The Royal Tour of Prince Friedrich Karl of Prussia to the Eastern Mediterranean Region in 1883

When Ottoman-German relations started to flourish in the late 19th century, to be more specific in December 1882, the Berlin Embassy of the Ottoman Empire was informed that Prince Friedrich Karl of Prussia, nephew of the German Emperor Wilhelm II, would visit Egypt, Palestine, Syria, Smyrna and Istanbul. Thereupon, preparations were made for the prince's comfort and safety during the journey and Colonel Ahmed Bey and Major Ismail Bey, aides-de-camps of the Sultan, were chosen to escort the prince. During his tour of the Ottoman Empire between February 19 and March 24, 1883, Prince Friedrich Karl visited Jaffa, the holy city of Jerusalem, Mar Saba, the Dead Sea, Jericho, Nablus, Jenin, Nazareth, Acre, Sidon, Beirut, Damascus, and the ruins of Palmyra and Baalbek. This article analyzes the journey undertaken by the prince through reports and other documents prepared about the trip by Colonel Ahmed Bey and Major Ismail Bey, who were appointed by Sultan Abdul Hamid II to accompany the prince. The article also aims to give insight into the socio-economic conditions of the above-mentioned Eastern Mediterranean cities and archaeological ruins, as well as the historical buildings in the region, based on the archival sources dating to 1883.