, and the countries of the Balkan were border zones, but at the same time they were also the most important stages for contacts with the Ottoman Empire. Nevertheless, contributions related to regions which stood in direct or indirect contact with the Ottoman Empire and East Central Europe (France, Italy), are also welcome. These should help in making all-encompassing characteristics and cultural topoi, but also fractures inside the noblemen’s cultures of Europe transparent.

Conference languages: English and German.

Short paper abstracts (1-2 p.) should be sent until 30th May, 2008 via e-mail to
Sabine Jagodzinski M.A. or Dr. des. Robert Born.

Contact addresses:

Sabine Jagodzinski M.A.
Geisteswissenschaftliches Zentrum Geschichte und Kultur Ostmitteleuropas (GWZO) an der Universität Leipzig e.V. Luppenstr. 1b
D-04177 Leipzig
http://www.uni-leipzig.de/gwzo
Tel.: +49/0341/97 35 589
Fax: +49/0341/97 35 569
Mail: jagodzinski@rz.uni-leipzig.de

Dr. des. Robert Born
Geisteswissenschaftliches Zentrum Geschichte und Kultur Ostmitteleuropas (GWZO) an der Universität Leipzig e.V. Luppenstr. 1b
D-04177 Leipzig
http://www.uni-leipzig.de/gwzo
Tel.: +49/0341/97 35 582
Fax: +49/0341/97 35 569
Mail: rborn@rz.uni-leipzig.de