Suleyman An Overview

Suleyman the Magnificent...Suleyman Kanuni...the Law Giver was the greatest and noblest Ruler of the Sixteenth Century, or perhaps of any century.

Under Suleyman the Magnificent, Muslim rule was a meritocracy. Every office in the land but the Sultanate was open to all Muslims, Jews and converted Christians.

His determination to awe his people with Arms as well as Art led him to the very heights of both.

Loved and respected by his people, a feat difficult to accomplish, since Leaders are usually feared not loved. Under Suleyman the Muslims became the strongest people in Europe, if not the world. The Ottoman government which predated globalism by 470 years had shown itself in many instances more competent in statesmanship, finance and diplomacy than its rivals in Europe or in Asia.

Suleyman the Magnificent is a spellbinding but difficult subject. A writer must try to be impartial.It is difficult even after almost five centuries not to fall under Suleyman's magnetism.

This writer has felt the events and the protagonists living passionate and dramatic moments with the empathy of one who has come to learn that even the belief in reason can sometimes be precarious.

While we are all fragments of darkness groping for the light, Suleyman the Magnificent radiated more Light than most of us.

Suleyman's Signature

TO GOD THE MERCIFUL AND THE COMPASSIONATE.

You can learn a great deal about a person by how they sign their name.   But have you ever heard of any ruler that always used to sign his letters and correspondence in the following way?

I AM SULEYMAN

RULER OF THE WORLD

SLAVE OF GOD

GUARDIAN OF MECCA,MEDINA AND JERUSALEM

PROTECTOR OF ALL

MUSLIMS

CHRISTIANS

JUDEANS


This was not just propoganda  (or a "sound bite") this was the reality under Suleyman's rule, and just one of the reasons why I believe he was the greatest ruler of all time.

Letter to Pope Clement VII

Author's note: The signature is based on a photograph of Suleyman's Signature or Tugra (pronounced Tura) made from a document on file in Topkapi Palace, (Topkapa) Istanbul: one of the many places I went to as part of my research into Suleyman's life. I spent more time in Istanbul than in any other place, except perhaps Rome and Malta.

THE FOLLOWING IS A TRANSLATION OF A LETTER SENT BY SULEYMAN TO HIS HOLINESS, POPE CLEMENT VII, THE MEDICI POPE, AT THE TIME A PRISONER IN CASTEL SANT'ANGELO, WHILE THE TROOPS OF HIS MOST IMPERIAL CATHOLIC MAJESTY,( KNOWN AS THE LANDSKNECHT), CHARLES THE V, SACKED ROME IN 1529.


TO THE REPRESENTATIVE OF JESUS IN ROME, HIS HOLINESS CLEMENT VII.

AN ABOMINABLE ACT HAS BEEN COMMITTED AGAINST YOUR PERSON AND AGAINST YOUR CHURCH.

IN THE NAME OF GOD, THE MERCIFUl, AND THE COMPASSIONATE: I, SULEYMAN, WILL SEND MY FLEET TO ANCONA AS A SIGN OF MY PROTECTION AFTER YOUR APPEAL.

I AM SULEYMAN CONQUEROR OF CONQUERORS, SLAVE OF GOD. PROTECTOR OF MUSLIMS, CHRISTIANS AND JEWS. IN MY NAME, THE HUTBE IS READ IN MECCA AND MEDINA PRAYERS ARE RECITED FOR ME IN THE SYNAGOGUES AND CHURCHES OF JERUSALEM AND ISTANBUL. IN IRAN, CENTRAL ASIA AND MESOPOTAMIA, I AM THE SHAH. IN CHRISTIAN LANDS I AM CAESAR. IN EGYPT, MY ADMIRALS SEND FLEETS TO THE SEAS OF EUROPE, AFRICA AND INDIA. I AM HE, WHO TOOK THE CROWN AND THRONE OF HUNGARY AND GRANTED THEM TO A GIFTED SLAVE. THE VOLVODA PYOTR OF RUSSIA, RAISED HIS HEAD IN REVOLT BUT MY HORSE'S HOOF GROUND HIM INTO THE DUST THUS SPEAKS SULEYMANN. AS GOD IS HIS WITNESS.