Munejjim-bashi Ahmed Dede

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In this Ottoman Turkish style name, the given name is Ahmed, and the family name is Lütfullah.
Ottoman observatory astronomers and astrologers headed by the müneccimbaşı (chief astrologer) using the sextant.

Ahmed Lütfullah (early 17th century – 27 February 1702), better known by his court title of Münejjim Bashi (

Adharbayjan, Shirvan, Arran, Derbent). In Turkish literature
, he is referred to also as Ahmed Lütfullah.

Biography

His father Lütfullah was a native of

müneccimbaşi) in 1667/8. He enjoyed his greatest prominence under Sultan Mehmed IV (reigned 1648–87), who in 1675/6 raised him to the rank of musahib-i padishahi ("imperial companion"), signifying his admittance to the innermost circle of the court.[1][3] He retained the post until Mehmed IV's deposition in November 1687, when he was exiled to Egypt, where his adopted son Moralı Hasan Pasha served as governor. After some time he moved to Mecca, where he became the sheikh of the local Mevlevi lodge. In 1693/4 he moved to Medina for seven years. In 1700, he was recalled to Istanbul to work again as chief astrologer, but declined the offer because of his old age. He returned to Mecca, where he died on 27 February 1702. His tomb was located near the mausoleum of Khadija, the first wife of Muhammad.[1][3]

Works

The Compendium of Nations

Münejjim Bashi's main work is the Jamiʿ al-Duwal ("The Compendium of Nations"), written in

Topkapi Sarayi Museum in Istanbul.[3]

In his history, Münejjim Bashi follows the method used in Islamic historiography by Ibn Khaldun, indicating his sources and submitting them to a critical investigation.[4]

Other works

Although best known for his history, Münejjim Bashi also wrote numerous other works, such as a collection of poems (

pen-name "Ashik" ("lover"), a Lata'if-name, treatises on geometry, music and mysticism, theological commentaries, and a translation of anecdotes of the bawdy bard and often homoerotic Persian satyrist Ubayd Zakani.[1][2][3]

An important work is Hasia, a commentary of the interpretation of the

Al Baidawi.[3]

Of the other works written by Müneccimbaşi the following are worth mentioning:

  • Şerh-i kitâb-ı Ahlâk – annotations on the ethics book of Qadi Adudun.
  • Talikat 'ala Uklidi – a treaty of geometry.
  • Vesilet ül-Vüsûl ilâ Ma'rifet İl-Hamli vel-Mahmûl – the science of logic.
  • Risale-i Mûsikiyye – a treaty of music.
  • Feyz-ül-Harem – a presentation of the city of Mecca and its environment, meant mainly as a guide for pilgrims during their Hajj
  • Cayet-ül-Beyân fi Dekaik-i ilm-ül-Beyân – a study on the use of the metaphor,

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Kramers 1993, pp. 572–573.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Ahmed Dede Müneccimbaşı at the Encyclopædia Britannica.
  3. ^ a b c d e Mihail Guboglu – Cronici turceşti privind ţările române Vol. II –Editura Academiei Republicii Socialiste România, București 1974
  4. ^ a b Hatice Arslan-Sözüdogru – Müneccimbasi als Historiker – Islamkundliche Untersuchungen Band 289, Klaus Schwarz Verlag,
    ISBN 978-3-87997-363-7

Sources

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