Description
The sword of sultan Mehmed II, decorated with gold it is inscribed with the following prayer:
“In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful (Bismillâhirrahmanirrahim). Praise be to Allah (Elhamdülillah) the Almighty, the one who strengthens the bonds of faith and righteousness with clean and sharp swords and with elevated lines. Peace and blessings (Salat ve Selam), and all the best of expressions to the Prophet Muhammad and his family. Oh, my Allah! To glorify the power of faith, the soldiers (mucahit) and victors (ghazi) of the Sultan are fighting. Please give power to the son of Murad Khan, Mehmed Khan so that whenever he unsheathes his sword to fight (cihat), it will be sharp to spread Thy laws (şeriat), so it will reach the necks of Your enemies (dushmanlarinin). Bless me, O Allah, Lord of the worlds. He is the son of Murad Khan, who is son of Mehmed, the son of Bayazid, the son of Murat, the son of Orhan, son of Osman. Allah, make ground of the graves of the martyrs (gazillerin) a paradise under the shady gardens with streams of pure water under the heavens. Amin, O Lord of the Worlds (Amin ya Rabb el-Amin)”.
My translation from Turkish ©Elveo-art.tumblr
The weapon is 125 cm. long and weights 2.3 kg. Made of solid brass. The handle is made from a ram’s horn. Now is held in Topkapı museum in Istanbul.
Mehmed Han or Meḥmed-i s̠ānī - Mehmed II, also known as Mehmed el-Fatih - Mehmed the Conqueror (b. 30 March 1432 – d. 3 May 1481) 7th Sultan of the Ottoman Empire. Became a regent from August 1444 to September 1446, and later was enthroned as the sultan in 3 February 1451 (at his 19), he ruled and expanded his Empire 33 years till his sudden death caused by illness.
At the age of 21, he conquered Constantinople, the capital of Byzantium, and transformed the Eastern Roman Empire into the Ottoman state. Mehmed continued his many conquests in Eastern Europe (Balkans) and Asia. His successfully conquered territories were: Karaman, Serbia, Morea, Amasra, Sinop, Trebizond, Wallachia, Lesbos, Bosnia, Negroponte, Moldavia and Albania.
In Turkey Mehmed II is regarded as a national hero and a legend. In his life he built many centers, schools, mosques and other architectural complexes. He built the mosque of Fatih (1463 to 1470) where he was later buried in his türbe (tomb). Istanbul’s Fatih University and Fatih College, Fatih Bridge, Fatih district and municipality are all named after him.
From author: There are Constantinople Theodosian walls behind the young Sultan. I made him look exactly like historical Mehmed: with gold-reddish beard, parrot beak-like nose, large and bright eyes with long lashes, cherry lips and rosy cheeks (as how he was described by his poets and viziers). While I’m writing my large epic trilogy about Mehmed and RaduI, I’m deeply inspired by real history and more and more I am convinced to depict or describe something that is close to reality.
Comments: 32
SarpS [2019-09-15 16:30:38 +0000 UTC]
As a Turk I have to say, I admired this work. Fascinating...
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Elveo In reply to SarpS [2019-10-13 16:50:44 +0000 UTC]
Tesekkurler. Onur duydum :3
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chilliarch [2018-09-30 01:26:36 +0000 UTC]
I like to think that Ghazal #2 was thought up by Radu (Süleyman & crescent, for me, will be Mehmed's attributes )
"If my eyes shed tears of my heart’s pain about you,
Then my secret concealed would be obvious to you [...]
You sit on the throne of beauty, while I stand on the soil of the road.
How should I help myself, an ant, while you are my Süleyman?
When the morning comes I am faithful, but love-stricken
When the day will end, oh you, my shining crescent!"
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chilliarch In reply to Elveo [2018-10-08 14:35:10 +0000 UTC]
Oh certainly!!
Look at the two last verses: You know how each believer calls themselves "faithful", "ever faithful" re. their religious creed, see? Radu calls himself "faithful" , "Christ-loving" on his writ.
So--
"I am faithful in the morning, when I am left to my own devices, and to the Cross, but at night I am not because of you, my shining crescent" (Islamic symbol, yes?)
lol, but this is me , and I am helplessly romantic about these two!
By the way, IMHO, I do not believe that Radu was forced to convert, even during his schooling... As I see it, there was no necessity, when you are taught to respect and value such a rich cultural past and background. It is, by itself, alluring, without the need to be imposed
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Elveo In reply to chilliarch [2018-10-17 17:02:42 +0000 UTC]
Me as well, dear. These two infatuate me during all these years.
Radu was not a slave, he was a royal hostage, and in from ancient times political hostages were kept as guests with all their rights. The only right they didn't have is to leave the place were they ought to stay.
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chilliarch In reply to Elveo [2018-10-20 16:17:39 +0000 UTC]
Yep, the hostages. Philip of Macedon was also a hostage once. It was typical, I think, of ancient times.
Oh those two.... 🤔🤔😍
I know one such similar historical fact, the relationship between Hadrian emp. and Antinous, a young Bithynian, around 120 A.D. Maybe you'll know about them. Hadrian was seriously head-over-hills re. Antinous. Antinous died, and Hadrian was never the same after that, so they say.
I was So Terribly Shocked when I read the ghazal 30, Veyis. I had to walk up 'n down the full extension of my house out of thrill that the ghazal can very well be Mehmed's reminiscences upon Radu, after Radu was gone. So heart-breaking and, as it usually happens, so beautiful. The way he writes about the settled meal for a banquet with tears and a wasted heart... That was too much!
Incidently, when did Mehmed started his famous diwan, do you know?
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Elveo In reply to chilliarch [2018-10-25 10:03:16 +0000 UTC]
Who doesn't know Antinous and Hadrian? Of course. Adrianople the city where Mehmed was born was named after the latter emperor.
Veys is my favorite ghazal of Avni, and tend to consider it is about Radu. Really in those times men loved their youths just like men loved women: they dated in beautiful places, they brought flowers, presents, sang songs and wrote poems, kissed under the moon and walked among the blooming gardens - same.
I think Mehmed started writing his ghazals since he was young, because the princes were taught to poetry since youth. And 84 poems (some parts of them lost) is all that was gathered by collectors, it means the others are fully lost.
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chilliarch In reply to Elveo [2018-11-15 14:44:18 +0000 UTC]
Hello
Yes, Edirne / Adrianopolis.
I always see a strong resemblance between both guys, Mehmed and Hadrian. Both were scholars and poets, and lovers of beauty -- either beautiful art and beautiful young man
And, of course, both were very powerful.
And, you know, Antinous was always with Hadrian, and it is known that Radu was always with Mehmed, at least as long as he was not appointed voevod... They must have parted then.
I have read your e-text on the 'Veyis' ghazal, and I love the way you analyze the choice of words. But, for me, you know, it is a very painful ghazal, as I feel that the poet is pining his way through the night because of this sudden visit - Veyis in the centre of his thought/emotion.
Oh did they go for moonlight strolls? Aww, that's so "persian miniature", is it not? So A Thousand and One Nights
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Elveo In reply to chilliarch [2018-11-19 08:49:04 +0000 UTC]
Even in face they have some resemblance.
That's true. I guess they have been together since the summer of 1444 till 1462.
I don't think Mehmed's feelings were as exactly as described in a poem. I mean it's just a poem and Eastern people love to exaggerate their mood, that's just their style.
I can guess they did. Why not? Laonic Chalcocondyles hints on that, and if you read the works of Ottoman historians on the way men loved their boys, it's all just like that: they went to gardens, went swimming or bathing in hammams - as described by Evliya Celebi or in poems such as of Nedim he invites his beloved in the park Sadabad, or as Ashik Celebi wrote about Meali he expected the visit of his janissary boy with wine and a dinner. There's more to reveal than just Persian miniature or 1001 nights hahah.
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Arslan-0001 [2018-08-08 07:25:22 +0000 UTC]
The fatih who could speak 8 languages
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Elveo In reply to Arslan-0001 [2018-08-11 13:13:54 +0000 UTC]
Yeah, arabic and persian he knew for sure
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ArsinoeR [2018-04-16 11:40:56 +0000 UTC]
i'm turkish and your work of mehmed in this art is amazing!!
for most of the people, mehmed was cruel and hee looks like that but i really like your art especially showing the mehmed like a real soldier and a hero
but also there's naiveness in this art which i adore so much and i see your effort in this one <3
you should keep that kind of portraits much!! they're amazing!!
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ArsinoeR In reply to Elveo [2018-04-21 19:35:23 +0000 UTC]
i wish most of the people see that just like you.
teşekkürler for your interest of mehmed and the ottoman; it's always give me happiness to see such adorable arts
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Elveo In reply to ArsinoeR [2018-04-23 10:53:02 +0000 UTC]
Evet, same here. So all we can do is share the truth with those who strive for it.
Indeed, Mehmed Fatih is like a hero of his own time, since I truly love his poetry that I even try to translate it to English and Russian. I admire his talent, his genius, his love of art, literature and science. Some historians put him on the same level with Alexander the Great and Cyrus the Great. And I won't argue.
Speaking of interest in ottomans, I adore all the Turkish authors of 15-16 century, starting with teacher of Fatih, the Ahmed Pasha, and then Isa Necati, Ahmed Nedim, Hayali, Evliya Celebi, Nezim Frakulla (yup, he was Albanian), Mustafa Ali, Me'Ali. Their poetry and texts are my pure inspiration to learn the beautiful side of the East.
ve rica ederim, azizim
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MC-Neko [2018-01-06 15:14:49 +0000 UTC]
I adore how much effort you put into your art and I love the free history lessons that come with it. lease keep it up.
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Elveo In reply to MC-Neko [2018-01-06 17:48:39 +0000 UTC]
Great to see you here and thank you for the praise and support! Surely I will, as long as people like you are interested in my works. Sincerely yours, Elv
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CORVUSTears [2017-07-29 16:27:19 +0000 UTC]
So cool! Love the details on the sword! Oh, I love Mehmed the Conqueror so much...
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Elveo In reply to CORVUSTears [2017-08-12 05:06:48 +0000 UTC]
Oh that's rare to hear indeed)
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Elveo In reply to CORVUSTears [2017-08-31 17:47:21 +0000 UTC]
Oh great. My musical taste go far beyond that. but yeah, let's just surprise the World with revolution of aesthetics)
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CORVUSTears In reply to Elveo [2017-08-31 18:11:37 +0000 UTC]
Mine too. I listen a lot to Omar Faruk Tekbilek, to some metal, Arabian trap... It will be so long to write all the tastes of music that I listen to Hell yeah! Let's surprise the world with that
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firstsonic [2017-06-03 20:30:17 +0000 UTC]
this is one of your best works
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RoBerTa-talia [2017-04-28 18:58:09 +0000 UTC]
This is so beautiful! All these details - They must have taken DOZENS amounts of time. Good job!
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Elveo In reply to RoBerTa-talia [2017-05-17 13:50:22 +0000 UTC]
Thanks! when the work becomes pleasure, nothing is hard)
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NikosBoukouvalas [2017-04-10 17:47:20 +0000 UTC]
Excellent work here. Both the mail, the helmet, the sword and the walls are splendidly done. Did the inscription on the sword took you a lot of time to make? They look like a nightmare to pull off.
I have to say, though I have seen some suits of plated mail, I am not familiar with the rerebraces you portray here. They look like some worn by byzantine soldiers (icon of Basil II from the Paris Psalter)
Also, will Constantine Palaiologos make an appearance? (He was a rather inspiring figure) Or does the story begin after the Fall of Constantinople?
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Elveo In reply to NikosBoukouvalas [2017-05-17 13:37:11 +0000 UTC]
Thanks! The inscription was not really hard, I enjoyed it! Some words drawn, some words were copied right from the photo - they were just so beautiful (I used the selecting the of gold color).
I used the examples of ottoman armor or 15-16 century like these:
www.turkgifts.com/1059-thickbo…
4.bp.blogspot.com/-sQdp-yG5lnQ…
This was used for helmet of Mehmed II
c1.staticflickr.com/9/8150/290…
Yes it is actually his helmet
OMG I just really love it
In my drawings? Oh he's an interesting figure as well as many Byzantines I want to draw, like Loukas Notaras and more. I'm also very inspired by the Crusade of Varna characters.
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