The Embassy of Florio Beneveni in Bukhara (1718-1725)

XVIII. century was the century when Tsarist Russia experienced changes under the leadership of Petro I. In these years, which the policy of Turkestan has been comprehensively handled, As Petro's requests expeditions were organized to ancient settlements of Turks and officials were sent there. With these expeditions, it was aimed to gather information about the region and with the established intercommunications of state officials intended to develop the communication with Turk Khanates. As the subject of the study Florio Beneveni was also one of these officials whom had been sent to those regions for the same reasons in XVIII. century. The study conducts the purpose of Beneveni's mission on the region and about the journeys which he attempt to Bukhara through Iran. Besides study also mentions his capture in Iran and the times he had spent in Bukhara. Beneveni, had been in these regions when The Khanate of Bukhara was actually in the middle of political and social turmoil. Nevertheless, he had been keeping working intensively and he completely meets the expectations and the questions of Tsar. His work has important details on the political economy and the wealth of the region. That is why his work is important for us to evaluate when analyzing the region. The study will also mention how he had become an ambassador and will mention his other duties as well. Also, the information given about the Ottoman State was also taken into consideration and it is also evaluated how this information affected the Turk-Russian relations throughout the years. The study will also indicate how the internal turmoil effect Beneveni's work the study also conducts the reflection of the information given by Beneveni about the geography of Hive and Bukhara Khanests on the other studies, In the final analysis, will be based on the necessity of translating the reports of Beneveni into Turkish language was emphasized.

Keywords

General Turkish History, Florio Beneveni, Petro I, Tsarist Russia, Bukhara Khanate, Embassy.