An Italian in the Court of the Sultan

The lifestyle of the "Other" has always deeply fascinated human minds, especially during times of military confrontation. In an era of intense "Turkish fear" in Europe, a young Genoese who had just escaped captivity lifted the veil on the inaccessible daily life within the Ottoman royal household. A former slave and personal servant to Sultan Bayezid II, Menavino was among the first Western European eyewitnesses to portray the image of the Grand Turk. His work is an exceptionally valuable historical testament, revealing a comprehensive panorama of the social, political, military, and religious life of the Ottomans. The present study offers its first complete translation into a modern language, accompanied by detailed biographical, bibliographical, and source-critical analysis.