Zafername or Tarih-i Sultan Süleyman, (Book of Victories)
written by Seyyid Lokman, illustrated by Nakkaş Osman, Ottoman, 1579AD.
Ms. T 413, Chester Beatty Library, Dublin.

Text links to the images:

Selim meets the Ottoman army, bringing the body of his father Süleyman, at Belgrade. After the sultan died while on military campaign in Hungary, the Ottoman army escorted his body back towards Istanbul. In Belgrade (Serbia), the army was met by Süleyman's son (and successor) Selim. Left-half of double-page illustration.

The Ottoman encampment at Belgrade. After the sultan died while on military campaign, the Ottoman army escorted his body back towards Istanbul. Reaching Belgrade, the army was met by Süleyman's son (and successor) Selim. Right-half of double-page illustration.

The Ottoman army escorting Süleyman's body back to Istanbul. In 1566, the sultan died of natural causes just before the Ottoman victory over the Hapsburgs at Szigetvar (Hungary). His death was not immediately announced, but the army returned to Istanbul. Left-half of double-page illustration

Süleyman's body escorted back to Istanbul by the Ottoman army. In 1566, the sultan died of natural causes just before the Ottoman victory over the Hapsburgs at Szigetvar (Hungary). His death was not immediately announced, but the army returned to Istanbul. Right-half of double-page illustration.

Capture of the fortress of Bobofça (Babócsa, Hungary) in 1566. Following the victory over Szigetvar in 1566, the Ottoman army captured the fortress of Bobofça before returning to the capital Istanbul. The sultan had died of natural causes just before the fall of Szigetvar, and his body was now escorted back to Istanbul.

Explosions at the fortress of Szigetvar. The Ottomans ended the 1566 siege of Szigetvar (Hungary) by mining under one of the fortress towers, and blowing it up. As the army entered the fort, the magazine exploded.

Mehmet Giray of the Crimean khanate crosses a river. Mehmet Giray (d. 1584) was the son of the Khan of Crimea. He fought under the Ottomans in Hungary in 1566 (as depicted here), and also led forces against Safavid Iran in later decades.

The fortress of Szigetvar. The Hapsburg fortress of Szigetvar (Hungary), besieged by the Ottoman army in 1566.

The Ottoman army arrives at Szigetvar. The Ottoman sultan Suleyman riding with his army of cavalry and footsoldiers, and arriving at the Hapsburg fortress of Szigetvar (Hungary) for a major siege in 1566.

Crossing the Bridge on the Drava. The sultan watches his janissary army cross the bridge over the river Drava (at Osijek, Croatia), en route to besiege the fort of Szigetvar (in Hungary), in 1566.

Retinue of John Sigismund Zapolya before Süleyman. Rows of janissaries carry rolls of textiles and vessels, diplomatic gifts from John Sigismund.

John Sigismund Zapolya kneels before Sultan Süleyman. This double-page scene shows the king of Hungary (later prince of Transylvania) John Sigismund Zapolya (d. 1571) paying homage to the Ottoman sultan, who had defended his rule against challenge from the Hapsburgs. This reception took place in Zemun (Serbia) in 1566, when Süleyman and his army were travelling to fight Hapsburg forces at Szigetvar.

Süleyman's Pilgrimage to Eyüp Shrine. The elderly Süleyman enters the Eyüp shrine just outside Istanbul, to pray at the sacred tomb complex of Abu Ayyub al-Ansari, one of the Prophet's Companions. The sultan's entourage of three Silahtars stand behind him, while his janissary soldiers wait outside the shrine walls.

Giacomo Cristo, last podesta of Chios, arrested in 1566. The podesta was the hereditary governor of the island of Chios, appointed by the Doge of Genoa on behalf of the Genoan republic. Under Ottoman control, the island was ceded and gradually integrated into the imperial administration. At first the podesta continued to rule Chios by paying an annual tribute to Istanbul. In 1566, this tribute was doubled, and the podesta refused to pay. Chios thereafter became an Ottoman sancak territory.

Conquest of Santiermu (Fort St Elmo) on Malta in 1565, from the History of Sultan Süleyman by Sayyid Luqman. This scene shows the Ottoman army, cannons, and fleet at the capture of Santiermu (Fort St Elmo) in June 1565, in advance of the unsuccessful siege of Malta against the Knights Hospitaller.

Iranian envoy bringing diplomatic gifts. Here an envoy wearing the Safavid taj turban bows to Sultan Süleyman, flanked very closely by two Ottoman officials. Rows of Ottoman janissaries bring hunting birds, possibly part of a diplomatic gift. Three other Safavid officials stand on the lower left, also under close supervision.

Fortifications along the Ottoman frontier with Safavid Iran, from the History of Sultan Süleyman by Sayyid Luqman. This section discusses different measures for defending the frontiers of the Ottoman empire. To the east, the Ottoman border with Safavid Iran was carefully marked with the construction of fortresses. Here, a sheep is sacrificed to bless the construction of one fort, while further defensive architecture may be seen in the distance.

Sultan Süleyman in a walled garden, from the History of Sultan Süleyman by Sayyid Luqman. This is the first painting in the book, which begins in the year 1559 with an account of the sultan's suppression of his rebellious son Bayazid. Süleyman sits by a water fountain in a walled garden, surrounded by his attendants. The prow of his waiting boat is visible on the lower right.

The cover of the codex



The Ottoman court historian (sahnameci) Sayyid Luqman composed this versified account of Süleyman the Magnificent's last seven years of life, describing events in the capital Istanbul, the sultan's military campaigns in the Balkans, Austria, Hungary, on Malta, and on Chios, and concluding with the sultan's death and funeral in 1566.
Source: Chester Beatty Library, Dublin

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The most characteristic examples of Ottoman miniature art were produced in the second half of the sixteenth century as a result of the patronage of Sultans Selim II (1566-74) and Murad III (1574-95). The reigns of these sultans mark the classical period of Ottoman miniature art and the most productive era in historical painting. Throughout most of these years, the Turkish and Persian works of Seyyid Lokman, the court-appointed Sahnameci, were illustrated in rapid succession by selected painters working in the imperial studio. Foremost among them was the master Osman, the greatest name in Ottoman historical painting and the artist who mostly shaped Turkish miniature art during the classical period. It is known from documentary sources that Osman occupied a position in the court atelier from the first years of Selim II’s reign, becoming its most productive and prominent member during the years 1570-90. In addition to working with Lokman, he was responsible for illustrating the works of other writers as well. For many of these projects, he headed groups of artists chosen from the court atelier and directed their work. In the period from 1558 until 1592, Osman and his team illustrated several of Lokman’s Sahnames, which are written in Persian and in verse. The first of these, which actually dates back to the final years of Süleyman’s reign, is called the Zafername (Book of Victories. DCB, No.413). Lokman’s second “book of kings, the Sahname-i Selim Han”, is concerned with Selim II’s sultanate (TSMK, A.3595). The third is the first volume of the Sehinsahname (Book of the King of Kings) and describes events that occurred between the years 1574-81 during Murad III’s reign (IUK, F.1404). The last Sahname to emerge from this collaboration between Lokman and Osman was the second volume of the Sehinsahname, covering the years 1581-88 of Murad’s reign (TSMK, B.200). These Sahnames, all with the same dimensions and layout, contain more than two hundred miniatures of a documentary nature, detailing important architectural works, military campaigns and major victories, important court ceremonies and celebrations, the sultans’ accession to the throne, and their deaths.
Source: Turkish Cultural Foundation.