Suleiman The Magnificent

Sultan Suleiman The Magnificent Facts

Suleiman I inherited the throne at the age of 26 and reigned for 46 years, from 1520 to 1566. He was the only male child of the previous ruler Selim I. Therefore he did not struggle to seize the precious throne of Ottoman Empire as his predecessors.

The young Sultan immediately proved himself to be a man of many talents and many titles. His original title is Sultan Suleiman I of Ottoman Empire. However he is commonly known as Suleiman the Magnificent in the Europe and as Suleiman the Lawgiver in Turkey and eastern world.

Suleiman The Magnificent Facts and Achivements

Suleiman personally instituted major legislative changes relating to society, education, taxation, and criminal law. His ground-breaking Codex-Suleiman synthesized Turkish traditions, Islamic law and secular law. His concept of “Justice” fixed the form of the empire for centuries after his death as a cornerstone of the Ottoman Law. That is how he acquired the title of Kanuni “Lawgiver” in Turkish History.

His skill as military strategist doubled the size of his Ottoman Empire. Suleiman commanded his armies personally in conquering the Christian strongholds of Belgrade, Hungary as well as Rhodes. He went as far as the gates of Vienna in 1529. Turkish fleet dominated Mediterranean Sea under his rule. He had brilliant military strategist Pargalı Ibrahim Pasha as his Grand Vizier (Prime Minister) and Hayreddin Barbarossa as admiral of the fleet.

Sultan Suleiman lived in Topkapi Palace

Topkapi Palace

16th Century: Age Of Kings

The 16th century is also known as Age of Kings. The Tudors: Henry VIII and Elisabeth I of England, Ivan the Terrible of Russia, Francis I of France, Holy Roman Emperor Charles V were all contemporaries of Suleiman the Magnificent.

Francis I and Suleiman I

At home, he was a distinguished poet and goldsmith. He was also a great patron of arts, architecture, calligraphy, weaponry, tiles, textile and woodwork. His reign was the golden age of Ottoman culture.

Chief Ottoman Architect, Mimar Sinan, served to him for long years. Sinan built his masterpiece: Süleymaniye Mosque as a eternal resting place for Sultan Suleiman and his beloved wife Roxelana (Also known as Hürrem Sultan). Their tombs can be seen next to Suleymaniye Mosque in the heart of the historic Istanbul.

The Suleymaniye Mosque

Süleymaniye Mosque built by Architect Sinan

His Wife Hurrem Sultan (Roxelana)

Ottoman Sultans tradditionally did not ever marry. Sultan Suleiman broke the imperial rules and married Roxelana. She is believed to have been Russian or Ukranian origin. Sultan fell in love with this beautiful concubine and married her. In 25 years of marriage Sultan Suleiman remained monogamous.

She was one of the most powerful and influential women in Ottoman history as ever known. She achieved too much power and influenced the politics of the Ottoman Empire through her husband Suleiman and played an active role in state affairs of the Empire. Her era is considered as the beginning of the Sultanate of Women.

Roxelana The Wife Of Suleiman

Roxelana (Hürrem Sultan) The Wife

Magnificent Century – Sultan Suleyman TV Show

Their love story has been the subject of TV series in Turkish channels. Muhteşem Yüzyıl (Magnificent Century) TV series has been on screen for the last 3 years and millions of people watched story of Suleiman and Roxelana. The local soap opera became extremely succesful in Turkey and Middle Eastern countries as well as Eastern Europe and Russia.

Sultan Suleiman TV Show

Sultan Suleiman TV Show Full Cast

Sultan Suleiman The Magnificent Legacy

At the time of Sultan Suleiman’s death, the Ottoman Empire was one of the world’s prominent powers. Sultan Suleiman’s conquests had brought under the control of the Empire the majority of Muslim cities (Mecca, Medina, Jerusalem, Damascus, Cairo, Baghdad) many Balkan provinces (reaching present day Austria and Croatia), and majority of North Africa. His expansion to the central Europe had given the Ottoman Turks a strong presence in the European balance of power. His only failure was famous Siege of Vienna.

Ottoman Empire Map Under Sultan Suleiman

Ottoman Empire Map Greatest Extent

Sultan Suleiman’s Tomb in Suleymaniye Mosque

Sultan Suleiman Tomb in Suleymaniye Mosque

Longest reign granted to Suleiman the Magnificent among 36 Ottoman Sultans throughout 624 years. He spent half of his lifetime in military campaigns. He left a massive empire to his son Selim II.

Written By Serhat Engul

Sultan Suleiman The Magnificent Facts