Intelligence gathering and state secret protection services of the Ottoman Empire in the 16th century (Review of the publication: Gurkan E. S. The Sultan's Spies: Intelligence, Sabotage, and Corruption Networks of the 16th Century. Lviv: Annetta Antonenko Publishers; Kyiv: Nika - Center, 2023. 320 p.)

Abstract

The article reviews the research of Emrah Safa Gürkan, a leading Turkish historian, academic, and writer specializing in the history of the Ottoman Empire and diplomacy, titled The Sultan's Spies: Intelligence, Sabotage, and Corruption Networks of the 16th Century. The book examines the activities of the 16th-century Ottoman secret services regarding intelligence gathering and the protection of state secrets amidst intense imperial rivalry and the great powers' ambitions to expand their influence into new territories. It is highlighted that the researcher traces the significance of intelligence in the course of Ottoman military events and reconstructs the methods and outcomes of special agencies' operations during the fierce competition for global leadership. Particular attention is paid to the author’s ability to thoroughly analyze and represent the activities of intelligence and counterintelligence, portrayed as a complex, multi-layered system of agents, personal connections, and informal networks that utilized merchants, sailors, corsairs, diplomats, pilgrims, and travelers for data collection. Based on E. S. Gürkan’s work, which is built upon an extensive documentary corpus from the archives of Turkey, Spain, Italy, and Austria, the article concludes that the book traces the activities of key figures in the Ottoman political and military spheres, special agencies, and intelligence and counterintelligence networks within the context of foreign espionage and the maintenance of internal security.