Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror’s Announcement of the Conquest of Istanbul
Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror continued the tradition of announcing conquests to the Islamic world through letters known as “Be§aretname.” These letters contained remarkable details about the conquests, including the plundering of treasures and the capture of territories. Ahmet Ate§, relying on Feridun Bey’s book ‘mtin§eati Selatin’, has provided insights into the contents of these letters.
Contents of the Letters
The first letter, dictated by Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror and written by Molla Gurani, was sent to the Egyptian ruler Inal Shah. It expressed gratitude for the conquest and detailed the spoils obtained. In response, Emir Cemaleddin el-Kabuni conveyed Egypt’s appreciation for the conquest and expressed goodwill towards Sultan Mehmet. The letter included a list of gifts intended to strengthen the bond between the two rulers, including swords, daggers, maces, textiles, horses, elephants, and more Istanbul Old City Tours.
Gifts Exchanged
The gifts sent by Sultan Mehmet to the Egyptian ruler included various valuable items such as swords with golden sheaths, daggers, maces, textiles made of red velvet and silk, horses, elephants, and glassware. These gifts were carefully chosen to symbolize goodwill, strengthen diplomatic ties, and honor the tradition of gift exchange between rulers Ottoman Diplomacy and Wealth.
The exchange of letters and gifts between Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror and the Egyptian ruler exemplifies the diplomatic protocols followed during conquests in the Islamic world. Through these gestures, rulers demonstrated respect, gratitude, and a desire for friendly relations. The careful selection of gifts reflected the importance placed on diplomatic alliances and the tradition of reciprocity in gift-giving. Overall, these exchanges played a crucial role in maintaining diplomatic stability and fostering goodwill between neighboring states.
