TAG Ottoman Empire
From a Swiss farm to a palace in Constantinople: the extraordinary life of Elisabeth Tschumi.
From the serene hills of rural Switzerland to the opulent palaces of Constantinople, the life of Elisabeth Tschumi is a tale of destiny, courage, and transformation. Born into a modest peasant family, she would go on to marry Ahmet Tevfik Pasha—the last Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire—and become Lady Afife Okday. Her extraordinary journey bridges two worlds: the pastoral landscapes of Upper Aargau and the political heart of a fading empire on the brink of modernity.
Frederick Bruce Thomas: an extraordinary character’s tribulations
Frederick Thomas blossomed in Moscow. He obtained Russian citizenship, was married three times and had five children. Around 1914, he bought a dacha near Odessa and he also owned buildings in Moscow. Now it was clear for all to see: the African-American immigrant from Mississippi, the son of slaves, had made a fortune in Russia.