Suleiman the Magnificent: The Man, His Life, His Epoch

'A remarkable tome.' Le Figaro

' ... brings back to life a man, an empire and an era . . . ' Digest of Middle East Studies

'Informative and engaging. ' Journal of Islamic Studies

'Thought provoking and most informative.' Middle East International

' excellent . . . The best first book from which to gain an introduction to Suleiman's era.' The Middle East Journal



Suleiman the Magnificent, the most extraordinary of all Ottoman sultans, led his army as far as the gates of Vienna, made himself master of the Mediterranean, and established his court in Baghdad. He regarded it as his duty to extend the boundaries of Islam farther and farther, and the Christian world could not agree to unite against him: Charles the Fifth was forced to sign the humiliating Treaty of Constantinople, while His Most Christian Majesty Francis the First allied himself with the Grand Turk.

'The Shadow of God on Earth', Suleiman ruled the state firmly with the help of his viziers. His empire spread over three continents, populated by more than 30,000,000 inhabitants, among whom nearly all of the races and religions of mankind represented. There was no hereditary nobility. The government administration, remarkably organised, was completely in the hands of the Christians who had converted to Islam, and the elite of that group, having been given honours and wealth, were the sultan's devoted slaves, faithful unto death.

Prospering under a well-directed, authoritarian economy, Suleiman's reign marked the apogee of Ottoman power. City and country alike experienced unprecedented economic and demographic growth. Istanbul was the largest city in the world, enjoying a remarkable renaissance of arts and letters, a mighty capital, the seat of the Seraglio and dark intrigue.



André Clot is a historian and journalist who has spent many years in the Muslim lands of the Near and Middle East. He is the author of Harun al Rashid, also published by Saqi.

Preface
A Note on Pronunciation
At the Dawn of the Golden Century

Part One: The Sultan of Sultans
1. The Padishah's First Triumphs
2. The Magnificent Sultan in His Splendour
3. From the Danube to the Euphrates
4. The Struggle with Christian Europe
5. Francis I and Suleiman
6. The Tragic Period
7. The Twilight of the Empire

Part Two: The Empire of Empires
8. The Orient at the Time of Suleiman
9. The Greatest City of East and West
10. A Dirigiste and Authoritarian Economy
11. Town and Country
12. The Age of the Magnificent Sultan

Three Centuries of Decline and Fall Notes

Appendices
1. The Pre-Ottoman Turks
2. Turkish Civilization before the Ottomans
3. The Janissaries
4. The Law of Fratricide
5. The Timar System
6. The Divan
7. The Dervish Orders
8. The Ottoman Fleet
9. The Army on Campaign
10. A Grand Vizier's Career: Sokullu
11. Henry II and Suleiman
12. Suleiman's Death
13. The Turkish Baths
14. The Mendes Family
15. The Capitulations
16. Islam and Painting

Genealogy of the Sultans of the House of Osman
Chronology, 1481-1598
Glossary
Bibliography
Index

Maps
I. The Ottoman Empire in 1566
II. Istanbul at the Time of Suleiman
III. Caravan Routes