Some considerations on the relationship between the Western powers and the Ottoman Turks in the late Middle Ages from the case study of Sigismondo Malatesta, Lord of Rimini, lecture by Elisa Tosi Brandi (University of Bologna), Byzantium at Ankara Fall-Winter Seminar Series 2021/22 via Zoom, December 2, 2021

What were Turkish garments, bows and scimitars doing in Sigismondo Pandolfo Malatesta’s residence a few days after his death in 1468? When and for what reason did these objects arrive in Rimini? Were they the souvenirs of his last military campaign in Morea against the Ottoman Turks conducted on behalf of the pope Pius II and the Western powers? Or perhaps signs of an international intrigue?

At a time when the Turks were threatening the West, the Ottoman objects belonged to Sigismondo Malatesta reveal the passion for novelties and great ambitions of this lord, as well as the contradictions of an Era.

Starting from the documentation of an Italian court, Elisa Tosi Brandi will trace an analysis of the relationship between Western powers and Ottoman Turks in the late Middle Ages.

Elisa Tosi Brandi is assistant professor at the University of Bologna, Department of Cultural Heritage, Ravenna Campus, where she teaches Medieval History and History and Fashion Cultural Heritage. 

The Byzantine Seminar Series “Byzantium at Ankara” is organized and hosted in collaboration by the Department of History at Bilkent University and the Department of History of Art at Hacettepe University. It is organized by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sercan Yandim (Hacettepe University) and Asst. Prof. Dr. Luca Zavagno (Bilkent University).

All the sessions will be broadcasted via Zoom. Pre-registration at byzantiumatankara@hotmail.com is required.