The Depiction of Historical Ruler-Poets in The Tazkiras “Majolis Un-Nafois” And “Hasht Bihisht”

Аннотация

This article explores the representation of historical ruler-poets in Alisher Navoi's Majolis un-Nafois and Sahiy Bey’s Hasht Bihisht, the latter being one of the foundational biographical anthologies (tazkiras) of Ottoman Turkish literature. The study focuses on how these works praise rulers and reflect their noble character traits and devotion to poetry. It also compares the two tazkiras in terms of their unique features and differences. Furthermore, the article provides excerpts from the poetic legacy of ruler-creators, offering evaluative insights into their literary contributions. Keywords: Tazkira, biographical tradition, poets, majlis, tabaqa (tier), paradise, analysis, matla (opening verse), comparison. Introduction: A tazkira serves as a valuable resource Navoi begins this majlis with a description of Amir not only for literary scholars but also for researchers in Timur, calling him “the garden of royal trees and the other fields. For historians in particular, such texts are ocean of princely gems, the emperor of world critical for understanding the lives, political conduct, conquest, Sahibqiran.” Although Timur did not and personal attributes of scholars, scribes, officials, compose poetry himself, Navoi emphasizes his deep and rulers from specific historical periods. appreciation of poetry and eloquence: As literary scholar K. Quramboyev notes, the study of "Though he did not engage in versifying, he recited literary connections and mutual influences has become both verse and prose so eloquently in proper time and an undeniable fact and a key factor in the progress of place that his recitation of a single verse was worth world literatures. No literature has ever developed in more than a thousand composed lines." complete isolation, confined only to its own traditions Navoi also highlights Timur’s traits of forgiveness and and devoid of external influence. From this perspective, tolerance through a well-known story involving Haji our research compares Navoi's and Sahiy Bey’s tazkiras, Abdulqadir, illustrating Timur’s exceptional moral revealing that Hasht Bihisht, like many other tazkiras, is character. heavily influenced by Navoi’s masterwork. The majlis also praises Timur’s son, Shahrukh Mirza. The seventh majlis (gathering) of Alisher Navoi’s While Shahrukh did not write poetry, Navoi notes that Majolis un-Nafois is dedicated to Amir Timur and the he had a poetic sensibility and sharp intellect. This is literary figures of the Timurid dynasty. This section illustrated through an anecdote shared by Abulqasim provides invaluable insights into the literary Babur: environment of the Timurid court. It discusses a total of When Khwaja Qivamuddin, an architect, criticized one 22 ruler-poets, beginning with Sahibqiran (Amir Timur) of Shahrukh's building projects, he fell out of favor for and ending with Sultan Ali Mirza. Notably, four of these about a year. Later, he attempted to regain his position figures—Khalil Sultan, Shah Gharib Mirza, Saydi Ahmad by presenting a calendar to Shahrukh. Upon receiving Mirza, and Sultan Mas’ud Mirza—are identified as it, Shahrukh smiled and recited a couplet by Saadi prince-poets who left behind complete poetic Shirazi: collections (diwans). "You have not yet perfected your work on the earth— International Journal Of Literature And Languages 34 https://theusajournals.com/index.php/ijll International Journal Of Literature And Languages (ISSN: 2771-2834) And now you turn to tasks in the heavens?" truthfulness. This is evident in his depiction of Abdulatif Mirza, where he writes: Navoi concludes this account by remarking, "It is no wonder that such a son would be born of such a father." "He was of a melancholic temperament, obsessive in nature, and bore signs of madness. Beyond this, he had The first Timurid ruler-poet mentioned as a possessor other strange negative traits unfit for open mention. of a diwan in the seventh majlis is Khalil Sultan Mirza. For worldly gain, he killed his wise father, the king." He was the son of Mironshah and the grandson of Amir Timur, raised under the care of Saroy Mulk Khanum. Navoi supports this account by referencing the According to historical sources, he was known for his historical episode of Khosrow and Shiruya: charming personality and handsome appearance from "Just as the throne showed loyalty to Shiruya, it did so a young age, and there is a wealth of information about to him." him in various chronicles. For instance, in The History Nonetheless, Abdulatif Mirza’s talent in poetry is also of Timur, Ibn Arabshah describes him as follows: acknowledged—his inclination toward verse and his "Khalil Sultan was as handsome as Yusuf, as well- skill in composing poetry are noted. mannered as Muhammad, and as loyal as Abraham. He As Russian scholar S.A. Vengerov observed in 1919, a possessed a variety of refined qualities… His virtues and true literary historian must not focus only on famous graces were apparent to all who met him… Everyon