Mitteilungen des Österreichischen Staatsarchivs 41. (1990)
BEVERIDGE, Kent D.: „Worthy Representative of Europe“. Anton Graf Prokesch von Osten
Anton Graf Prokesch von Osten heard and read, directed a query regarding „the Báb“32) to the Austrian consul in Adrianople, Gustav Wilhelm von Camerloher on 10 January33). Unfortunately, the text of this letter has not yet come to light. Camerloher reports in his reply34) that Bahá’u’lláh, commonly known in Adrianople as Anschad Effendi35), had been interned there for the past three years, along with his two wives, almost all of his relatives and more than sixty of his followers. The „Khán“, as Camerloher refers to Bahá’u’lláh, was formerly the Shaykhu’l-Islám of Persia, but had been banished from that country due to his „reformatorisch-sektirerischen Bestrebungen mit stark sunitischer Tendenz“, whereupon he travelled to Baghdád. Following Persian protests, he was ordered to Constantinople, and then interned in Adrianople. Camerloher states that Bahá’u’lláh receives a monthly allowance of 5,000 rials from the Ottoman government36); from his followers, all of whom live in the patriarchal household, he receives the proceeds of their activities as tobacconists, dealers in carpets or antiquities, confectioners, carpenters, painters or lamplighters; and that this money is then shared with each according to his needs and merits. According to Camerloher, Bahá’u’lláh is „kaum 36 Jahre alt“37), yet he accepts the strongly Oriental homage paid him by his followers, including even his brothers and relatives, who approach him on their knees, as his due. He never leaves his house, but is affable and genial to his visitors. Sulaymán Pasha, the former Vali of Adrianogovernment. This would have precluded, according to the Bahá’ís, the challenge to the Caliphate feared by Ottoman authorities. 32) Prokesch-Osten, a meticulous person, recorded the letters which he wrote, along with their dates, recipients (including city), and a note concerning their contents in the back of his diaries. This entry thus reads „10 Jan, Camerloher, Anfrage wegen Bab, Adrianople“. In addition, he often noted the date of the letter to which he was responding. 33) Camerloher, born in Liedolsheim, Bavaria in 1825, received Austrian citizenship simultaneously with his appointement as Austrian consul in Adrianople on 31 October 1859. Although knighted for services to the Imperial crown on 1 November 1869, he was consequently suspended on 3 December 1874 following the discovery that he had been embezzling official funds. He died shortly thereafter, on 29 June 1875. 34) Camerloher to Prokesch-Osten, 14 January 1866 Nachlaß Prokesch-Osten Consular & Diplomat. Correspondenz 1864-1871, HHStA: he reports that Bahá’u’lláh was banished due to his „reformatory sectarian endeavours with strong Sunni tendencies“. 35) Accoring to Adib Taherzadeh The Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh 2 Adrianople 1863- 1868 (Oxford 1977) 63, he was know as „Shaykh Effendi“; Rosenberg refers to him as „the Ishan“, The Bábí and Bahá’í Religions 1844-1944: Some Contemporary Western Accounts ed. Moojan Momen (Oxford 1981) 194ÍT. 36) Momen notes in Religions 188, that „this figure represents the sum of the monthly allowances payable to each member of Bahá’u’lláh’s familiy and those exiled with him.“ ‘All Pasha had informed Prokesch-Osten that the allowances were paid by the Persian government (diary entry, 8 January 1866). 37) „Barely thirty-six years of age“; Bahá’u’lláh was forty-nine at the time. 145
