Journey to the holy land: jerusalem travels of some emperors, crown princes and dignitaries (1855-1901)

People from different parts of the world have been visiting Jerusalem for the purposes of becoming pilgrims, seeing historical and sacred sites, and satisfying their curiosities from the past to recent days. Emperors, crown princes and dignitaries had also visited Jerusalem as ordinary people have done. While, however, ordinary people have been motivated by religious sentiments, emperors, crown princes and dignitaries, in addition to religious sentiments, have been motivated by political factors as well. Visitors to Jerusalem have also supported the members of their own religions and religioussects both financially and spiritually. Based on the Ottoman archives, thisstudy aims to identify the emperors, crown princes and dignitaries who visited Jerusalem between1855-1901, and focuses on their activities whilethey were in Jerusalem. While, however, the Ottoman archives give information on theidentity of theroyal visitors, they fail to provide us sufficiently with theinfor- mation on thereal purposes of their visits.