"ABDURAZZOQ SAMARQANDIY’S ‘MATLA’ US-SA’DAYN WA MAJMA UL-BAHRAYN’: A SIGNIFICANT SOURCE OF HISTORIOGRAPHY IN THE TIMURID ERA OF THE 15TH CENTURY"

Аннотация

This article analyzes the historical and source-critical importance of Matla’ us-sa’dayn wa majma ul-bahrayn, written by the prominent 15th- century Timurid historian Abdurazzoq Samarqandiy (1413–1482). The work is considered a key source for studying the development of the Timurid Empire, its political events, and cultural life. The study explores the structure, content, manuscript copies, and its relevance in modern academic research. Keywords: Abdurazzoq Samarqandiy, Matla’ us-sa’dayn, Timurid era, 15th- century historiography, manuscript copies, source studies Introduction The 15th-century work Matla’ us-sa’dayn wa majma ul- bahrayn holds a prominent place in Central Asian historiography and is regarded as one of the most important historical sources on the Timurid period. Its author, Kamoliddin Abdurazzoq ibn Jaloliddin Is’hoq Samarqandiy, was not only a historian but also a renowned diplomat and statesman of his time. Written between 1441–1442, this two-volume work provides a detailed account of the Timurid Empire’s political, social, and cultural life. Today, the importance of this work in historiography is steadily growing. Serving as a foundational source for studying the Timurid era, Matla’ us-sa’dayn is extensively researched both locally and internationally. Over 20 manuscript copies of the work are preserved in libraries around the world. Literature Review and Methods Research on Abdurazzoq Samarqandiy and his work has been ongoing since the early 20th century. V.V. Bartold, in his History of Cultural Life in Central Asia, highly praised Samarqandiy’s historiographical contributions. Later, foreign scholars like J.A. Boyle and L. Golombek highlighted the work’s value in studying the culture and art of the Timurid era. In Uzbekistan, A. O‘rinboyev played a pivotal role by translating the second part of the work into Uzbek and publishing it in 1960, 1969, and 2008. R.A. Arslonzoda, in his Source Studies, emphasized the significance of Matla’ us- sa’dayn from a source-critical perspective. In Kazakhstan, the work also holds great value. Kazakh historians such as B.E. Kumekov, K.M. Baypakov, and Z.S. Kinayatuly have used it to explore the history of the Kipchak steppes and Kazakh 58 SOLUTION OF SOCIAL PROBLEMS IN MANAGEMENT AND ECONOMY International scientific-online conference khanates. Q.A. Pishulina, in her book Historical Geography of the Kazakh Khanate, analyzes Abdurazzoq Samarqandiy’s information about the Kipchak steppes and Kazakh tribes. Modern Kazakh historians like M.H. Abuseitova and A.T. Toleubaev also utilize the work as a vital source for understanding the political processes in 14th–15th century Kazakhstan. The methods used in this study include: Historical-comparative analysis Source criticism Textual analysis Bibliographical review Discussion and Results Abdurazzoq Samarqandiy’s Life and Scholarly Activities Kamoliddin Abdurazzoq ibn Jaloliddin Is’hoq Samarqandiy was born in 1413 in Herat into a noble and influential family. His father served as a religious judge (qoziskar) under Shahrukh’s reign. Abdurazzoq received a high- quality education in history, Islamic law, and religious sciences. In 1438, he began serving in Shahrukh’s court, organizing diplomatic correspondence and receiving foreign envoys. He himself was sent as Shahrukh’s ambassador to various countries. His most significant mission was to Calicut in 1441 to the court of Raja Vijayanagar. He lived there for over two years and returned to Herat in December 1444. Structure and Content of Matla’ us-sa’dayn wa majma ul-bahrayn The title translates to “The Rise of the Two Fortunate Stars and the Confluence of the Two Seas.” The work is divided into two volumes: The first volume covers the Timurid era, particularly the life of Amir Temur and his sons. It provides detailed information about the empire created by Temur and its political, social, and military achievements. The second volume discusses the reign of Shahrukh and Ulugh Beg, including political developments, governance, and cultural life. It highlights Ulugh Beg’s contributions to science, astronomy, and culture. The work is written in Persian in a prose style using the nastaʿlīq script, with gold and blue marginal decorations. The manuscript contains 286 pages, covering events from 1316 to 1427. Today, manuscript copies are preserved in more than 20 countries. Major copies are found in: The British Museum (London) National Library of France (Paris) Institute of Oriental Studies of the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan (Tashkent) 59 SOLUTION OF SOCIAL PROBLEMS IN MANAGEMENT AND ECONOMY International scientific-online conference National Library of Iran Libraries in Austria, Germany, and Russia A critical edition of the text was published in Lahore by Pakistani scholar Muhammad Shafi in 1941 and 1949. Parts of the text have been translated into French, English, Russian, and Turkish. Currently, Matla’ us-sa’dayn is being actively studied by historians, orientalists