A full Life and Times biography of Süleyman, the longest reigning Sultan of the Ottoman Empire.
What emerges is a compelling account of a ruler, his family, his close associates, and the Ottoman imperial project itself during the transformational sixteenth century..
Based on original sources in multiple languages, Peerless Among Princes narrates Süleyman\'s achievements as well as his failures.
Nearly half a millennium after his death, the Life of Süleyman has been obscured by romanticized and exoticized narratives.
Towards the end of his life, he had to overcome both debilitating sickness and the agitations of his sons to remain on the throne.
Defying established practice, he married a concubine named Hürrem whose love and affection became a true refuge.
He grew up with an overbearing father whose legacy was both an advantage and a burden.
Behind the public façade of might and glory, Süleyman led a complicated life.
Süleyman\'s prolific poetic output, his frequent appearances during public ceremonies, his charity, and his patronage of arts and architecture enhanced his reputation as a universal ruler with a well-rounded character.
Imperial governance expanded considerably, and the law was emphasized as the main bond between the ruler and the ruled.
During his reign, the Ottoman Empire became a truly global power.
He presided over a multilingual and multireligious empire that promised peace and prosperity to its subjects.
Süleyman was engaged in bitter rivalries with the Catholic Habsburgs in Europe and the Shiite Safavids in the Middle East.
The wealth of his treasury, the strength of his armies, and his personality were much discussed by historians, poets, courtiers, diplomats and publics across Eurasia.
His domain extended from Hungary to Iran, and from the Crimea to North Africa and the Indian Ocean.
Süleyman, who ruled the Ottoman Empire between 1520 and 1566, was a globally recognized figure during his lifetime.
A full Life and Times biography of Süleyman, the longest reigning Sultan of the Ottoman Empire
