EVERYTHING ABOUT THE OTTOMANS
D'Ohsson had an extensive knowledge of Ottoman history and culture, and was encouraged by the Swedish ambassador of the time, Gustaf Celsing, to write a book. Although d'Ohsson had been educated at schools run by Franciscan and Dominican monks in Istanbul , he also had an extensive knowledge of eastern languages, enabling him to make use of Ottoman written sources. He enjoyed close connections with high-ranking Ottoman officials and statesmen through his father-in-law Abraham Kuleliyan, who was financier of the Treasury of Mecca and Medina , which was under the charge of the Intendant of the Imperial Harem. D'Ohsson tells his readers which books he referred to in preparing his enormous work in three large volumes which included Muhammedan legislation and covered every aspect of Ottoman life, organisational structure of the Ottoman state, daily life and customs. He wrote the book approximately between 1764 and 1784, and commissioned the 233 illustrations from artists in Istanbul . In 1784 D'Ohsson settled in Paris with the intention of completing his