Ottoman Morality through Western Eyes
Foreign diplomats who served in the Ottoman Empire and travellers who toured its lands left behind a rich trove of historical travel accounts published across Europe. In these pages, the writers extol the Turks’ upright character, honesty, compassion, and devotion to cleanliness. They also record an extraordinary level of Ottoman law and order: crimes such as murder, theft, and fraud were said to be almost unheard-of.
Below are a few telling examples that showcase Ottoman morality, public security, and the celebrated Turkish hospitality of the age.
Law and Order in the Ottoman Empire: Western Testimonials
Sir James Porter, British ambassador to the Sublime Porte:
“The Ottoman Empire is a model of perfection in the measures it takes to safeguard its people. Incidents such as pick-pocketing, house-breaking, or highway robbery are virtually unknown. Whether in war or peace, the roads are as safe as the homes. One can traverse the entire realm in perfect security at any time.“
“It is astonishing that, despite the constant bustle along the main highways, scarcely a single incident occurs. Theft in Istanbul is exceedingly rare; Turks are almost never involved in pick-pocketing or burglary. One may live in the city quite safely without even locking one’s door.”
—Observations sur la Religion, les Lois, le Gouvernement et les Mœurs des Turcs (1769)
M. D’Ohsson, diplomat at the Swedish Legation in Istanbul
“Night or day, every city of the empire enjoys complete security. This is due as much to vigilant policing as to the excellence of Turkish customs. Highwaymen are sometimes met with in the hinterland, but inside the cities order is exemplary.
“In Istanbul—a metropolis of immense size—this tranquillity is truly astonishing. Words such as ‘theft’ or ‘murder’ are scarcely heard; pick-pocketing and swindling are rarer still, despite the negligence with which shops full of costly goods are guarded and the dense crowds that press round them.”
—Tableau Général de l’Empire Othoman (1791)
J. H. A. Ubicini, French orientalist
“Pera, dei sulirati il nido“
“In the Muslim quarters of Istanbul scarcely one or two police cases occur in a whole year. By contrast, in Pera and Beyoğlu—where the Christians reside—hundreds of thefts, frauds, and murders are recorded daily. Those districts resemble the slums of Europe’s great cities.
“While hundreds of thousands of Muslims live honourably in peace, some thirty thousand Christians in Pera offer the world a spectacle of vice and disorder; the Italians even have a popular song for it: Pera, dei sulirati il nido—‘Pera, the rogues’ nest.’”
—Lettres sur la Turquie (1877)
These accounts form part of the broader narrative of public safety in Ottoman Istanbul, a phrase increasingly searched by readers seeking comparative crime studies.
Morality and Virtue in Ottoman Culture
H. A. M. Butler-Johnstone, English author
“Ask merchants or travellers long resident in the East: all will testify to the true Turk’s sense of justice and integrity. Among them there is no need of promissory notes; a Turk’s word is his bond—a hallmark of Ottoman justice.
“I once spent six and a half hours in conversation with a group of Turks, assisted by an admiral educated in England whose command of my language rivalled my own. Throughout, he failed to translate only a single word—perfidy. Ottoman Turkish had no precise equivalent, for the concept lay outside Ottoman character.
“As for the Ottoman people, they are the politest, cleanest, most respectful, and most disciplined nation on earth.”
—The Turks: Their Character, Manners, and Institutions (1876)
These are some exapmles of the Morality and Virtue in Ottoman Culture
Hans Barth, German journalist and writer
“If anywhere in the world there exists a nation composed wholly of gentlemen, it is the Turkish nation—especially the Anatolian Turk. Courtesy, grace, tolerance, love of fellow man, and absolute honesty are the most conspicuous traits of their character.
“From the highest pasha to the humblest shopkeeper, all display the same poise and dignity, as though they had passed through the same school of noble breeding. Istanbul’s inhabitants are the most civilised and upright people on earth: no street brawls, no loitering ruffians, no gossiping women, no hint of prostitution—nothing that reddens the cheek.”
—Türke, Wehre Dich (1898)
Modern writers often reference these passages when discussing Islamic charity traditions and the roots of social ethics in Ottoman society.
“They may attend church whenever they wish.”
G. J. Grelot, French writer and traveller
“Slaves in Turkish households are seldom treated harshly; they are almost the second masters of the house. I have known many who, after gaining their freedom and going to Europe, returned to Turkey of their own accord, unable to find the same comfort elsewhere.
“They may attend church whenever they wish. Far from being a misfortune, bondage to a Muslim Turk is often a blessing; forced conversion is virtually unknown.”
—Relation Nouvelle d’un Voyage de Constantinople (1680)
Edmondo de Amicis, Italian man of letters
“No one can deny the noble sentiments that reveal the Turkish soul: gratitude for the smallest kindness, reverence for the dead, exquisite hospitality, and mercy toward animals. Their sense that all social classes are equal is likewise worthy of every praise.”
—Constantinople (1883)
Count Claude de Bonneval, French officer
“Without exception, all Turks are charitable. They aid the needy without regard to creed or a man’s past, for to them a sinner may repent and become a saint. Their beneficence extends not only to mankind, but even to animals and inanimate creation.”
—Anecdotes Vénitiennes et Turques (1740)
– We see that morality and virtue is very important in the Ottoman daily life.
Cleanliness in Ottoman Culture and Public Health
M. de Thévenot, French traveller
“To keep their bodies clean and preserve their health, the Turks frequent the baths. Thus every city boasts many fine hamams, and almost every village has at least one.
“They live long and seldom fall ill; ailments such as kidney disease, common in our lands, are hardly known. I attribute their robust health chiefly to their regular use of the baths and their moderation at table. They eat sparingly, avoid the motley mixtures favoured by Christians, drink no bouts of strong liquor, and exercise daily.”
—Relation d’un Voyage fait au Levant (1665)
Contemporary wellness bloggers increasingly cite the “Ottoman bath culture” as a historical blueprint for holistic health.
G. J. Grelot
“Among all the nations of the world, none observes cleanliness as strictly as the Ottoman Turks. Every major city has numerous baths, open alike to Muslims, Christians, and Jews, for they serve the common health.
“Public latrines are scrupulously clean: everyone takes care not to soil them, and a meydancı scrubs them at least once a week. Running water for ablution is always provided. I must confess that no city in Europe offers such convenience.”
—Relation Nouvelle d’un Voyage de Constantinople (1898)
Corneille Le Bruyn, Dutch traveller
“The Turks are generally tall, well-built men. In a single city of Christian Europe one meets more cripples and malformed people than in the whole Ottoman Empire. Their strength and longevity stem from wholesome fare and avoidance of foods that upset the stomach or damage the organs.
“They owe their health to temperate eating and frequent visits to the bath. The women are no different; their stature and bearing are every bit as majestic as the men’s, their long garments adding to the effect.”
—Voyages de Cornille Le Bruyn (1732)
A Note for Today
Despite modern security measures, incidents of murder and theft rise year by year in today’s Turkey. The order, lofty morals, and virtue that foreign travellers once praised under the banner of Ottoman virtue seem elusive now. The chief reason, many argue, is that our youth are not taught their faith, history, forebears, and language in the proper way.
By revisiting these Western travel testimonies on Ottoman society, we gain not only a clearer view of the past but also—perhaps—an ethical compass for the future.
-Written by Numan Aydoğan Ünal
