Page 44 - The Age of Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent

6. Illuminated scrlevha from the Vakfiye of Hürrem Sultan transcribed in
1540 (Istanbul, Turk ve islam Eserleri Müzesi, 2191, fols. lb-2a)

which areas painted in gold and blue, each overlaid with po- duties and responsibilities, specifies the types of meals to be
lychrome blossoms and rumis, are delicately balanced (6). distributed, assigns the Babüssaade Agasi (chief official in
Blue spiral scrolls with hatayi blossoms appear behind the charge of the Enderun) as the overseer of the vakif, and
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gold text, repeating the design found on the tugras of the sul- names the trustee. The vakfiye was prepared with great care
tan. Blue hatayis accompanied by red carnations are also and foresight, making sure that the activities of the complex
used on the finíais. were properly and judiciously handled for centuries to come.
The text states that the vakif (endowment) is to be sup- It is typical of scores of documents issued by Süleyman to
ported by revenue obtained from lands assigned to Hürrem protect and maintain the religious, charitable, and social insti-
Sultan and lists in detail the salaries of the staff, outlines their tutions established in the endowments.

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