Roberto Mazza – författare

Led by General Allenby, British troops entered Jerusalem in December 1917, thereby ending Ottoman rule and opening a new and important era in the history of Jerusalem. This historical moment has often been described as the beginning of a period of great change and transformation, depicting the British as the real modernisers of Jerusalem. In this study, Mazza does not offer just another history of Jerusalem. He focuses on the often neglected transition from Ottoman rule to British administration, examining the impact of the First World War and considering the socio-political changes which occurred as a result of the transition. He also considers the impact of these changes on the local population and how they, in turn, could act as agents of change in this formative period. He discusses the role of the British in Jerusalem as well as reactions to the occupation in Britain. Through the extensive use of case studies and unpublished archival material from Spain and Vatican archives, Mazza takes a fresh approach to this period of Jerusalem's history; focusing on a previously overlooked area and opening the field to new perspectives and research.

After the British occupation of Jerusalem in December 1917, the newly appointed governor Ronald Storrs met with the Spanish consul Conde de Ballobar. Over a glass of wine, the two men discussed politics and the future of Palestine. Storrs later reported in his extremely popular memoir, that Ballobar wrote a diary which according to him was not going to be published in his lifetime. It took several decades before the diary was in fact published in 1996 in Spanish. In this book, Roberto Mazza introduces the reader to the diary of Ballobar, available in English here for the first time, and provides a comprehensive historical background for readers in search of a fresh perspective on late Ottoman Jerusalem. In the autumn of 1914, Antonio de la Cierva y Lewita, better known as Conde de Ballobar, was sent to Jerusalem to take charge of the Spanish consulate in the city. He found himself at the centre of the socio-political life in Jerusalem and began to record events, experiences and opinions in a diary that has become an invaluable resource. The diary provides unique insight into late Ottoman Jerusalem - and the upheavals of wartime life in the city - and includes a detailed account of the battle amongst the local churches over control of the city's holy places. Also touching upon the development of Zionism and the establishment of British rule, Ballobar writes as a privileged observer of an exceptionally complex historical period.Jerusalem in World War I offers a precious record of events and insights on episodes and people often neglected due to a lack of original source material. Ballobar presents a vivid picture of a lively and dynamic city, making it unavoidable to draw parallels with the contemporary conflict and divisions. This book will be essential reading for students and scholars of the late-Ottoman Empire and World War I in the Middle East.

In December 1917, British troops entered Jerusalem, thereby ending Ottoman rule and opening a new and important era in the history of Jerusalem. Roberto Mazza discusses the period of transition from Ottoman rule to the British administration, focusing on the socio-political changes from the nineteenth century to the twentieth, the impact of the First World War and the ongoing development of Jerusalem into the vibrant city it has become. He considers the impact of the change in administration on the local population and uses case studies to provide new perspectives on this often overlooked period in Jerusalem's history.

When World War I broke out in Europe in the autumn of 1914, a young diplomat was sent to Jerusalem to take charge of the Spanish consulate in the city. Antonio de la Cierva y Lewita, better known as Conde de Ballobar, recorded the events he witnessed and described his experiences and opinions in a unique document that has become an invaluable resource for historians. Ballobar's diary provides an unparalleled insight into late Ottoman Jerusalem - and the upheavals of wartime life in the city - and includes a detailed account of the battle amongst the local churches over control of the city's holy places. Also touching upon the spread of Zionism and the establishment of British rule, Ballobar writes as a privileged observer of an exceptionally complex historical period. Available in English for the first time, this book will be essential reading for students and scholars of the late-Ottoman Empire and World War I in the Middle East.

When World War I broke out in Europe in the autumn of 1914, a young diplomat was sent to Jerusalem to take charge of the Spanish consulate in the city. Antonio de la Cierva y Lewita, better known as Conde de Ballobar, recorded the events he witnessed and described his experiences and opinions in a unique document that has become an invaluable resource for historians. Ballobar's diary provides an unparalleled insight into late Ottoman Jerusalem - and the upheavals of wartime life in the city - and includes a detailed account of the battle amongst the local churches over control of the city's holy places. Also touching upon the spread of Zionism and the establishment of British rule, Ballobar writes as a privileged observer of an exceptionally complex historical period. Available in English for the first time, this book will be essential reading for students and scholars of the late-Ottoman Empire and World War I in the Middle East.