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This volume contains a daily account of Sultan Mahmud II’s (ruled 1223-1255 AH/1808-1839 CE) stay of almost two years at the Rami Barracks (Rami Kışlası) with his newly established cavalry units during the Russo-Turkish War of 1244-5 AH/1828-9 CE. The work was authored by Abdülhak Molla (1201-1270 AH/1786-1854 CE), who was the Ottoman Chief Physician (Hekimbaşı) as well as a poet and writer.

Born in Istanbul on 1 Rebiyülevvel 1201 AH/22 December 1786 CE, Abdülhak studied at the Süleymaniye Tıp Medresesi and became a müderris thereafter. He first became a palace physician when his older brother Mustafa Behcet Efendi (died 1249 AH/1834 CE) was the Hekimbaşı. After both brothers were exiled for a brief period by Mahmud II in 1236-7 AH/1821 CE, Mustafa Behcet was restored to the başhekimlik and Abdülhak continued to serve as a hekim in various positions, becoming Hekimbaşı of the Asâkir-i Hassa in 1242-3 AH/1827 CE. Upon Mustafa’s death, Abdülhak was appointed Hekimbaşı in his place on 5 Zilhicce 1249 AH/15 April 1834 CE. He served three terms in the role between 1249 and 1265-6 AH/1834 and 1849 CE, having been removed from the role twice. He died in his mansion at Bebek on 21 Şaban 1270 AH/19 May 1854 CE. At the time of his death, he held the title of ‘Reîsü’l-ulemâ,’ as the most senior kazasker of Rumelia.

Abdülhak’s Tarih covers the period from 5 Rebiyülevvel 1244 to 28 Zilkade 1245 AH, which equates to 617 days according to Molla’s own count. When calculated in the Gregorian calendar (15 September 1828-21 May 1830 CE), this period equates to 614 days. The reasoning behind this discrepancy is unclear. At the start of this period, Abdülhak would have been Hekimbaşı of the Asâkir-i Hassa with the rank of Yenişehir mevleviyet. In 1244-5 AH/1829 CE, he was given the rank of Mekke.

Throughout a period of almost two years, Abdülhak stayed with the Sultan at the Barracks and noted the events taking place there. The entries range from lengthy to short descriptions of the weather, conditions within the camp and without, and the Sultan’s movements, meetings, and worship with his soldiers.

First entry (2v):

İşbu bin iki yüz kırk dört senesi rebiyülevvelin beşinci isneyn günü: Saat uçu otuz uç dakika mürurunda eşref saat olmağla

Last entry (98v):

Mah-i mezburun yirmi sekizinci günü ve teşrif-i şahanelerin altı yüz on yedinci gününe masadıf olan yevm-i isneynde

There is an ornate illuminated headpiece on f 1v. The concluding kıta chronogram on f 99v, apparently by the author, states that he composed most of the work during [12]43 AH/1827-8 CE and completed it in the year ‘Tarih-i Liva,’ the numerical value of which is written here as 1248 AH/1832-3 CE rather than 1258 AH/1842-3 CE.