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 […]
Increase in Pay and Advancement
As the pages advanced in rank and responsibility, their pay and daily allowance also increased. At first, they received only
The Education of Young Men in the Seraglio
In the Ottoman Empire, the education of young men in the Seraglio (the royal palace) was carefully organized to prepare
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
The Arz Agalar and Their Special Role
There were nine officers in the Seraglio known as the Arz Agalar. These men held a special privilege: they were
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
The Official Income of the Grand Vizier
The official revenues of the Grand Vizier, which come directly from the Crown and are fixed parts of the office,
The Sultan’s Table at the Vizier’s Expense
The Grand Signior often demands twenty dishes of meat, which is the usual amount served at his ordinary table. On
The Vast Wealth of a Greedy Vizier
If a Grand Vizier is naturally careful with money and used to living frugally, he often decides to lose nothing