Osman was born in Temeşvar (
Timișoara),
Temeşvar Eyalet (now in western
Romania), probably in a family of
Ottoman Serbian origin. He spoke
German,
Serbo-Croatian,
Hungarian, and understood
Romanian. Temesvár was inhabited by Romanians, Serbs, and Hungarians at the time and had been conquered by the Ottoman Empire in 1552. Osman Aga was a low-ranking army officer in Temeşvar who excelled in learning foreign languages and
equitation. After the unsuccessful
Siege of Vienna in 1683, the tide turned and the
Holy League of
European nations began to force the Ottomans out of
Hungary during the
Great Turkish War between 1683–1699.
Military service The Austrians were unable to capture Temeşvar during the war. In 1688, Osman's squadron of 80 men were tasked with delivering the salaries of army officers to
Lipova, Arad, just north of Temeşvar. They were attacked by superior Austrian Forces in
Arad County. The city council decided to surrender, leading Osman to become a prisoner-of-war at the age of 18. After the
Treaty of Karlowitz, he returned to Temeşvar in 1700.
Austrian-Ottoman War and later life besieged
Belgrade in 1717, during the
Austro-Turkish War of 1716-18. As a result of the German he had learned during his servitude, he became the official
dragoman (translator) of Temeşvar and served in several diplomatic missions to Austria. However, his newly-comfortable lifestyle was shattered at the outbreak of a new war between the Ottomans and the Austrians in 1715. This time
Eugene Savoy of Austria captured Temeşvar in 1716. Osman Aga fled to
Belgrade (now in
Serbia). Despite Osman Aga's retreat, Belgrade shared the same fate in 1717. Shortly before the final assault of the Austrians on Belgrade, they blew up the ammunition dump of the fort on 14 August 1717. This resulted in the deaths of 3,000 people, which included most of Osman's family. After the loss of Belgrade, he served in
Vidin (now in
Bulgaria) and then came to
Istanbul, where he continued his civil service as dragoman. == Work ==