Add MS 24961

This volume contains the latter half of a history of the Ottoman Empire from the beginning of Kanuni Süleyman's reign to the death of Murat IV (1049 AH/1640 CE), by İbrahim Paşa Peçevi. Peçevi, so called from his native place, Pécs (contemporary Hungary), was attached as Secretary to the Grand Vezir Lala Mehmet Paşa (1013-15 AH/1604-07 CE). He became, subsequently, Defterdar of Diyarbakır and Beylerbeyi of Rakkah, and died in 1061 AH (1650-51 CE). He says in a short preamble that, as the conquests of Süleyman formed in his native country, Hungary, a common theme of conversation, it occurred to him to write the present record drawn partly from historical works, partly from the testimony of trustworthy persons. He names as his authorities Celalzade Mustafa Bey and his brother Celalzade Salıh Efendi; the poet Ali; Hasanbeyzade Efendi (died 1046 AH/1636-37 CE); Hadidi; and Katip Mehmet Efendi.

Peçevi's history is written in homely phrase, and without any rhetorical embellishment. As the author himself took an active share in many of the events recorded in the latter part of the period it embraces, it is of great historical value. A passage pointed out by Hammer gives us the approximate time of composition. After relating the execution of the Defterdar Mustafa Paşa, which took place in Şaaban 1041 AH (February-March 1632 CE; f 220v), the author remarks that upwards of ten years had elapsed from that event to the 'present time'. He cannot, therefore, have written that part of the work before 1051-52 AH (1641-43 CE).

The history was brought down, in the first instance, to 1041 AH (1631-32 CE), and some manuscripts conclude with that year. But in most copies it continues to 1049 AH (1639-40 CE).

This copy begins with a chapter on the first appearance of coffee in the Ottoman Empire in 962 AH (1554-55 CE; Add MS 18071 f 85r) and ends with the record of Murat IV's death (1049 AH/1639-40 CE). But some chapters are omitted, for instance the detailed account of the travels of Seyit Ali Kapudan. The chapters relating to Genghis Khan and Hulagu found in Add MS 18071 are also wanting.

A table of chapters in another handwriting than that of the main text appears in the first four folios of the text.

This manuscript was likely copied in the early 18th century CE.