A Versatile Scholar of 16th Century Ottoman Society: Beşiktaşlı Yahya Efendi

Abstract

Yahya Efendi, whose mother is Afife Hatun and father is Şami Ömer Efendi, a member of İlmiye, was born in Trabzon in 1495. He was one of the leading intellectuals of XVI. century Ottoman society. As his mother was also the milk- mother of Kanûnî Sultan Suleyman, he established close relations with the Otto- man administrators since childhood. After having started in Trabzon, he completed his education in Istanbul under the supervision of Zenbilli Ali Efendi and then he worked as a muderris in some leading madrasas including Sahn-ı Seman. When he criticized Kanûnî Sultan Suleyman’s attitude during the Şehzade Mustafa Incident, he was dismissed and settled in Beşiktaş. There, he dealt with the affairs of the housing. During this period it is understood that he played a major role in converting the non-muslim sailors to muslim and deeply affected the people by his sermons. In the following years, after having re-agreed with the government administrators, Yahya Efendi, as well as intervened in the affairs of states, harsly criticized Rustem Pasha and Sokullu Mehmet Pasha for their some policies. He died in 4 May 1571 and was buried in a tomb built for him by II. Selim in Beşiktaş.