Válka slovansko-muslimská - Část první – Ruffer Eduard (2024)

The book describes the struggle of the Balkan nations for freedom against the occupation by the Muslim Ottoman Empire in the 19th century and may even serve as a firsthand account, as it is possible that the author moved in the area, although I found no direct evidence for this; it only emerges from certain passages of his book. Overall, however, very little information is available about the author's life, so his presence in the Balkans cannot be confirmed or denied. The work of Eduard Rüffer is thus not only a significant historical testimony about the politics of the 19th century but also an important work capturing the social situation of that time, including a very strong anti-Jewish stance that Rüffer adopts in the book, where he often labels Jews (sometimes justifiably) as political enemies of Christians and allies of the Muslims - Ottomans. However, Rüffer does not spare the Slavic nations either and describes their social distinctiveness from the Albanians, among whom national cohesion is more important than religious beliefs: "Arnaut (the Czech term for Albanians in the 19th century) never asks his companion what his religion is; it suffices for him to know what nationality he is. For example, when a Turk threatens a Christian Arnaut with death, and another Arnaut appears at that moment, regardless of religion...