Mir’âtü’l-Kâinât

One of the most fundamental sources consulted in historical research is the vekâyinâmes, or chronicles. In this regard, we possess a rich heritage, particularly with respect to Ottoman history. While some of these sources were written as independent histories of the Ottoman Empire, others appear as sections devoted to the Ottomans within general histories. Mir’âtü’l-Kâinât, written by Nişancızâde Mehmed Efendi (d. 1031/1621), one of the scholars distinguished by his scholarly and historical learning, is an extensive historical work belonging to the latter category. This substantial work attracted considerable interest both at the time it was written and in subsequent centuries. Indeed, the presence of dozens of manuscript copies in manuscript libraries both in Türkiye and abroad, as well as the work’s several printed editions during the late Ottoman period, attests to this interest.

The work examines in detail the history of the prophets together with the development of Islamic states. One section is devoted to Ottoman history and covers the period from the foundation of the state to the death of Kanûnî Sultan Süleyman. Prepared through comparative readings of the sources used by the author, the study includes a transcription of the text into the Latin alphabet, with annotations where necessary. Another feature that makes the study particularly significant is that a manuscript in Nişancızâde’s own hand was identified in the preparation of the Ottoman history section of Mir’âtü’l-Kâinât, and the text was prepared on the basis of this copy.