If we look at the career of such a man, we see a story of high stakes. Imagine an Ottoman artillery expert named Suleiman. During one of the many wars over Crete or the Peloponnese, he finds himself in the employ of the Venetians—perhaps tempted by a higher salary or political asylum. The Venetians, desperate for the technical knowledge of their rivals, would baptize him. He becomes "Antonio."
While not a globally famous figure like Suleiman the Magnificent, his story (and the story of those who likely shared his name) offers a fascinating window into the —a community of Ottoman merchants, diplomats, and converts who lived in the heart of Europe. antonio suleiman
This building still stands today in Venice. It was a place where If we look at the career of such