Osman II
This replica from the 17th 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 Osman
II…
May this talisman have you live
long; give you luck and a powerful
reign…
A shirt a mother meticulously
and anxiously had tailored for his young but excited, confident, idealist and
impatient sultan son… Osman II who became sultan when he was only 14 years
old was born on November 3, 1604 in Istanbul as a son to Ahmet I and Mahfiruz
Haseki Sultan. His mother was overly particular about his education. Sultan
Osman II was very well educated in both sciences and manners. He knew both
eastern and western languages like Arabic, Persian, Latin, Greek and Italian
well enough to do translation of classics in those languages. Having a very
handsome face, Osman II was quite smart, venturous, brave and daring sultan.
He was also very innovative.
His mother Mahfiruz Sultan was
not interested in state affairs but all she wanted was to protect her child
like any mother does. When her son succeeded to the throne unexpectedly at
such an early age, she was very scared and anxious. Her little son was not
experienced enough to reign the entire empire. There were also no competent
statesmen to help him through the government. Yet more importantly, Osman II
was so young and inexperienced to see that the Janissaries were
deteriorating; idleness was on the rise, peace and tranquility were not in
the picture. His bravery, daringness and unbridled passion were more of a
danger for him in such situation. Those who wanted to take advantage of him
would certainly act. Mahfiruz Hatun hid her worries only for herself; her
pain would rise up to the sky as prayers and come back as tears dripping on
silk sheets when she was alone at night. The only thing she could do was to
have a talismanic shirt tailored. She summoned the Head Augur; she described
exactly what she wanted. The mother emphasised that the shirt must be done
carefully and the talisman must be powerful. The Head Augur started to
calculate the propitious moment right away. The rapidly passing time was
eating her heart out. The propitious moment was detected; the clothes were
weaved and handed out to calligraphers. The rituals were done rapidly yet
carefully.
The kaftan-like talismanic shirt with long
sleeves is collarless, front slit and made of white cotton cloth. It has a
thin cotton lining and grey taffeta borders. The ornaments are done according
to the contouring of the shirt. The ornamenting starts with widening squares
one within another from the shoulders down to the skirts. There is a large
square pattern in which a diamond motive engraved on the back of the shirt.
Below this square pattern is there a wide skirt bordering filled with gold
framed medallions and small colourful flowers on cobalt blue
base.
The talismanic shirt is essentially more interesting
regarding the prayers and surahs engraved on. The shirt is adorned with
prayers and surahs through and through which shows us the desire for the
power of talisman to be of high efficiency. Written jeremiads from the heart
of a mother for her son…
Unfortunately, Osman II never ever
could find a competent Grand Vizier to help him realise his plans and in the
end, he could not reign for a long time. Yet again, history witnessed that
worries lying in the heart of a mother are
Never for no
reason…
