Avedis Ohanyan Çakır who began operating at this historic location in 1942,named the patisserie Markiz Marquise (Marquise) because he aspired to capture the quality of the Paris-made 'Marquise de Sevigne’ chocolates[2].Markiz’s caramels, chocolates, candies and special pastries were served on Limoges and Havilland china at the five o'clock teas frequented by Istanbul's most fashionable ladies in an elegant setting complemented by Degugis crystal and Christofle silver
Born 6 April 1836 - Bourlon, 62860, Pas-de-Calais, Hauts-de-France, FRANCE
Deceased 23 September 1903 - Constantinople, Istanbul, TURQUIE, aged 67 years old
Cuisinier
Parents: Charles Louis BOURDON, Victoire Cunégonde CLOUET
Spouses and children
Married 3 August 1861, Constantinople, Istanbul, TURQUIE, to Joséphine Désirée Barbe DUMONT 1846-1878 (Parents : Louis Maximilien Joseph DUMONT 1816-1864 & Joséphine LAMBERGER 1824-1910) with
F Eugénie "Victoire" Louise BOURDON 1862-1893 Married 9 February 1888, Ste Marie Drapéris - Constantinople, Istanbul, TURQUIE, to Joseph "Alfred" DUBOIS
M Charles Louis BOURDON 1863-1863
F Léonilde Caroline Joséphine Emilie BOURDON 1864-
M Jules "Henri" BOURDON 1868-1935 Married 5 September 1899, Constantinople, Istanbul, TURQUIE, to Marguerite Henriette DECUGIS 1879-
[1] Horace François Bastien Sébastiani de La Porta (Corsican: Oraziu Francescu Bastianu Sebastiani De A Porta; 11 November 1771 – 20 July 1851) was a French general, diplomat, and politician, who served as Naval Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Minister of State under the July Monarchy.
Having joined the French Revolutionary Army in his youth, Sébastiani rose through its ranks before becoming a supporter of Napoleon Bonaparte. Sébastiani was the French Consulate's emissary to The Levant, notably drafting plans to reconquer Ottoman Egypt, and later served as the Empire's Ambassador to The Porte. In the latter capacity, he attempted to increase French influence and signaled pro-Russian activities in the Danubian Principalities, thus provoking the War of 1806–1812. In 1807, Sébastiani organized the defense of Constantinople during the Dardanelles Operation. Recalled due to British pressure after the deposition of Selim III, he served in the Peninsular War and resided in the Alhambra, took part in the unsuccessful invasion of Russia, and defended the Champagne region in front of the Sixth Coalition.
(Portrait as Marshal by Winterhalter (1841). Sébastiani is depicted with the Bosphorus and the Hagia Sophia in the background, referring to his role as ambassador to the Ottoman Empire from 1806 to 1808)
Sébastiani persuaded the Ottomans to take a stand against Russia after bringing attention to the anti-Ottoman conspiracy in Wallachia, formed around Prince Constantine Ypsilantis, as well as to the suspicious policies of Moldavia's Prince Alexander Mourousis. According to the aristocratic Wallachian memoirist and politician Ion Ghica, Selim "followed the advice of General Sébastiani, who tried to bring him to Napoleon's side", and saw a connection between Ypsilantis and the Serbian Uprising:
"He felt that [Ypsilantis] sided with the Russians and had an understanding with Pazvantoğlu of Vidin and with Czerny-George the Serbian, both of whom had rebelled against The Porte."
The conflict itself started when Russia considered Ypsilantis' deposition to go against the letter of the Treaty of Küçük Kaynarca and the Treaty of Jassy. While the Russian Count and Ambassador Arbuthnot prepared to leave Constantinople, The Porte convened to have the two Princes reinstated. Despite this, Russian troops under General Ivan Michelson and Count Mikhail Miloradovich entered the two Danubian Principalities (see Russo-Turkish War (1806–12)). Prince Ypsilantis had previously escaped to the Russian camp, and was briefly considered by his allies as ruler over both principalities (just before Russian occupation took over); the French Consul to Moldavia, Charles-Frédéric Reinhard, reportedly not informed of Sébastiani's contacts with Selim, was arrested by the Russian troops. As a major consequence of this chain of events, France pulled the strings of Ottoman foreign policy.
During the parallel Anglo-Turkish War in 1807, Sébastiani helped the Ottomans in the successful defense of Constantinople against the British squadron of Admiral Duckworth. The British bombardment, coming at a time when the Muslim population was celebrating Eid al-Adha, was met with panic, and Sébastiani's group of French military officers was soon the only organized force present on the European side. In his messages to Selim, Sir John Duckworth asked for the French ambassador to be removed, for the Ottoman fleet and the Dardanelles military facilities to be handed over, and for Russia to be granted rule over Wallachia and Moldavia. The Sultan sent envoys requesting Sébastiani to leave Ottoman territory, but the French Ambassador explained that he would not do so until being ordered by Selim himself.
As the matter was being debated, Janissary forces on the Anatolian shore organized themselves, and, once increased in strength, began responding to the attack. Selim subsequently asked Sébastiani and his men (including Louis Gustave le Doulcet and José Martínez Hervás, marquis d'Alménara [es], as well as the embassy's secretary Florimond de Faÿ de La Tour-Maubourg [fr]), to oversee Constantinople's defense and the line of fire nearby Topkapı Palace, organizing maneuvers which caused Duckworth to withdraw.
In 1806, Sébastiani married Jeanne-Françoise-Antoinette (Fanny) Franquetot de Coigny [fr], only daughter of François-Henri de Franquetot, marquis de Coigny). She died in childbirth while in Constantinople, just a few days before the Sultan was deposed (14 April 1807), and left Sébastiani a large fortune. Upon hearing news of her death, Sultan Selim transmitted condolences through his Grand Dragoman.
Embassy to Mustafa IV
The successful rebellion led by Kabakçı Mustafa and the Janissary troops put an end to French diplomatic success. Sébastiani negotiated with Kabakçı, while the British sought support from various factions inside Constantinople[ — the Grand Dragoman, Aleko Soutzos [el], eventually informed the French Ambassador on the parallel British projects. This resulted in Soutzos' beheading — that which, in Ion Ghica's version of events, caused the Soutzos family to abandon their commitment to France and begin supporting Russia. According to the Revue des Deux Mondes biography, Sébastiani had betrayed Aleko Soutzos' confidence by revealing as many details of Anglo-Ottoman negotiations as to render it clear that the Dragoman had been acting as his spy, and by failing to respect the promise of French protection.
Under the new monarch, Mustafa IV, he attempted to impose a pro-French pasha as governor of Baghdad, and later provoked a scandal by asking for the Imperial Executioner, the Bostanji-bashi, to be demoted—this came after three Ragusan subjects, having been found guilty of theft, were subjected to the falaka torture, despite the facts that the recent annexation of Ragusa by France offered them a degree of immunity. As a result of his pressures, Sébastiani obtained rule over the province of Baghdad for his favorite, and, in return, allowed the Bostanji-bashi to remain in office.
He asked to be recalled in April 1807, being replaced by Chargé d'affaires Faÿ de La Tour Maubourg. This departure was also prompted by renewed British requests. Shortly before his leaving, Sultan Mustafa awarded Sébastiani the Order of the Crescent 1st Class, which has been interpreted as a measure to alleviate the impact of British successes.[4] According to other accounts, Mustafa himself had become deeply dissatisfied with Sébastiani's interventions and policies. Upon his return to France, Sébastiani received the Grand Aigle de la Légion d'honneur. The Revue des Deux Mondes speculated that, based on the Corsican heritage he shared with Sébastiani:
"the Emperor would often keep his eyes closed in respect to his Generals' mistakes.
As for [Sébastiani's] diplomatic skills, Napoleon was so affected that he sent him to the arms as soon as he returned from the Orient, and did not assign him to any negotiations until his fall [of 1814]."
[2] Marquise de Sévigné Founded in Royat (Auvergne department) in 1892 by Clémentine and Auguste Rouzaud, Marquise de Sévigné chocolates, with their signature blue boxes, are among the most recognisable French chocolates. Back in the day, Auguste made the chocolates and Clémentine took care of the marketing.
The brand ‘Marquise de Sévigné’saw the light of day in 1898. That year, Madame Rouzaud opened a summer shop in Vichy during her summer retreat.Whilst watching a performance of ‘Cyrano de Bergerac’ at the theatre, Madame Rouzaud wanted to show her admiration for Edmond Rostand who was staying at the Sévigné pavilion and said“that’s a name that would sound good for sweets”. From that blend of both literature and confectionary arose a brand, a style and then great success. Marie, the Marquise de Sévigné, became the worthy inspiration for the couple of chocolate makers and the muse of an excellent chocolate brand.
Madame of Sévigné, who was a famous 17th century letter-writer, often praised the benefits of chocolate in famous letters addressed to her daughter. As a smiling figure of an era when the art of living was one of society’s major obsessions, she embodies a continuous search for refinement and finesse in the French chocolate specialities of which she has become the perfect ambassador all over the world.