A Study on the Symbolic Language Used in Certain Depictions Portraying Suleyman the Magnificent’s Last Military Campaign

Abstract

This study is an analysis of the symbolic language observed in a number of miniatures depicting various events from the last years of Suleyman the Magnificent’s reign (926-974/1520-1566) until the beginning of that of Selim II (974-982/1566- 1574). I will focus especially on the “tree stump motif ” seen in the miniature de- picting the event of deploying   Suleyman the Magnificent’s corpse, attributed to Nakkaş Osman (d. after 1001/1592), found in Feridun Ahmed Bey’s (d. 991/1583) Nüzhet‑i esrârü’l‑ahyâr der‑ahbâr‑ı Sefer‑i Sigetvar (Pleasures of the Secrets of Auspi- cious Men from the News of the Szigetvár Campaign, 976/1569), and in the “senil- ity” portrait of Suleyman the Magnificent attributed to Nigârî (d. 980/1572). The tree stump is recognized as a cult motif that heralds the genealogical continuity of religious and political authority. I will argue that in the above mentioned miniatures, it represents the continuity of the dynasty, and the transfer of dynastic power.

The “tree stump motif ” and the depictions of nature and of animals in these minia- tures were selected to complement the theme depicted and added into the composi- tion to enhance the narrative. There seems to be an obvious interaction among the painter, the poet and the author reflected in the document.