Statesman, writer, calligrapher
(B.?, Tosya / Kastamonu - D. July 8, 1799, Rhodes). He was among the
dignitaries of the Ottoman Empire in the second half of the eighteenth century;
with self-training, scientific strength and government jobs to control and high
grip ability and Ratip Effendi also had strong writing capabilities and a deep
knowledge about Europe and the state politics. His father, professor of science
class, nicknamed Çilingir
Haji Ali Efendi. He completed his primary education in his hometown Tosya, took
lessons from his father, he came to Istanbul to further his education at the
age of fifteen. Here, he joined Divan-i âmedci (Court First Secretary) Ethem
Effendi, began to received training on state affairs as well; and he learned
Turkish, Arabic and Persian.
Due to his mastery in Ta'lik (a
script), he became the writing instructor of prince Selim 3rd, so had
the opportunity to meet him. Letters sent by Prince Selim to French King Louis
the 16th were written by Ebubekir Ratip Effendi. Ratip Effendi
became First Secretary at the Council of Ministers in 1779 and remained in that
position for seven years. He learned state affairs and politics during this
period and increased his knowledge. He learned about the styles of the text to
be written to the States, the procedures and rules, the type and size of paper
for the letters to be written to the individuals. Sultan Selim has appointed
Ebubekir Ratip Effendi as the ambassador to Austria due to his strength in
writing, his knowledge of three different languages and his scholarly skills in
order to conduct the important relations with other countries. He was appointed
as the Chief Script in 1795. But the people who were against his innovative
ideas have caused him to be exiled to Rhodes with false claims. Some of his
friends have asked Sultan to forgive him, but it did not work out well and
Ebubekir Ratip Effendi was executed in Rhodes after three years of exile
(1799). His head was brought to Istanbul and was buried at Ataullah Effendi
Order tomb at Kanlica. For his death a verse was noted: “Eyliye Râtip Efendi meskenin Mevlâ cinân”.
He has written articles
and also poems in three different languages; and he is mostly known by the two books
of ambassadorship. First one is also known as Büyük Lâyiha; Tuhfetü’s-Sefâre
fî Ahvâl-i Asâkiri’n-Nasârâ ve’l-İdâre. This work consists of 490 pages, and Ratip Effendi has analyzed in
detail the military organization and social structure of Austrian state,
provided information about its economy and also mentioned the military status
of other European countries. He did not refrain to suggest Sultan to reduce the
budget deficit, to use local products for the development of trade and art,
that the reason of backwardness was the tendency of ottoman Sultans to luxury
since the Second Vienna Siege. There are some samples of the work. His poems
are valuable but rare. He has no Divan.
REFERENCE: İsmail Hakkı Uzunçarşılı (Belleten, vol. XXXIX, issue: 153, 1975), Hüner Tuncer / Osmanlı Ebubekir Râtip Efendi’nin Viyana Mektupları (Belleten, vol. XLIII, issue: 169, 1979), Ahmet Cevdet Paşa / Cevdet Paşa Tarihinden Seçmeler (1994), Abdullah Uçman / Ebubekir Râtip Efendi’nin Nemçe Sefaretnamesi (1999), Mustafa Bektaşoğlu / Hat Sanatı ve Tosyalı Hattatlar (2005), İhsan Işık (TEKAA, 2009).
