The Warsaw Manuscript of the Divan of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent: The Current State of Research

Abstract

This paper presents a comprehensive study of Muḥibbî’s Warsaw dīvān, regarded as the earliest dated collection of poetry attributed to Sultan Süleymân. The high quality of the paper and binding indicates that the manuscript was likely compiled within the Ottoman imperial palace, probably under the direct supervision of the sultan himself. The manuscript’s uniqueness and significance lie not only in its inclusion of previously unpublished poems but also in preserving earlier versions of poems whose texts were later revised and appear in a more refinde form in the illuminated dīvāns compiled in around the mid-sixteenth century. The volume features multiple handwriting styles; some sections are attributed to Sultan Süleymān’s own hand, offering important insights into the sultan’s literary identity and active participation in the poetic tradition. Furthermore, the paper used may represent a local Ottoman imitation inspired by Chinese paper, reflecting a significant aesthetic and technical development in Ottoman book arts. The Warsaw manuscript emerges as a valuable resource for understanding Ottoman literature, culture, and art history, as well as the process of imperial identity formation in the 16th century. This study aims to highlight the manuscript’s contributions to Ottoman intellectual history, considering both its textual content and visual characteristics.