On the Professional and Personal Networks of a 16th-Century Ottoman Scholar: A Study Based on the Reference Letters Written for Seyfîzâde Ahmed Efendi, the First Professor of Gazanfer Agha’s Madrasa
This article delves into a collection of reference letters penned for Seyfîzâde Ahmed Efendi (1562-1613), who assumed the role of the inaugural professor at the madrasa established by Gazanfer Agha, one of the most eminent chief eunuchs of the premodern Ottoman imperial court. The opening of the Gaz...
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| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Istanbul University Press
2024-10-01
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| Series: | Tarih Dergisi |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://cdn.istanbul.edu.tr/file/JTA6CLJ8T5/A3795B503DF8485AB7CB9480B2B17284 |
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| Summary: | This article delves into a collection of reference letters penned for Seyfîzâde Ahmed Efendi (1562-1613), who assumed the role of the inaugural professor at the madrasa established by Gazanfer Agha, one of the most eminent chief eunuchs of the premodern Ottoman imperial court. The opening of the Gazanfer Agha Complex in the 1590s, alongside Ahmed Efendi’s first lecture attended by notable scholar-bureaucrats, and the ensuing ceremonies and banquets held at the madrasa, constituted significant events that captured attention during that era. Indeed, these events were meticulously chronicled in a manzume by the court historiographer of the time, Şehnâmeci Seyyid Lokman, who authored several works under Gazanfer Agha’s patronage. The reference letters under scrutiny here are situated at the beginning of the second manuscript copy of Seyyid Lokman’s manzume, which we have already identified and published. These letters essentially adopt the style of şehâdetnâme and, as we strive to demonstrate in our article, offer valuable insights into the dynamics of occupational solidarity among Ottoman scholars in the late 16th century, as well as the personal and familial networks that certain scholars established, details not readily available in other historical sources. Seyfîzâde Ahmed Efendi was the son of Seyfullah Efendi, who was a prominent scholar during the reigns of Murad III (1574-1595) and Mehmed III (1595-1603). Ahmed Efendi received reference letters from a total of 19 esteemed scholars, known to both his father and himself, attesting to his scholarly qualifications before assuming the professorship at Gazanfer Agha Madrasa. These reference letters unveil the intricate web of relationships among Ottoman scholars of the period, constituting a distinct literary genre deserving of further individual analysis. Within this framework, the primary aim of this article is to introduce these mahzars/şehâdetnâmes written for Seyfîzâde Ahmed Efendi and to offer a preliminary exploration of the life, scholarly career, and professional networks of an Ottoman scholar in the late 16th century. Despite their significance, the reference letters we discuss have been largely overlooked, thus remaining untapped in studies concerning the premodern Ottoman ulama. In this regard, we aspire to enrich future research on occupational solidarity and personal/familial networks within the premodern Ottoman world by presenting partial transcriptions of these crucial source texts as an appendix to our article. |
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| ISSN: | 2619-9505 |