[650] Among these studies were advanced rhetoric and metaphysics, dogmatics, civil law, exegesis, jurisprudence, oral tradition, and written documents (Hammer, _Geschichte_, ii. 239). All schools above the _mektebs_ came under the name _medresseh_. Heidborn distinguishes eight classes to which Suleiman added four colleges of yet higher degree. His implication (p. 210, note 5) that the student who aimed at the highest judgeships must study through eight or more _medressehs_, and then teach through a like series, can hardly be correct, since the ordinary human life would be too short for such a double round. Probably the steps of progress were not so precisely regulated or so numerous. [651] D’Ohsson, ii. 464. [652] Hammer (_Geschichte_, ix. 145-163) found 275 in Constantinople alone, of which 50 had been founded before the death of Suleiman. [653] Chalcocondyles, 53; Ramberti, below, p. 244; Junis Bey, below, p. 265; etc. [654] D’Ohsson, ii. 477; Heidborn, 213. [655] Hammer, _Geschichte_, ii. 236: “The priesthood proper ... is perhaps in no other state of less influence, but the teaching body is in no other kingdom (except China) of greater weight and political importance.” [656] Ricaut, 211. [657] Spandugino, 219; Menavino, 72 ff.; Nicolay, 121. Ricaut, 261 ff., knew eight or ten orders, which he describes at some length. [658] Hammer, _Geschichte_, i. 154, ii. 357, iii. 67; Postel, i. 112. [659] Heidborn, 269-274. [660] Ricaut, 201. [661] In Ricaut’s time (p. 204) one of the _Kaziaskers_ was regularly chosen for this position. [662] D’Ohsson, iv. 500. Heidborn, 215, says that the title _Sheik ul-Islam_ was first bestowed by Murad II upon the _mufti_ of Adrianople, who was removed to Constantinople by Mohammed II after the capture; that Mohammed assigned the title _Reis ul-ulema_, or chief of the _Ulema_, to this officer, but that he reached great dignity only under Suleiman. [663] Spandugino, 113. [664] Postel, i. 118. [665] Spandugino, 112. [666] La Broquière, 181; Ramberti, below, p. 247; Geuffroy, 241; Trevisano, 122; Busbecq, _Life and Letters_, i. 116; Bernardo, 364. [667] Heidborn, 216. [668] Ricaut, 200-202. [669] Hammer, _Geschichte_, ii. 401. [670] _Ibid._ 536 ff.; Heidborn, 215, note 16. [671] D’Ohsson, v. 104 ff. [672] See Hammer, _Geschichte_, iii. 278 ff.; and Appendix III below. Heidborn, 215, contributes further details as to the great _Mufti’s_ advance in the _cursus honorum_ of the Moslem Institution. He shows that he began his legal studies at 27 years of age, continued them until his 45th year, was made _Kazi_ of Brusa, then of Constantinople, and in his 50th year (944 A.H.) _Mufti_. The last statement seems to be erroneous; for Hammer (as above) says that he became _Mufti_ in 952 (1545 A. D.), after eight years’ service as _Kaziasker_. Probably, then, he was made _Kaziasker_ in 944 and _Mufti_ in 952. After thirty years in that eminent position, he died in 982 (1574).