Murad III
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 it is considered to have belonged to Murat 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 all sicknesses and evils…
Sultan Murat III was the grandson of Suleiman the Magnificent, the son of Selim II and his legendary love Nur Banu Sultan…
Being born in Bozdag, Manisa and Murat was the governor of Sanjak there until he became the Sultan of the Empire.
Although the pain the death of his father caused was enormous, Murat III had to stay strong and take the reins at the Empire… The necessary was done and he announced himself as the twelfth sultan of Ottoman Empire.
He was a great scholar; he utterly valued science and arts. The interest in celestial body and astrology supposedly arose during his time. When the scientists started to research the stars, celestial bodies, astrology and their effect on humans, the Head Augur consulted to the palace about the need in building an observatory in Istanbul. Sultan Murat III had a long conservation about the matter with his master Saadettin Efendi and gave permission for the building of an observatory in Tophane. His enthusiasm in the subject was instantly heard at and around the palace and an astrological book was given to her daughter Fatma Sultan as a gift.
Being extremely excited about this new coming science, Sultan Murat gave the order of a talismanic shirt for himself for which the power of the stars must be taken into consideration. The Head Augur took base his birth date July 4, 1546. He analysed the horoscope and calculated the propitious moment for the shirt after studying the positions of the star and working for days and weeks. It took years to work the white cotton cloths for the shirt. The shirt was designed to be collarless, short sleeved and front slit. Now it was time for the best calligraphers of the era. The writings were in gold, black and red coloured inks. There were well wishes for Sultan Murat in the prayers engraved on the shirt. They were meant to protect him from calamities, evil and diseases; bring him bliss, abundance and wealth to his life at all times.
Having reigned for 21 years, Murat III died on January 16, 1595 at the age of 49. One of the poet sultans, he expressed his feelings through his poems using his alias Muradî…
