Through the 'Mediterranean rumour mill' : the flow and manipulation of information between the Ottoman Empire and Europe

Abstract

Virgil described fama as a monster: “Her body is covered with as many eyes, mouths, tongues, and ears as it has feathers.” The more people see, hear, and talk, the more fama gains speed and grows. However, what exactly was this fama? It encompassed fame, reputation, news, and rumour. These elements were ambiguous, as they could be either true or false. They were linked to the senses of hearing, seeing, and speaking since individuals transmitted what they heard and witnessed. Moreover, the circulation of fama among a larger audience only fuelled its growth. A person’s reputation played a crucial role in this context, as it lent credibility to information, while a rumour could either enhance or damage a reputation. This classical monster is a fitting description of news and rumours during the early modern period. This dissertation seeks to understand the patterns of news dissemination and management in the sixteenth-century eastern Mediterranean, focusing on the Ottoman Empire as the central unit of observation. It is structured around two main questions: First, did a systematic approach to news dissemination and management exist during the early modern period? Second, do the strict distinctions between news and rumours established by twentieth-century scholars apply to early modern contexts? To address these questions, the dissertation examines two case studies. The first is the clash between the Ottomans and Christian powers during the Siege of Rhodes (1522). The second case study involves a complex internal affair that escalated into a diplomatic crisis within the empire, primarily involving non-European actors. This situation unfolded under the watchful eye of Christian Europe. It centred around the succession crisis, which began with Prince Bayezid’s rebellion, followed by his conflict with his elder brother Selim, eventual defeat, flight to Safavid Persia, and ultimate execution (1558-1562).