70 - DOMENICO DI LARDIZANAL: Relazione de Santi Luogi di Gerusaleme restituti per Comandamento del Gran Turco del Mese di Aprile 1690 a Frati Minori Osservanti di San Francesco sotto il dì 26 Giugno da GRECI SCIMATICI. Roma, 1690

DOMENICO DI LARDIZANAL: Relazione de Santi Luogi di Gerusaleme restituti per Comandamento del Gran Turco del Mese di Aprile 1690 a Frati Minori Osservanti di San Francesco sotto il dì 26 Giugno da GRECI SCIMATICI. Roma, 1690 First and only edition. 4to. Contemporary hard boards with period paper, spine slightly rubbed. Internally clean and bright. Title with triple woodcut devices. Complete. Overall in almost fine condition. Extremely rare: only one copy in the British Library. An almost unobtainable relation sent from Jerusalem to the Papal authorities in Rome. It describes in detail the conflicts between Greek Orthodox Christians and Catholics over possession of various Holy Places in Jerusalem throughout the 17th century. The account records significant dates, victories of each side, the efforts of both Greeks and Catholics, and the recent restoration of several important sites from Greek to Catholic control. The work incorporates a full Italian translation of the official firman of the Sultan, issued at Adrianople in AH 1101 (c. 20 April 1690). This decree ordered the removal of the Greeks from many key Holy Places and their transfer to Catholic hands. At the time, the Sultan had moved his court to Adrianople to remain close to the theater of war, as Austrian forces, after their crushing victories, advanced into the Balkans. The concession to the Catholics was most likely a diplomatic maneuver by the Ottomans to divide the Holy League and to secure French interest in continuing the war against the Austrians, after the fall of Belgrade (1689), when the Empire was desperate for allies. A unique and invaluable contemporary account.