Süleymanname is an illustrated manuscript chronicling the life and achievements of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent. Unfortunately, while copies exist and there are photographs of the illustrations, they are poor in both resolution and lighting.
In this post, we’ll look at the first 10 images from Süleymanname detailed with AI. Take a look here to see all the original images with more descriptions about the scenes. Click here for the Wikipedia article about the book.
This is the left page of a double-page spread from Süleymanname illustrating the accession ceremony of Süleyman I in the Topkapi Palace. The first courtyard of the palace with two gates is shown. In the foreground is the Bab-i Hümayun Gate, in the background is the Babüsselam Gate.
This is the right page of a double-page spread from Süleymanname illustrating the accession ceremony of Süleyman I in the Topkapi Palace.
After hearing about his father’s death, Süleyman arrived in Istanbul from Manisa (where he served as a governor) and ascended the golden throne in front of the Babüssaade (Gate of Felicity) at the Topkapı Palace. As part of the ceremony, the Şeyhülislam (Chief Cleric) and the Grand Vizier, along with other viziers and various governors were present in their assigned places. On the first page of the miniature, people of varying ages and professions chatter excitedly in small groups, in a chaotic and disorganised setting. On the second page, however, the figures sitting closer to the sultan are observing rules of propriety and decorum as demanded by the etiquette of the ceremony. Source: Reorient from Osmanlı Tasvir Sanatları
Janissary Recruitment, Balkans (Süleymanname). This scene depicts the “levying of children” or devşirme process used to recruit non-Muslim boys for service in the Ottoman army and bureaucracy. The boys dressed in red will become part of the Janissary class of elite slave state personnel and soldiers (kapıkulu). While some Christian families sought to have their children placed in the devşirme because of the power and opportunities enjoyed by these kapıkulus, in this image we see mothers asking about their boys and expressing their distress over their conscription. The boys are registered by the devşirme officer and allotted a certain amount of money for travel expenses. On their backs, the boys carry small packs filled with their possessions for the long journey to the capital. Once they arrive, they will be circumcised and commence training for different administrative and military posts. They are dressed in red in order to be easily identified should they escape. As the accompanying text indicates, boys could only be taken from families with more than one son. The boys were chosen on the basis of their intelligence and physical appearance and beauty, with ugly boys and orphans being deemed unfit for state service.
Referenced on p.12, ELI - 58 The Janissaries by David Nicolle and Christa Hook: The Devsirme or ‘Recruitment of Tribute Children’ in the Suleymanname of 1588. Boys in new red uniforms wait while the Devsirme Emini, a senior Janissary officer in charge of recruitment, sorts travel expenses for the boys to go to Istanbul. On the right a Janissary soldier, himself once recruited by the Devsirme, reassures an anxious mother and her black-robed priest. (Ms. Haz. 1517, f.31b, Topkapi Lib., Istanbul).
f.37b Meeting of the Divan. Süleymanname of 1558, Topkapi Saray Museum ms Hazine 1517.
f.38a, Meeting of the Divan, Topkapi Palace second courtyard. Süleymanname of 1558, Topkapi Saray Museum ms Hazine 1517.
f.56a, Damascus Beylerbey Canberdi Gazali. Süleymanname of 1558, Topkapi Saray Museum ms Hazine 1517.
Damascus Beylerbey Canberdi Gazali, who rebelled after the death of Yavuz Sultan Selim, sent an envoy and told the Egyptian Governor, Hayri Bey, to join the rebellion, and Hayri Bey had the envoy who brought this arrogant news divided into two and conveyed that he would not participate in the rebellion.
f.63b, Death of Canberdie Gazali. Süleymanname of 1558, Topkapi Saray Museum ms Hazine 1517.
f.71a, Süleyman entertained. Süleymanname of 1558, Topkapi Saray Museum ms Hazine 1517.
f.81a, Süleyman arriving at Böğürdelen/Szabács/Sabac on a military campagn in Balkans, 1521. Süleymanname of 1558, Topkapi Saray Museum ms Hazine 1517.
Execution of Prisoners, Belgrade (Süleymannâme). This scene depicts the execution of prisoners possibly near Belgrade. Süleyman is pictured in his royal tent while a prisoner is trampled by a rather sinister-looking elephant in the foreground. Worried prisoners watch anxiously in the lower right corner. Guards and other officials watch alongside soldiers and cavalry in the background. The elephant is commanded by an Asian trainer and two shirtless men.