10 interesting facts from Ottoman history

The history of the Ottomans is filled with heroism. Some of these have become epics, while others have taken their place as stories in the dusty pages of history. In the pages of history, there are always incredible events. One of them is an anecdote about the Süleymaniye Mosque as recounted in Evliya Çelebi's 'Seyahatname' (Book of Travels). One of the most colorful celebrations of the Ottoman Empire was the circumcision ceremonies of the princes. During these ceremonies, the craftsmen would present valuable gifts, which became a well-established tradition over time. The first person in our history to use Turkish with the Latin alphabet was Hatice Sultan, the sister of Sultan III. Selim, known for her reforms and compositions. The Maiden's Tower, one of the iconic structures of Istanbul, was also very important during the Ottoman era. The tower served as a prison for a single occasion. In the 17th century, the French wanted to plant trees along the famous Champs-Élysées, and after extensive research, they settled on horse chestnuts because they couldn't install electricity. The most famous tulip grower of the period known as the 'Tulip Era' in history books, which ended with the Patrona Halil uprising, was a merchant named Tabak Ata. In the classical Ottoman governance system, it was customary for princes to accompany their tutors (lalas) and go on campaigns to gain experience in governance. In the palace, there were personnel responsible for almost every task. One of the unseen and lesser-known servants of the Ottoman sultans was the 'tülbent ağas' (turban aides). The meals of the Ottoman sultans were prepared with meticulous care, and at every stage, attendants took precautions against any mishaps.