The Unstable Nature of Power among the Turks
Stories like the one just told are common among the Turks. They clearly show how men are raised by fortune […]
Complaints Against Corrupt Officers
The dervish continued his complaint by saying that the officers responsible for public order were careless and negligent in correcting
A Humble Man in Trouble
Among those affected by the shortage of meat was a dervish, who worked as a cook for a chamber of
Honor and Humility in Ottoman Thought
Among the Turks, it was not considered shameful to move down from the highest positions of honor and command to
Loss of Office Does Not Always Mean Death
It did not always happen that a Prime Vizier, when removed from his office, also lost his life. Although the
Envy Rivalry and Court Politics
Emulation and flattery were powerful forces in the Ottoman court. Many rival groups and factions competed for influence, and this
The Danger and Glory of the Highest Office
The office of the Prime Vizier was not only the highest position of duty and trust in the empire, but
Seizure of Goods and Abuse of Authority
In the service of the Grand Signior, goods belonging to merchants were sometimes taken without agreement or payment. These seizures
The Limits and Extent of the Prime Vizier’s Power
The Prime Vizier held authority almost as wide as that of the Sultan who granted it to him. In most
The Maxims of Turkish Politics
The Office of the Grand Vizier The Prime Vizier, called in Turkish Vezir-i Azam, means the chief counselor of the