Un panegírico para el sultán Solimán: nueva aproximación al Sulaimānnāma como fuente histórica

Abstract

In this article I discuss the potential of the Sulaimānnāma, a work well known in name but not studied comprehensively or in depth, as an historical source to understand better the reign of Sultan Süleyman (r. 1520-1566). I aim to cast aside the prejudice caused both by its sophisticated literary language and the general designation of the work as a panegyric, and display some of the ways in which shehnāmeci ‘Arif’s work could be useful for research in cultural and
political history.

Sulaimānnāma is neither a mere panegyric nor a straight forward history of the sultan’s reign. Both the presence of particular versions of disputed stories, such as that of the execution of Prince Mustafa, and the disproportionate amount of information on the workings of the state and the ceremonial suggest that it was intended as a document that the palace wanted to pass on to future generations as a memorial as well as a model for emulation. Hence, studying this multifaceted source can help us decipher the messages that Sultan Süleyman and the leading members of his court wanted to project, and gain insight into the cultural and political environment that its text and images reflect.