Suleiman the Magnificent

This replica from the 16th century exhibited in your room is of one of the 87 talismanic shirts from the Collection of Sultan’s Clothing at Topkapi Palace and it is considered to have belonged to Sultan Suleiman according to the prayers, motives and meanings of the talisman on the shirt and therefore was adorned with one of his poems…

With this Talisman, may the victory be yours in every war you fight…

Known as Suleiman the Magnificent in the west and Suleiman the Lawgiver in the east because of his fair leadership, he was a successful soldier, mighty sultan and one of a kind statesman…

He was also a man of romance and a poet himself who valued arts and artists. Their legendary love with his last wife Hurrem Sultan gained a place in history.

Hurrem Sultan was an infamously beautiful woman originally from Ruhtenia, then a part of Poland. She drew all the attention of the Sultan with her beauty, intelligence and femininity and gained a special place for herself in the harem and then she became Sultan Suleiman's legal wife. Yet she was not just a wife to the Sultan, she was a woman who was madly in love with Sultan Suleiman and would do everything for her love. Hurrem Sultan who wished her one and only love Sultan Suleiman whose life was spent in campaigns would always come back to her safe and sound and victorious therefore she requested a talismanic shirt from the Head Augur.

After long and toilsome rituals, Sultan Suleiman’s shirt was finished by tens of unknown skilful hands and Hurrem’s prayer was that; Sultan Suleiman would come home victorious, safe and sound from every battle he fights. It was obvious that the shirt was related to the star system considering its motives largely based on stars and other symbols of sky. On the other hand, infinity idea in Islam was put forward through the infinite geometrical patterns that dominate the ornament. Now it was time to send this exclusive shirt of the 16th century to its owner. Sultan Suleiman would wear this shirt and the prayers would keep him safe…

Days and months passed. Hurrem was able to console herself with only the occasional letters she could get from her one and only love. Then one day she heard the victory news. She was overjoyed that her love, her life was returning home… She was euphoric. With never-ending fire and yearning in her heart, she took her pen and wrote her love a letter in the dead of the night:

My Sultan, My Emperor;

“After I put my head to the ground and kiss the soil under your feet blessed with your touch, the sun of my nation and the cause of my happiness, if you ask about me, your servant who has caught on fire from the zeal of missing you, whose heart is ripped apart, whose chest is ruined, whose eyes are filled with water, who cannot say if it is day or night, who was thrown in the sea of yearning, who is desperate, mad with your love, worse than Ferhat and Mejnun*; I am a nightingale whose cries would not die since I was separated from you, being away from you put me in a state I wouldn’t wish even on my worst enemy.

My nation, my sultan, since I have not heard a word from you after one and a half months, God knows I have not had a moment of peace, I have cried day and night, forgotten my life; whole world became small in my tearful eyes, I was helplessly looking at the doors when Mighty Lord of the universe, my Glorious God who gives his mercy upon everyone, who blesses everyone brought me the word of your victory. And only he knows I was dead, my sultan, my emperor, I came back to life again after hearing from you…”

You can find one of the poems of Sultan Suleiman the Lawgiver for his precious love Hurrem on this shirt presented in your room…

*Aslı & Ferhat and Leyla & Mejnun are two legendary couples in Turkish history such like Romeo and Juliet.

HASAN PASHA of MOREA

This replica exhibited in your room is of one of the 87 talismanic shirts from the Collection of Sultan’s Clothing at Topkapi Palace and belongs to Hasan Pasha of Morea, one of the grand viziers of the 18th Century…

I have a request from Sultan Mustafa… May my love, my affection touch Sultan Mustafa’s heart with this talisman… May my soul walk on the same path as his soul…

His story started in Morea… He was taken into the palace and educated at Enderun School. He was smart, cautious and generous. He was someone following his dreams. He wanted to be talked about, respected and have a status. Thus, he started to make his dreams reality.

He became an armorer during the reign of Sultan Mehmed IV. Then he was let out of the palace as the Governor of Egypt during the reign of Sultan Suleiman II.

During these times it was known that the daughter of Mehmed IV Hatice Sultan married Mustafa Pasha the Courageous of Merzifon with a glorious wedding. However the young woman became a widow after the unfortunate death of Pasha during one of his battles.

Hasan Pasha was now at the top of his ambition for status and power… After a while, he reached his dreams with a marriage. Sultan Suleiman II had him marry young, beautiful and smart Hatice Sultan. He was now one of the grooms of the palace.

Yet he had never-ending wishes. Years had passed and he still was not made the grand vizier, his biggest desire. This desire lasted during the reign of Mustafa II after Suleiman II but it was yet to happen…

Pasha wanted to have a shirt tailored to tell these feelings and thoughts…

The Head Augur designated propitious moment for prayers to be effective according to Sultan Mustafa’s birth date and horoscope. Cotton fabrics were weaved according to rituals and prepared to be written on. Black, red and gold coloured inks were used. The words on the shirt read Hasan Pasha’s calling out Sultan Mustafa and his desire to become the grand vizier. All the prayers asked for the love and affection of His Highness, a touch of the heart of his servant. He was begging “Make my soul walk on the same path as his soul”…

Finally his dreams came true and he made grand vizier. However his extreme ambition prevented him from staying there for so long… He was dismissed from this position and relocated to the governorship of Tripoli, Egypt. However, he died of plague after a while…

Hasan Pasha did not see Hatice Sultan only as a step to his dreams. He truly loved her, he was bound to her with love. There is no information if he used poetry to tell his deep feelings for her. But for not to ignore this big love and in the name of respect for love, we used a poem on the shirt telling the love of Ibrahim Pasha for another Hatice Sultan, the daughter of Selim I, by asking for your forgiveness…

II. BAYEZID

This replica from 16th Century exhibited in your room is of one of the 87 talismanic shirts from the Collection of Sultan’s Clothing at Topkapi Palace and it is considered to have belonged to Bayezid II according to the prayers, motives and meanings of the talisman and therefore was adorned with one of his poems…

May this talisman protect you, bring you victory, health, happiness and fortune… May it be your bliss and wealth…

He was just 7 years old when he became the governor of Amasya. All of the famous scholars of the time were impressed by him. He was exceptionally educated in philosophy, mathematics, calligraphy as well as in Persian and Arabic. He learned the dialect of Cagatay and alphabet of Uygur, two old dynasties in Turkish history. He was a religious person, a musician and calligrapher… He became a successful statesman. He fought various wars for his nation. He was, in addition to all these, a man of art… His interest in architecture and poetry was resounded. He was so interested that at a time when the city went through one of the strongest earthquakes of the time and the destroyed city was built again with massive perseverance and endeavour.

Having interest in science and arts, Sultan Bayezid II was also a hunting enthusiast. One day while he was coming back from hunting, he smelled something alluring, magical and peaceful in the air. He took a deep breath and questioned where the smell was coming from. He, then, turned towards the house of a person called “Gül Baba” with the direction of his Grand Vizier. He walked in to the house saying “Accept my greetings, the brave soldier who rocks the ground he steps in the war, who turns the place he lives into a rose garden.” Everywhere was surrounded by beautiful flowers. It was Gül Baba’s house… He invited this respectable person in to his palace to take him under his care. However, Gül Baba had rather another wish instead of moving to the palace. The man with the whitest beard, with the brightest face wished a school to be built where there his house now after he dies… He offered the Sultan a bouquet of yellow and red roses and he sent him off after a pleasant conversation. Bayezid II fulfilled Gül Baba’s wish short while following his death and today’s Galatasaray High School which takes its colours from the yellow and red roses rising from Gül Baba’s garden was built.

Everyone wished a longer enthronement in the palace of a such merciful and good person. Therefore many talismanic shirts were weaved for Sultan Bayezid… Some would protect him during the wars, some would give him health, some would protect him from the evil eyes. And this shirt is the one to give him power and bring him victories in the wars he fights… Yet again another story of a shirt started. There were prayers, goodwills on it… The Head Augur completed his works, the cloths were weaved and calligraphers took their pens and inks in hand and started to adorn the shirt. The shirt was garnished with yellow stars and flower patterns and coloured with the power of colour blue. This shirt weaved only for Sultan Bayezid was finally read to wear… The time passed so quickly that it was 31 years of Sultan Bayezid’s reign… Unfortunately when his final days on the throne of Sultan Bayezid came closer, his astute son Selim who was also supported by the janissaries was invited to Istanbul. Selim appeared before Sultan Bayezid and kissed hands on April 24. “Do not leave the path of justice, be merciful to those in need and incapable. Show compassion to the helpless, if you want to be respected, show respect; do not resort to unkind actions unless it is necessary.” Bayezid told his son Selim who was standing in front of him hands clasped and after saying many prayers, he handed over his sultanate, his reign to his son…

This shirt presented in your room along with the poem…. of also a skilful poet Sultan Bayezid is again a special handicraft…

CEM SULTAN

This replica from 16th Century exhibited in your room is of one of the 87 talismanic shirts from the Collection of Sultan’s Clothing at Topkapi Palace belonged to the son of Mehmet II, Sultan Cem and therefore is adorned with one of his poems...

May this Talisman protect you… Give you power and strength

The sun was on the first zodiac sign; Aries. Aries is a sign featuring a structure as solid as mine, a fiery nature and changeability. 19th degree of Aries was the sun’s culmination point meaning its propitious moment. The shirt started to be weaved on 30th of March 1477, on a Sunday night when the clock hit 03.57. The shirt was finished on 29th of March 1480, on a Tuesday night at 12.36 and the sun was again on Aries and its 19th degree .

It was weaved according to the rituals, the white cambric…

And then, its story started… Black, red and gold coloured prayers were calligraphed on the powerful blue talismanic shirt. On the left shoulder side of the original shirt, a wish read “May Sultan Cem’s nation last forever” surrounded by other prayers wishing protection and victories during the wars he fights. Right in the middle of the shirt the Seal of Solomon Talisman shaped as two concentric triangles was placed with protection and luck prayers in it. There were also wood, mine and carpet patterns on the lines connecting the circles that create squares on the surface.

Sultan Cem, son of Mehmed the Conqueror and his wife Cicek Hatun was handsomely tall; he had blue eyes and long eyelashes, full lips slightly curling to the left, hooked nose reminiscent of his father’s, small ears and chin, sparse beard; he was agile and imperturbable. He was restrained and demure, he was a fiery man of his word.

He was a son of Ottoman Empire who made people wish that he was there, that he stayed. He was in love with art. Interest in Renaissance art in Ottoman Empire during his time was felt while it reduced after his death. He was curious to learn both western and eastern sciences and a venturous warrior.

Unfortunate series of event led him away from home for long years. Twelve years of longing became unbearable for his aching heart…

It was dawn, the deather was foggy and chilly… He listened to the sound of his heart, dipped his pen in ink and started to write… His yearnings for his family, his home, his wishes of being finally reunited with his love… He departed this life after a few days of such sorrow…

He voiced his love and affection for his love through a poem…

Oh my love, your sweet lips will bring me to infinity,
The colour of your cheeks like the sun will shine brightly…

Unfortunately Sultan Cem’s tragic course of life never let him wear the talismanic shirt that was made for him…

Suleiman the Magnificent

This replica from the 16th century exhibited in your room is of one of the 87 talismanic shirts from the Collection of Sultan’s Clothing at Topkapi Palace and it is considered to have belonged to Sultan Suleiman according to the prayers, motives and meanings of the talisman on the shirt and therefore was adorned with one of his poems…

With this Talisman, may the victory be yours in every war you fight…

Known as Suleiman the Magnificent in the west and Suleiman the Lawgiver in the east because of his fair leadership, he was a successful soldier, mighty sultan and one of a kind statesman…

He was also a man of romance and a poet himself who valued arts and artists. Their legendary love with his last wife Hurrem Sultan gained a place in history.

Hurrem Sultan was an infamously beautiful woman originally from Ruhtenia, then a part of Poland. She drew all the attention of the Sultan with her beauty, intelligence and femininity and gained a special place for herself in the harem and then she became Sultan Suleiman's legal wife. Yet she was not just a wife to the Sultan, she was a woman who was madly in love with Sultan Suleiman and would do everything for her love.

Hurrem Sultan who wished her one and only love Sultan Suleiman whose life was spent in campaigns would always come back to her safe and sound and victorious therefore she requested a talismanic shirt from the Head Augur.

After long and toilsome rituals, Sultan Suleiman’s shirt was finished by tens of unknown skilful hands and Hurrem’s prayer was that; Sultan Suleiman would come home victorious, safe and sound from every battle he fights. It was obvious that the shirt was related to the star system considering its motives largely based on stars and other symbols of sky. On the other hand, infinity idea in Islam was put forward through the infinite geometrical patterns that dominate the ornament. Now it was time to send this exclusive shirt of the 16th century to its owner. Sultan Suleiman would wear this shirt and the prayers would keep him safe…

After long and toilsome rituals, Sultan Suleiman’s shirt was finished by tens of unknown skilful hands and Hurrem’s prayer was that; Sultan Suleiman would come home victorious, safe and sound from every battle he fights. It was obvious that the shirt was related to the star system considering its motives largely based on stars and other symbols of sky. On the other hand, infinity idea in Islam was put forward through the infinite geometrical patterns that dominate the ornament. Now it was time to send this exclusive shirt of the 16th century to its owner. Sultan Suleiman would wear this shirt and the prayers would keep him safe…

My Sultan, My Emperor;

“After I put my head to the ground and kiss the soil under your feet blessed with your touch, the sun of my nation and the cause of my happiness, if you ask about me, your servant who has caught on fire from the zeal of missing you, whose heart is ripped apart, whose chest is ruined, whose eyes are filled with water, who cannot say if it is day or night, who was thrown in the sea of yearning, who is desperate, mad with your love, worse than Ferhat and Mejnun*; I am a nightingale whose cries would not die since I was separated from you, being away from you put me in a state I wouldn’t wish even on my worst enemy.

My nation, my sultan, since I have not heard a word from you after one and a half months, God knows I have not had a moment of peace, I have cried day and night, forgotten my life; whole world became small in my tearful eyes, I was helplessly looking at the doors when Mighty Lord of the universe, my Glorious God who gives his mercy upon everyone, who blesses everyone brought me the word of your victory. And only he knows I was dead, my sultan, my emperor, I came back to life again after hearing from you…”

You can find one of the poems of Sultan Suleiman the Lawgiver for his precious love Hurrem on this shirt presented in your room…

*Aslı & Ferhat and Leyla & Mejnun are two legendary couples in Turkish history such like Romeo and Juliet.

Suleiman the Lawgiver

This replica from the 16th century exhibited in your room is of one of the 87 talismanic shirts from the Collection of Sultan’s Clothing at Topkapi Palace and it is considered to have belonged to Sultan Suleiman according to the prayers, motives and meanings of the talisman on the shirt and therefore was adorned with one of his poems…

May this Talisman make your justice everlasting, clear your path; keep the evil away, give you infinite health…

He was called the Lawgiver because of his understanding of justice. He was called Suleiman the Magnificent not only in his homeland but in every end of the world, because of the actions he took…

He was an uncommon Sultan who was smart, gentle and wise; a friend for all poets; whose actions and words were kind; whose heart was home to all monetary and moral favours.

He had countless mosques, schools, baths and fountains built on almost every corner of his country. It was one of his biggest monuments, the infamous The Blue Mosque built by Sinan the Architect. During his time the grandness of Turks was proved. Great Sinan the Architect presented his grandiose work of art to his Sultan saying “ Oh my Sultan, I built you such a mosque that it will stand still until the end of all times.”.

He was the 10th Sultan of Ottoman Empire… He was a legend, his signature was there under everything… Prayers were said all over the homeland for him to come victorious out of every battle and continue his enthronement. A shirt was tailored for him. A shirt from cambric… Many toilsome days, months and years passed. The shirt was graced with prayers to keep its owner safe and healthy. Talisman must protect him, give him health… There was more to do for his country… On upper right and left sides of the shirt were there Seal of Solomon… It was a symbol of power and greatness… And the prayers were good wishes from God…

Suleiman was ill, he was walking, one day, along the matchlessly beautiful gardens of Topkapi Palace. All those various flowers were forerunners of spring. His love Hurrem and his country were his two biggest irreplaceable desires… Along with many other characteristics he had, Suleiman the Magnificent was a great poet; he sat, that day, at the arbour and voiced his infamous verses…

“There isn't another respected value like power among people
Power isn't worth as much as a breath of health in this world”

“Happiness and blessings come along with bitterness and pain in life. People may encounter many troubles and unfortunate events. However, nothing is as important as health. One single breath must be valued so much; the whole world means nothing to the dead” said Suleiman the Magnificent.

There is a poem Suleiman penned for his love Hurrem on the shirt presented in your room…

SELIM III

This replica from the 19th century exhibited in your room is of one of the 87 talismanic shirts from the Collection of Sultan’s Clothing at Topkapi Palace and it is considered to have belonged to Selim III according to the prayers, motives and meanings of the talisman on the shirt and therefore was adorned with one of his poems…

May this Talisman protect you from the evil and those that are poisonous like scorpions and snakes…

Sultan Selim III was born in Istanbul on December 24, 1761. His father was Sultan Mustafa III and his mother was Sultan Mihrisah…

His father Sultan Mustafa III who believed in oracles urging him that his newborn Selim was going to be a unprecedented Sultan and upon these words, Sultan Mustafa euphorically ordered festivals lasting seven days and nights. Sultan Selim III grew up in such environment, was raised carefully at the Palace. His father wished his son Sultan Selim III to ascend the throne after himself. However following the unfortunate death of his father, Selim III could not inherit the Sultanate because of his uncle’s right to the throne…

A long and uneasy waiting started for his mother Sultan Mihrisah… There was so much to fight for her to witness his son reigning… After 15 years, finally luck was on the side of Selim III…

Istanbul was shaking by the sound of celebration shootings… These shootings were for the enthronement of Sultan Selim III. It was a sunny day when the Eunuch came running to her room while Sultan Mihrisah was laying on her sofa; as she greeted him, she started to listen his words with bated breath. He was giving the good news with shining eyes: My Sultan! You are finally the “Mother Sultan”! The book in her graceful fingers fells upon her knees… It was April 7, 1789… The 15 years of longing finally ended…

Still dazzlingly beautiful Sultan was finally going back to Topkapi Palace with traditional “Mother Sultan Celebration”… The six horsed carriage was spreading golds both sides, greeted by janissaries aligned on the route to Divan. As the crowd walked through the first door of Topkapi Palace, new Sultan greeted his Mother three times from head to toe, kissed the hand coming out of the curtains of the carriage, among the claps of sergeants.

With the excitement of these events, Mother Sultan ordered the Head Augur a talismanic shirt to be tailored for his son right away…

A short sleeved and swan necked shirt was made of white thin ketene. It is a piece of art highlighting religious symbols. The front side of the shirt is slit and four opposing patterns of “Eye of Ali” on both sides compose the design. The most interesting pattern on the original shirt is the zulfiqar and scorpion motives between the shoulder blades. There are Seal of Solomon patterns on the centre of these two motives. The names of four angels, Gabriel, Michael, Saraphiel, Azrael are mentioned on the shirt and it is known that these were the scorpion charms. There was a certain belief that these names would overpower the poisonous reptiles such as snakes and scorpions. And of course all the rest of the prayers were for God to protect Selim III…

MEHMED III

This replica from the 16th century exhibited in your room is of one of the 87 talismanic shirts from the Collection of Sultan’s Clothing at Topkapi Palace and it is considered to have belonged to Mehmed III according to the prayers, motives and meanings of the talisman on the shirt and therefore was adorned with one of his poems…

May this talisman keep you away from the evil… Save you from any trouble, any disease… make you bulletproof and invincible…

Mehmed III was the son of Sultan Safiye and Selim II. He was smart and agile; kind and merciful; had his sword and bow by his side at all times.

When he was sent to Manisa as the governor of Sanjak, “My son, do not believe that your father is dead even if you hear it from me unless you see his grave, do not leave Manisa and be vigilant all the time.” his mother told him so that he would be cautious against any conspiracy. She also wanted a shirt to be tailored for him to protect him from any sort of evil, trouble and diseases.

The Head Augur calculated the propitious moment when the prayers become effective according to his birth day and horoscope. Cotton cloths were weaved and thinned according to the rituals and became ready to be written on. Black, red, gold and of course blue, the power of magic, inks were used. Prayers started to be calligraphed on the shirt as well as the patterns added meaning to the good wishes. Cypress tree meant a long life for the Sultan and the rest of the shirt was adorned with flower motives.

It took a few years to complete and send the talismanic shirt to Mehmed. Mehmed was well educated in Manisa and lived there as a successful and valued leader by all nations for 12 years.

When he least expected, they brought him the news of the unfortunate death of his father. It was now the time to leave Manisa.

He succeeded to the throne after the death of his father and reigned for 8 years. He willingly commanded his army during the campaigns. During all these years at all hard times Mehmed had the shirt his mother had tailored for him. Maybe the power of the talisman, of the prayers protected him…

He visited the shrine on October 27th, 1603. It was partly sunny; a soft wind was blowing on this gloomy day. Yellow leaves fell on the neck of his kaftan and one fell on his hand. He held the leaf, stared at it for a while… He was burning in thoughts; he was desperately thinking about his country… They needed a victory… Deep in thoughts, he was walking back to his palace accompanied by his officers when a dervish approached him and said that a big incident would befall in fifty six days and that he should not be blindsided. “Count the days, the death is very soon.” he said to him. The unfortunate times, then, started quickly…

He was still very young; an intellectual sultan adoring poetry and arts…

Even though there are various rumours and the real reason is still unknown, separation day arrived on December 21st, 1603 just like the dervish foresaw… He was buried next to his father at Hagia Sophia after his death…

One of his poems … is written on the shirt presented in your room…

SELIM THE GRIM

This replica from the 16th century exhibited in your room is of one of the 87 talismanic shirts from the Collection of Sultan’s Clothing at Topkapi Palace and it is considered to have belonged to Selim the Grim according to the prayers, motives and meanings of the talisman on the shirt and therefore was adorned with one of his poems…

May this Talisman give you health, long life and victory…

Selim the Grim is one of the sultans of Ottoman Empire about whom numerous myths were spread. He was son to Bayezid II and Gulbahar Hatun, born in 1470 and died in 1520. He was thoroughly educated in mathematics, religion, social, physical, political and military sciences of the era by the best teachers of the time; he was as well able to speak Arabic and Persian good enough to write a poetry book in each language. He was a poet, he valued love massively. He was also a religious person. Selim rebelled and dethroned his father Bayezid and dramatically expanded the frontiers of the Empire. Below text about the Sultan who had excessive respect for science and teachers despite of his majestic nature is completely based on a true story.

After the victory of Battle of Ridanieh in 1517, Selim the Grim who provided peace on the holy ground was going back to Istanbul with his army.

During the journey, the mud splashing from the hooves of his mentor Kemal Pasazade’s horse dirtied the Sultan’s kaftan.

Kemal Pasazade was embarrassed, frightened, could not know what to say. All the witnesses were waiting in fear for his reaction.

The Sultan who saw his master’s face and after eyeing around with a smile he consoled his master saying:

“The mud coming from the hooves of my master’s horse is rather an honour for me. Make it my will; spread this kaftan as it is over my coffin when I die!”

When Selim the Grim got sick, his teachers resorted to a talismanic shirt to find cure for their Sultan. They consulted the Head Augur. The Head Augur designated the propitious moment for talisman to be the most effective. A shirt got tailored quickly, became ready to wear after the calligraphers writings were completed. They worked even faster as the Sultan of the world was despairingly sick.

After intensive work, the shirt from white cotton cloth is short sleeved and collarless with front slit. What makes the shirt interesting is the various powerful prayers and prophecies on both front and back side of the shirt. These are kinds of talismans that are made of numbers and letters. They are often known for their use against evil eyes and witchery. These prayers and prophecies are some sort of precaution for dreadful events in the future. There are also Surahs that act as a shield against diseases, bring victory to the warrior, protect the owner of this talismanic shirt. Sadly, beloved Sultan of the masters who had this special shirt made never got to wear the shirt. Despite of the meticulous couture and particular composition, deficient calligraphs show that the shirt was rushed.

Regrettably, the winds were the carrier of the news that Selim the Grim passed away from this world; his kaftan with the dirt from the hooves of his master’s horse was spread over his coffin as he bequeathed so.