Death and Life in the Ottoman Palace Revelations of the Sultan Abdülhamid I Tomb

Delves into a royal tomb in order to expand our understanding of Ottoman palace culture
Presents the first book to explore the Sultan Abdülhamid I Tomb in Istanbul – also known as the Hamidiye Tomb Complex
Unveils the lives of the 86 men, women and children of the Ottoman palace buried there
Draws on a range of primary sources translated from Ottoman Turkish for the first time, from archival documents and contemporary chronicles to epitaphs
Interprets for readers the wide range of Ottoman art, architecture, language, poetry and cultural customs encountered at this tomb complex
Provides an overview of the Islamic calendar system, the Ottoman culture of death and funerals, the Ottoman attitude toward smallpox vaccination and titles at court
This book reveals multiple aspects of life in the Ottoman palace, in both its public space (the chancery) and private space (the royal household and the harem). It does so by exploring the Sultan Abdülhamid I Tomb in Istanbul, investigating the paths that open to us through the graves of the royalty in the mausoleum and those of the courtiers, eunuchs, concubines and female harem managers in the garden graveyard around it. The treasure of information at this graveyard allows us to piece together a wide spectrum of details that illuminate the court funerary culture of the era, from architecture and calligraphy to funerals and epitaphs to turbans and fezzes and poetry, as we come to an understanding of the role of royal cemeteries in strengthening the bonds between the reigning House and the populace and enhancing the legitimacy of the dynasty’s rule.