The Armenians of Constantinople

Describing the Armenians of Constantinople, Edmondo de Amicis wrote in ‘Constantinople’: “In general they are tall of stature, robust, corpulent, light-skinned, grave and dignified in movement and manner. Their faces reveal two qualities which are particular to their nature; an open, quick, industrious and pertinacious spirit, with which they are wonderfully well suited to commerce, and that placidity—which some call pliant and servility—by means of which they succeed in insinuating themselves everywhere, from Hungary to China, and in rendering themselves acceptable, particularly to the Turk whose trust and good will they have gained as docile subjects and obsequious friends. They have neither in character nor appearance any trace of warlike or heroic qualities. Perhaps they were not so formerly in the Asian region from which they came, and indeed their brethren who remain there are said to be quite different, but the transplanted ones are truly a mild an prudent race, modest in their lives, with no ambitions beyond their business, and more sincerely pious, it is said, than any other people of Constantinople.”

Describing the Armenians of Constantinople, Edmondo de Amicis wrote in ‘Constantinople’: “In general they are tall of stature, robust, corpulent, light-skinned, grave and dignified in movement and manner. Their faces reveal two qualities which are particular to their nature; an open, quick, industrious and pertinacious spirit, with which they are wonderfully well suited to commerce, and that placidity—which some call pliant and servility—by means of which they succeed in insinuating themselves everywhere, from Hungary to China, and in rendering themselves acceptable, particularly to the Turk whose trust and good will they have gained as docile subjects and obsequious friends. They have neither in character nor appearance any trace of warlike or heroic qualities. Perhaps they were not so formerly in the Asian region from which they came, and indeed their brethren who remain there are said to be quite different, but the transplanted ones are truly a mild an prudent race, modest in their lives, with no ambitions beyond their business, and more sincerely pious, it is said, than any other people of Constantinople.”