The War: Enlisting Volunteers for the Turkish Army in Roumelia

Description

This engraving depicts a scene depicting the recruitment of volunteers for the Ottoman army in Rumelia, published in the May 12, 1877, issue of The Illustrated London News. This image, dating from the opening phase of the 1877-1878 Russo-Turkish War, reflects the mobilization of volunteers, particularly in the Rumelian provinces. At the center of the engraving are individuals beating drums to excite the crowd. This figure is the "kethüda drummer," who traditionally announced the recruitment of volunteers in the Ottoman provinces. Such mobilization scenes were common, especially as the war shifted to the Rumelian front, to encourage participation from the local Muslim population. The large crowd gathered around included both men and women, suggesting an atmosphere of "communal mobilization." Viewers from upper-story windows observe the scene through overhangs representing the densely packed wooden architecture of Rumelian cities. The large Ottoman banner in the engraving symbolizes the official nature of volunteer writing and the state's call. This also reflects a period when the Ottoman public perceived the war as a "defense of the sacred homeland." Despite Rumelia's cosmopolitan population, the engraving's predominant presence of figures in Muslim-Turkish attire suggests that volunteer writing found a particularly positive response among Muslim communities.