10 interesting facts from Ottoman history
The history of the Ottomans is filled with heroism. Some of these have become epics, while others have taken their place as stories in the dusty pages of history.
- Life
- Published Date: 01:34 | 01 May 2024
- Modified Date: 01:46 | 01 May 2024
In the pages of history, there are always incredible events. One of them is an anecdote about the Süleymaniye Mosque as recounted in Evliya Çelebi's 'Seyahatname' (Book of Travels).
According to the story, when the construction of the Süleymaniye Mosque was taking too long to finish, the Shah of Iran, in order to ridicule it, sent diamonds to Sultan Süleyman. By the Sultan's order, these diamonds were incorporated into the mortar of the small minaret on the right side. Because of this, that minaret is now known as the Jewel Minaret.
One of the most colorful celebrations of the Ottoman Empire was the circumcision ceremonies of the princes. During these ceremonies, the craftsmen would present valuable gifts, which became a well-established tradition over time.
In these ceremonies, the Istanbul confectioners would create a veritable candy garden on a large silver tray with colorful flowers and display it to the public.
The first person in our history to use Turkish with the Latin alphabet was Hatice Sultan, the sister of Sultan III. Selim, known for her reforms and compositions.
Hatice Sultan wrote Turkish letters using the Latin alphabet in her correspondence with the French architect Melling for the palace she had built for herself. This was the first historical usage of Turkish with Latin letters.
The Maiden's Tower, one of the iconic structures of Istanbul, was also very important during the Ottoman era. The tower served as a prison for a single occasion.
Hekimoğlu Ali Paşa, one of the most loyal servants of Sultan Osman III, was imprisoned in the Maiden's Tower for one night due to his falling out with the Sultan over the Iranian campaign.
In the 17th century, the French wanted to plant trees along the famous Champs-Élysées, and after extensive research, they settled on horse chestnuts because they couldn't install electricity.
Horse chestnuts requested from the Ottoman Empire and sent by the order of Sultan Ahmed I, are still adorning Paris today as they were not available in Europe.
The most famous tulip grower of the period known as the 'Tulip Era' in history books, which ended with the Patrona Halil uprising, was a merchant named Tabak Ata.
Tabak Ata, who cultivated 80 different varieties of tulips, personally sold tulips to the palace. Due to his cultivation, he quickly amassed a great fortune.
In the classical Ottoman governance system, it was customary for princes to accompany their tutors (lalas) and go on campaigns to gain experience in governance.
Due to changes in administrative matters with Sultan Ahmed I, this system changed, leading to inadequate training for potential sultans.
In the palace, there were personnel responsible for almost every task. One of the unseen and lesser-known servants of the Ottoman sultans was the 'tülbent ağas' (turban aides).
The tülbent ağas were the officials who carried the sultan's turban on the boats during the sultan's travels. During greetings, they would bow the turban to salute the people.
The meals of the Ottoman sultans were prepared with meticulous care, and at every stage, attendants took precautions against any mishaps.
There were also protocols during meals. For example, it was the duty of the head steward to serve the dishes to the Sultan while he was eating and to change the dishes on the table.