Images of Islam, 1453—1600: Turks in Germany and Central Europe by Colding Smith Charlotte

Author:Colding Smith, Charlotte
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781317319627
Publisher: Taylor and Francis
Published: 2015-10-06T00:00:00+00:00

Figure 6.8: 'Janissary', in Đurdević and Melanchthon, Erzelung der Türckischen Keiser, fol. 26r. Courtesy of Herzog August Bibliothek, Wolfenbüttel, H: T 292.8°.

as an earlier study of the Ottoman Empire and its inhabitants.61 However, when published together with Melanchthon's genealogy and a list of Ottoman words and their translations, it was presented as part of a broader history of the rulers of the Ottoman Empire and their subjects.62

Conversely, several official histories and genealogies of the Ottoman Empire and its sultans were influenced by the printed images produced by Northern European and Italian artists who visited Constantinople.63 Details within the accompanying Ottoman miniatures resemble, for instance, profile depictions of faces of sultans, as in Bellini's medallion portraits, and large turbans, similar to those in Lorch's prints.64 An example of such an Ottoman genealogy is that of the first twelve sultans found in Kiyāfetü'l-Insānīye fī Şemāilü'l-'Osmānīye, written by Seyyid Lockmān, the official court historian during the reigns of Selim II (1566–74) and Murad III (1574–95) and illustrated by Nakkaş Osman.65 The earliest edition of this work dates from 1579–80 and several copies survive, including one in the British Museum dating from 1589.

Similar Ottoman histories from this period, which also contain portraits inspired by the medallions of sultans by European artists, include the Silsilenâyme, or genealogies, for instance the Süleymanname. These official histories also annotate the portraits with dates of birth, death, reign and other important events such as military conquests.66 Composed in Persian verse by Fethulah Arif Çelbi, the Süleymanname was the official history of the Ottoman Empire produced for the sultans; it was the fifth volume of the first illustrated history of the Ottoman dynasty illustrated by five unnamed artists.67 Most of the work focuses on the power of Sultan Suleiman and the Ottoman Empire. It also describes dissent and uprisings within the Ottoman Empire and the resulting punishment, including execution, of government officials in Syria, Egypt and Anatolia.68 It celebrates conquests over new territory, including that in the Balkans and Rhodes and victories in battle against Central European forces.69

In particular, over two folios the Süleymanname depict King Louis II of Hungary in the lead-up to the Siege of Mohačs and his eventual death in 1526.70 Showing the military tactics of the Ottoman army at Mohačs, it also indicates the larger number of modern weapons and horses possessed by the Ottoman army as compared to the Habsburg armies, who are depicted using swords. It differentiates between Ottoman and Central European figures by costume, with Ottomans wearing turbans or janissary hats and long robes, and the Habsburg soldiers in shorter clothes and armour. Such distinctions were also prominent in other sixteenth-century Ottoman manuscripts.71 The Süleymanname shows other battles between Habsburg and Ottoman armies, including the Siege and Fall of Buda and Pest.72 These images are only part of the larger history of the Ottoman Empire under Suleiman, beginning with the accession ceremonies of 1520 and ending in 1555 with the execution of the impersonator of Prince Mustapha.73 As such, they celebrate the sultan's

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