Description

Paperback. Pbo. Demy 8vo. (22 x 14 cm). In Turkish. [vii], 208 p. Nisancilar duragi: Transcription by Bilgin Aydin, Rifat Günalan. Edited by Ismail E. Erünsal. Transcription of a manuscrIpt preserved at the Centre for Islamic Studies (ISAM) of Istanbul. Nisanci was a high post in Ottoman bureaucracy. It means 'court calligrapher' or 'sealer', as the original duty of the nisanci was to seal royal precepts. Although the post of the court calligrapher was established during the reign of Orhan (1324-1361), the name nisanci came into use during the reign of Murat II (1421-1451). According to the law of Mehmet II (1451-1481), the nisanci was a member of the divan (Ottoman government). Beginning in the mid-18th century, the post lost its former importance, and in 1836, it was abolished. OTTOMANIA Ottoman culture Bureaucracy Divan-i Hümayûn Kalemiyye.