Page 115 - The Age of Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent

who belonged to the Ehl-i Hiref; others were presented as
gifts, received as tribute, taken as booty during campaigns,
confiscated from officials for reasons ranging from treason to
disgraceful conduct, or purchased from local guilds and for-
eign markets.
One of the foreign purchases is thought to be a gem-
encrusted gold helmet made for Süleyman by a Venetian art-
ist named Luigi Caorlini in 1532, said to cost more than
100,000 ducats.^ Its payment and transportation were said to
have been handled by the grand vezir Ibrahim Pa§a. Süley-
man allegedly used the helmet only once, during a reception
of the Austrian delegation. There is no record in the Ottoman
archives related to this piece, nor is there mention of its hav-
ing arrived in Istanbul. There is, however, a figure wearing a
fantastic helmet constructed of four tiers of crowns sur-
mounted by a large plume in an engraving made in 1532 by
4
an anonymous Venetian, which was copied in 1535 by
Agostino Veneziano, 5 who inscribed it with Suleyman's name
(fig. 15). This fanciful headgear presumably represents the
Venetian helmet made for Süleyman; whether it was actually
made and purchased by the sultan is highly speculative.
The sultans' Hazine was also enriched by gifts from foreign
rulers, heads of tributary states, ambassadors, and subjects,
including members of the administration and the artisans.
Lists of gifts presented during accession ceremonies, official
receptions, bayram celebrations, and other festive events pro-
helmet,
vide an insight into the wealth accumulated by the court. 6 Fig. 15. Sultan Süleyman wearing the Venetian (London, The
1535
engraving by Agostino Veneziano, dated
Objects in the Hazine were, on the other hand, pilfered British Museum, 1859-8-6-307)
throughout its history. Frequently the sultans themselves
were forced to melt down the silver and gold objects to con-
vert them to currency for their military campaigns and other liers, decorative hangings, and chests as well as inlaid wood
expenditures. Some pieces were destroyed to create new Koran stands and boxes. Objects in the turbes (mausoleums)
ones, reusing the metals and the gems; others were given to included the garments and accessories of the deceased, such
esteemed officials and to members of the royal family on spe- as kaftans, handkerchiefs, belts, and turban ornaments, which
cial occasions or sent to heads of foreign states as diplomatic were laid on top of the symbolic sarcophagus (the body hav-
gifts. ing been deposited in the earth underneath according to Is-
One of the most impressive gifts was a crown sent by lamic law). Gifts were either placed around the chamber or
Ahmed I to Stephen Bocskay, the ruler of Transylvania ap- stored in the cupboards built into the walls. When Turkish
pointed the king of Hungary by the sultan. The crown, made national museums were established the items in the turbes
of gold and encrusted with gems and pearls, was taken to were transferred to these collections. Although a few were
Budapest by the grand vezir Lala Mehmed Pa§a and placed salvaged from the mausoleums of Hürrem Sultan, §ehzade
on Bocskay's head in 1605. 7 Later confiscated by the Habs- Mehmed, and Selim II, nothing was left in the tomb of Sü-
burgs, it is now in Vienna. Since the Ottoman sultans did not leyman, which must have contained the most outstanding
wear crowns or display such symbols of imperial power as pieces. Valuable objects were also lost during fires, earth-
the scepters and orbs used by European monarchs, its crea- quakes, and civil disorders that periodically plagued the city
tion was just as extraordinary as the Venetian helmet sup- and the palace.
posedly made for Süleyman. Although the core of the Hazine in the Topkapi Palace
Over the centuries the sultans also sent substantial numbers comprises objects made in the court, there are as well ex-
of precious gifts to the Kaaba in Mecca and to the tomb of tremely valuable items representing the imperial traditions of
the Prophet in Medina. In addition they presented valuable the Timurids, Safavids, and Mughals, as well as those of
items to the mausoleums of their predecessors, family mem- Asian and European origin, including Chinese porcelain, Ger-
bers, and revered spiritual leaders, particularly to that of Eyüb man clocks, and Russian bibelots, some of which were gifts,
Ensari. These gifts included silver and gold lamps, chande- while others were taken as booty or confiscated. 8

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