Selim II
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 Selim II 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 guard you; give you power and strength…
He was tall, hazel eyed and blonde… He was one of the sons of Suleiman the Magnificent and his wife Hurrem Sultan… Amongst other sons of Sultan, it was unbeknown that he was going to ascend to the throne… Selim would only say "Let Mustafa be the most powerful. Let Bayezid be the desired one. May poor Selim have God’s mercy and grace. We don’t know what tomorrow will bring."
He was very talented and successful at archery and hunting. He was in love with arts; his enthusiasm for architecture and poetry led him leave renowned works that would last for hundreds of years… He had Selimiye Mosque built in Edirne which is one of the biggest masterpieces in Turkish and world history. He empowered the Great Hagia Sophia and left his traces on many other work…
Having all these talents, his mother Hurrem Sultan thought it was time for him to find love… Hurrem Sultan wanted her son Selim to meet a charming and well educated woman. During these times a girl arrived at the palace from Paros Island in Aegean Sea. Even Hurrem Sultan was impressed by her breathtaking beauty. She was taken under the care of Hurrem Sultan and sent to be educated, then was she named "Nurbanu" which meant beaming queen… Nurbanu became the legendary love of Selim…
Life eventually presented the sultanate to forever patient and faithful Selim. Sultan Selim stood like a solid wall against those who wished to harm his nation and country for his eight years of sultanate.
He was the Sultan of both his empire and love. He needed to faithfully protect everything he had.
A talismanic shirt was needed to guard him like an armour. It was again time for the Head Augur and scholars to read the stars, calculate the propitious moment for this magical shirt. Shirt of Selim was completed in a few years… The shirt was patterned on the both upper front sides with Seal of Solomon. Black, red and the power of magic blue were used in the ornaments… This was the symbol of power and sultanate. There were prayers written on the shirt to protect him from the evil and calamities and the shirt was sent to him to bring him victories… This shirt was going to be his protector during all wars he had to fight…
The wish of the nation was that blond haired, hazel eyed Selim would come back victorious from every war…
