The government of the Ottoman Empire in the time of Suleiman the MagnificentLybyer, Albert Howe
History
The government of the Ottoman Empire in the time of Suleiman the Magnificent
Lybyer, Albert Howe
Süleyman I, Sultan of the Turks, 1494 or 1495-1566; Turkey -- Politics and government
This Othman came to power about the year 1300, and lived in lordship
twenty-eight years:[726] Orchan succeeded him and lived twenty-two years
in the kingship. Then Murad who reigned twenty-three years. Then Bayezid.
Then Chiris Celeby, or, as others wish, Calepino, who lived about six
years. Then Mohammed, who reigned fourteen years.[727] Then Murad II who
reigned 31 years. Then Mohammed II who reigned 32 years and was the first
Emperor of Constantinople. Then Bayezid II who reigned 31 years. Then
Selim eight years: to him succeeded Sultan Suleiman, his only son, who
reigns at present. Of this succession it is written otherwise in some
histories, where they treat of wars and peaces, which have been made by
our republic in times past with this family: but since I have recounted
these in other places, it now suffices to have noticed the common opinion
of those who have written of the affairs of the Turks up to this time.
And so I will go on to describe the court of this Signor: it is arranged
in the following manner.[728]
SULTAN SULEIMAN has a palace in the angle of Constantinople by the two
seas:[729] this is in circuit about three miles: and in it are his
residence and his court, which is called the PORTE. This palace, because
it was begun to be built by Sultan Mohammed, he willed when dying that
it should be rent-paying property of his mosque, and that it should pay
a thousand aspers a day, which are twenty ducats; and this has been
observed to the present.[730]
He has in the aforesaid palace countless highly ornamented chambers,
but one among the others is set apart for himself: in this he sleeps,
and he has there six youths who serve his person.[731] Of these six,
two are deputed for the service of the chamber and the Signor during
the day, and then in the night the same ones come to keep guard when he
sleeps: these stand ever vigilant, the one at his head and the other at
his feet, with two lighted torches in their hands: these two then in
the morning when they clothe the aforesaid Signor, put into one of the
pocket-purses of his caftan a thousand aspers, and into the other twenty
golden ducats; whatever of this money is not given away by the Signor
during the day, remains to those who undress him at night; they never
find much in the garments, according to report. And always when he goes
forth to enjoy the chase or for some other purpose, besides the aforesaid
money which he carries, he is accustomed always to have behind him the
_Khazinehdar-bashi_, or chief treasurer; this man carries with him a
great sum of money to be given away.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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