Suleiman The Magnificent

November 6th, 1494- September 6th

1566
Reigned from 30th September 1520-
death
Sultan Süleyman Han bin Selim Han (Suleiman I)
-Born in Trabzon along the east coast of the Black Sea to the previous
Sultan Selim I
- At the age of seven Suleiman was sent to study science, history,
literature, theology and military tactics in the schools of the imperial
Topkapi Palaca in Constantinople (modern day Istanbul)
-Is the tenth Ottoman Sultan and assumed the throne at the death of his
father when he was 25.
-
 Portraits

• Suleiman as a young
Suleiman in a portratit attributed to man
Titian c.1530
Expansion
-Suleiman in his reign greatly
expanded it from his father’s
territories, Suleiman managed to
conquer the lands in all directions and
was renowned through out the world.

-He led 13 campaigns and the most

crucial of them to his success were the
siege of Belgrade and the capturing of
the Island of Rhodes.
Seige of Belgrade

25th June- 29 of August 1521.

-Belgrade was considered ‘The gate’ of Europe as it had
protected Hungary from Ottoman attacks for centuries before
hand, capturing ensured an Ottoman stronghold that can
continually supply the Ottoman campaigns that took place
from Belgrade.

- Seven days of heavy bombardment and mining under the

walls led to the conquering of the city without great difficulty,

-During the reign of Suleiman Belgrade became on of Europe’s

largest cities
Seige of Rhodes

Gun-wielding Ottoman Janissaries and

defending Knights of Saint John at the
Seige of Rhodes, minature from
Suleimanname.
 Seige of Rhodes
• 26th of June – 22nd of December 1522
• Was the second and successful attempt of the Ottoman Empire to expel the Christian Knights
of Rhodes from their stronghold.
• Capturing Rhodes meant securing Ottoman control of the eastern Mediterranean without
interference. This meant that trade all throughout that region would go successfully.
• After months of battling and Suleiman crippling their defences he offered them to surrender,
the knights were given 12 days to leave and were allowed to take valuables, islanders who
wished to leave could do so in a 3 year period. No church was desecrated or turned into a
mosque, and those that remained would be free from ‘jizya’ (religious tax) for five years.
• As Rhodes was then captured, it greatly eased communication between the capital city
Constantinople, Cairo and the Levantine ports.
The Golden Age of the
Ottoman Empire
-Under Suleiman’s reign and now that the
two major campaigns that ensured
Ottoman expansion were a success, great
changes in the Ottoman Empire took
place.
-Suleiman was now able to funnel the
overflowing wealth from trade with the
East into the arts, architecture, military
campaigns, religious foundations, poetry,
business (etc…)

Under Suleiman’s orders, Istanbul had a

detailed city plan for reconstruction
during this time. The city was restored
with new dams, aqueducts and fountains,
theological schools, baths, botanical
gardens and bridges.
Besides mosques and other pious
foundations—including schools, hospices,
and soup kitchens, supported by shops,
markets, baths, and caravanserais—
Süleiman also commissioned repairs and
additions to major historical monuments.
Art
Suleiman presided over an Islamic
revival of the arts, literature, and the
Ottoman literary language.
Developments occurred in every field
of the arts; however, those calligraphy,
manuscript painting, textiles, and
ceramics were particularly significant.
Suleiman the Lawmaker
(Suleiman Al Kanuni)
The Ottoman's know him as Suleyman
Kanuni (or “Lawgiver”). As the
lawgiver, he reconciled dynastic and
Islamic law, enforced justice, as well as
organized provincial administration,
land tenure, taxation, and
educational/religious hierarchy.

Interestingly – if you were to tour the

US House of Representatives in the US
Capitol Building – you would find a
painting of Suleyman the Magnificent.
Sinan Architecture
The mid- 16th century was a rising
period for Istanbul, as it was for the
entire Ottoman Empire. During
Suleyman’s reign from 1520-1566
many valuable buildings were
constructed, most notably by the
great architect Sinan, chief of the
Corps of Royal Architects.

Sinan is often remembered for his two

major commissions: first, the mosque
complexes of Süleymaniye pictured
here, built between 1550–57, it is the
location of Suleiman’s tomb…
 Fortress Inscription of Maldovia

• I am God’s slave and sultan of this world. By the grace of

God I am head of Muhammad’s community. God’s might
and Muhammad’s miracles are my companions. I am
Suleyman, in whose name the hutbe [Friday sermon] is
read in Mecca and Medina. In Baghdad I am the shah, in
Byzantine realms the Caesar, and in Egypt the sultan; who
sends his fleets to the seas of Europe, the Maghrib and
India. I am the sultan who took the crown and throne of
Hungary and granted them to a humble slave. The voivoda
Petru raised his head in revolt, but my horse’s hoofs ground
him into the dust, and I conquered the land of Moldavia
• . From Islam: A Thousand Years of Faith and Power,
Jonathan Bloom and Sheila Blair. Copyright © 2002. Yale
University Press.
The Life and Letters of Ogier Ghiselin de Busbecq, vol. I (London: Kegan Paul,
1881), pp, 86-88, 153-155, 219-222, 287-290, 293.

The pashas...did not offer any strong opposition to the views we expressed, and told
us that the whole matter depended on the Sultan’s pleasure. On his arrival we were
admitted to an audience; but the manner and spirit in which he [the Sultan] listened
to our address, our arguments, and our message was by no means favorable. The
Sultan was seated on a very low ottoman, not more than a foot from the ground,
which was covered with a quantity of costly rugs and cushions of exquisite
workmanship; near him lay his bow and arrows. His air, as I said, was by no means
gracious, and his face wore a stern, though dignified, expression. On entering we were
separately conducted into the royal presence by the chamberlains, who grasped our
arms…After having gone through a pretence of kissing his hand, we were conducted
backwards to the wall opposite his seat, care being taken that we should never turn
our backs on him. The Sultan then listened to what I had to say; but the language I
used was not at all to his taste, for the demands of his Majesty breathed a spirit of
independence and dignity, which was by no means acceptable to one who deemed
that his wish was law; and so he made no answer beyond saying in an impatient way,
“Giusel, giusel ,” i.e. well, well. After this we were dismissed to our quarters. The
Sultan’s hall was crowded with people, among whom were several 4Pasha was an
honorary title for a high-ranking military or government official; a vizier served the
sultan as an adviser or provincial governor. An official of the royal court involved in
matters connected with the king’s household. officers of high rank. Besides these
there were all the troopers of the Imperial guard6 and a large force of Janissaries, but
there was not in all that great assembly a single man who owed his position to
anything save his valor and his merit…
What have we learned from this source?

What can be Identified from Suleiman’s

character in Ogeir’s letters that is different to
the fortress inscription?
 • Students are required to in
groups of 3 complete a exit
Exit Ticket !!
ticket that will state three
reasons why Suleiman is
considered ‘Magnificent’.
• Look over your lesson
notes and discuss what
could be the most crucial
and major things that he
achieved in his reign that
have the most impact to his
significance.