Suleiman the Magnificent was called “Magnificent” in the West because of his forty-six-year reign, his thirteen great campaigns and the political might of his era. According to the TDV Encyclopedia of Islam, contemporary Western writers called him “the Magnificent” or “the Grand Turk.” The epithet “Kanuni” (the Lawgiver), common today, was first used only in the eighteenth century.
Quick Summary
- He was born in Trabzon on 6 November 1494 and came to the throne in 1520.
- With a reign of forty-six years, he is the Ottoman sultan who stayed longest on the throne.
- Belgrade (1521), Rhodes (1522) and Mohács (1526) are the best-known successes of the period.
- The epithet “Magnificent” was given by contemporary Western writers.
- He died before Szigetvár on the night of 6–7 September 1566.
Contents
- Why “Magnificent”?
- Two epithets
- His life
- From Belgrade to Vienna
- The Mediterranean and Preveza
- The eastern campaigns
- Law and the order of the state
- Poetry, learning and architecture
- The shadows of the era
- Frequently asked questions
Why Was Suleiman the Magnificent Called “Magnificent”?
This epithet expresses the peak of Ottoman power as seen through European eyes. The armies of Suleiman the Magnificent campaigned from Central Europe to Baghdad, and his fleet established supremacy in the Mediterranean. The splendor of the palace, the ceremonies for ambassadors and great buildings reinforced this perception. His rivalry with European monarchs also made him a central figure in the politics of the continent.
According to the encyclopedia, the rivalry between Charles V, elected emperor in 1519, and King Francis I of France turned into open war in March 1521. This division of Europe created a great opportunity for the Ottomans. The sultan knew how to use the balance between the two sides to his own advantage.
Magnificent or Lawgiver?
The TDV Encyclopedia of Islam offers a striking piece of information on this subject. According to the encyclopedia, the sultan is known today more by this epithet than by his name. However, this epithet, meaning “lawgiver,” first appeared in the eighteenth century in Dimitrie Cantemir’s history of the Ottomans. It became widespread in the nineteenth century when it was adopted by Ottoman historians. Contemporary Western writers, by contrast, called him “the Magnificent” (Magnifique) or “the Grand Turk” (Grand Turc).
According to the encyclopedia, Western sources also called him Suleiman II because of Süleyman Çelebi, who held the throne during the Interregnum. In short, the two epithets describe two faces of the same ruler. “Magnificent” highlights his power in the outside world, while the epithet associated with law emphasizes his identity as a giver of order. The two names also show the difference between the Ottoman and European points of view.
The Life of Suleiman the Magnificent
According to the TDV Encyclopedia of Islam, Suleiman was born in Trabzon on 6 November 1494; some sources give a different date of birth. His childhood and early education took place in Trabzon, where his father, Prince Selim, was sancakbey. Until he came to the throne he stayed in Manisa for about seven years, and he acted as regent during his father’s campaigns. According to the encyclopedia, his tutor (lala) was first Kasım and, after 1516, Sinan Pasha. When his father Selim I died on 21–22 September 1520, he came to Istanbul and ascended the throne.
According to the encyclopedia, his mother Hafsa Sultan died on 19 March 1534; the same year saw the death of Şeyhülislam Kemalpaşazade, whom he held in high esteem. He must have met his wife Hürrem Sultan, to whom he was deeply attached, in his last years in Manisa. We described the effect of this marriage on the palace in our article Who was Hürrem Sultan, really?.
Conquests from Belgrade to Vienna
According to the TDV Encyclopedia of Islam, Suleiman the Magnificent began with two main objectives: Belgrade, regarded as the key to Central Europe, and Rhodes, important for control of the Mediterranean. The Belgrade campaign, his first imperial campaign, is symbolic because it targeted a goal that his great-grandfather Mehmed II had failed to achieve. According to the encyclopedia, the conquest of Belgrade also opened the road to Buda.
For Rhodes, the Ottoman ships put to sea on 4 June 1522. The sultan himself set out from Üsküdar at the head of his army on 18 June. The Knights of Rhodes surrendered on 20 December 1522. The sultan received the head of the knights, Philippe Villiers de l’Isle-Adam, in the council and allowed them to leave the island.
According to the encyclopedia, the Battle of Mohács on 29 August 1526 was short, and with the death of the Hungarian king it in a sense brought the Kingdom of Hungary to an end. On 11 September the sultan entered Buda without meeting any resistance. According to the encyclopedia, the death of Louis II without an heir gave rise to a new succession question in which the Habsburgs also became involved. Mohács marked the beginning of a new balance of power in Central Europe.
On 10 May 1529 the sultan set out on campaign for the fourth time. According to the encyclopedia, before this he had given Grand Vizier İbrahim Pasha the title of commander-in-chief (serasker) and broad powers. This campaign reached as far as the gates of Vienna.
According to the encyclopedia, the view that he aimed directly at taking Vienna is not entirely correct. His priority was to save Buda and support Szapolyai.
The Mediterranean and Preveza
In the Mediterranean, the Ottoman navy reached its peak under Barbaros Hayreddin Pasha. According to the encyclopedia, while the sultan was returning to Istanbul, Barbaros defeated his old rival Andrea Doria at Preveza on 28 September 1538. The news reached the army on 14 October at the Yanbolu halting place. This victory consolidated Ottoman supremacy in the Mediterranean for a long time.
The Eastern Campaigns and Baghdad
Suleiman the Magnificent also entered into a long struggle with the Safavids in the east. According to the encyclopedia, he set out on his sixth great campaign on 11 June 1534 and on 23 June received the news that the fortress of Van had been taken. In this campaign it became clear that the Safavids could not be eliminated as easily as had been hoped. The most important gains were the capture of Baghdad and the submission of the ruler of Basra. Tabriz, however, fell back into Safavid hands, and the Van region remained under threat.
This campaign was one of the most extensive operations in the East. We discussed this struggle in our article on the Ottoman–Iranian wars.
Law and the Order of the State
The sultan’s name is associated above all with laws. According to the TDV Encyclopedia of Islam, the law code attributed to him was based on earlier law codes and on the changes made by Hersekzade Ahmed Pasha. The law code of Selim I also stands out through the adaptation put into force in his time. In this process the nişancı Celalzade Mustafa Çelebi played an important role.
According to the encyclopedia, in this period the Hanafi school acquired an almost official character as the state’s basic doctrine. In the law compilations, customary practices began to be explained on a sharia basis. Şeyhülislams such as Kemalpaşazade and Ebussuud Efendi were influential in shaping this framework. According to the encyclopedia, the bureaucracy also took its classical form in this period. We described the state’s decision-making center in our article What was the Imperial Council?.
Poetry, Learning and Architecture
Suleiman the Magnificent was also a poet. According to the TDV Encyclopedia of Islam, he compiled a divan under the pen name “Muhibbi,” and with about 3,000 poems he is among the sultans who wrote the most poetry. Baki, Fuzuli, Zati, Hayali Bey, Yahya of Taşlıca and Lamii Çelebi were poets of this period. According to the encyclopedia, all of them enjoyed patronage in this period. According to Selaniki, he regarded taking a poet such as Baki into his circle as one of his most important deeds.
According to the encyclopedia, the pen name “Muhibbi” expressed devotion to God with a dervish’s sincerity and a refined love for his people. The sources also state that he received instruction in dhikr from Üftade Efendi.
The architecture of the period was also part of the perception of magnificence. The Süleymaniye Mosque and Complex, the work of Mimar Sinan, is the best-known example. The great building program of the period changed the skyline of Istanbul. We discussed the architectural legacy in our article on the characteristics of Ottoman art and architecture.
The Shadows of the Magnificent Era
This brilliant period also had its painful sides. The rivalry for the throne among his sons ended with the deaths of Şehzade Mustafa and Şehzade Bayezid. We described these events in our article Who was Şehzade Mustafa?. Long wars strained the treasury, and goals such as Vienna were not reached. According to the encyclopedia, whenever the sultan felt overwhelmed by problems, he would go to Edirne and spend his time hunting.
According to the encyclopedia, before the campaign the sultan went to the tomb of Eyüp Sultan and prayed. On 1 May 1566 he set out on his last campaign with great ceremonies, and he died before Szigetvár on the night of 6–7 September 1566; he did not live to see the fortress taken. His death was skillfully concealed; one of the few people who knew of it was Feridun Bey. The funeral prayer was led on 23 November in the Süleymaniye Mosque by Şeyhülislam Ebussuud Efendi, and he was buried in his tomb beside the mosque. We described this campaign in our article on his last military campaign.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many years did Suleiman the Magnificent reign?
According to the TDV Encyclopedia of Islam, he reigned for forty-six years by the Gregorian calendar. This is the longest time any sultan spent on the throne in Ottoman history.
Why is Suleiman the Magnificent called “Magnificent”?
Contemporary Western writers called him Magnificent because of his power and the splendor of his court.
When did the epithet “Lawgiver” appear?
According to the TDV Encyclopedia of Islam, it first appeared in the eighteenth century in the work of Dimitrie Cantemir and became widespread in the nineteenth century.
Where did the sultan die?
He died on the night of 6–7 September 1566, during the siege of Szigetvár.
How many great campaigns did the sultan undertake?
According to the TDV Encyclopedia of Islam, he undertook thirteen great campaigns.
Conclusion
Suleiman the Magnificent was called “Magnificent” in the West because of his forty-six-year reign, his thirteen great campaigns and his weight in European politics. Conquests such as Belgrade, Rhodes, Mohács and Baghdad carried the empire’s power to its peak. The law codes, the fatwas of the şeyhülislams and the works of Sinan turned this power into institutions and stone. The epithet “Kanuni,” by which he is known today, appeared later, in the eighteenth century.
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