İdris-i Bitlisi
Encyclopedia
Idris Bitlisi / Idris Bidlisi or Idris-i Bitlisi / Idris-i Bidlisi, a Kurdish religious scholar and Ottoman administrator, born in Bitlis
in or around 1452-1457. There is some controversy about his actual place of birth possibly having been Diyarbakir
. His full name was Mevlana Hakimeddin İdris Mevlana Hüsameddin Ali-ül Bitlisi. His father, Mevlana Şeyh Hüsameddin Ali-ül Bitlisi, was a well known religious scholar who was a follower of Seyyid Mehmet Nur and the founder of the Nurbahçi sect after his death. Like his father, Idris Bitlisi began his career in the Akkoyunlu court, in the service of Yakup Bey, son of Uzun Hasan. Later he attracted the attention of the Ottoman sultan Yavuz Sultan Selim
and served under him for much of the rest of his life. He joined Yavuz Sultan Selim in his campaigns against Mamluks and Safavids. Bitlisi assisted the sultan in establishing an Ottoman administration in Egypt
after its conquest in 1517. He was appointed to numerous administrative positions of significant responsibility including Kazasker (district supreme administrative judge) of Diyarbakir and Arabia.
He was instrumental in the incorporation of the territories of Urfa and Mosul
into the Ottoman Empire without a war, and of Mardin
, after a long siege. He played a key role in driving the Alevi
Turkomans
from the whole region and the assimilation and Ottomanization of the remaining Sunni Kurds.
He died in Istanbul on November 15, 1520, shortly after the death of his longtime benefactor, Sultan Selim. İdris-i Bitlisi is buried in Eyüp, in the garden of the mescit named "İdris Köşkü" (Idris House) or "İdris Çeşmesi" (Idris Fountain) built by his wife, Zeynep Hatun.
He wrote extensively towards the end of his life: his best known book is "Selim Şahname", an epic history of sultan Selim's reign.
Bitlis
Bitlis is a town in eastern Turkey and the capital of Bitlis Province. The town is located at an elevation of 1,400 metres, 15 km from Lake Van, in the steep-sided valley of the Bitlis River, a tributary of the Tigris. The local economy is mainly based on agricultural products which include...
in or around 1452-1457. There is some controversy about his actual place of birth possibly having been Diyarbakir
Diyarbakir
Diyarbakır is one of the largest cities in southeastern Turkey...
. His full name was Mevlana Hakimeddin İdris Mevlana Hüsameddin Ali-ül Bitlisi. His father, Mevlana Şeyh Hüsameddin Ali-ül Bitlisi, was a well known religious scholar who was a follower of Seyyid Mehmet Nur and the founder of the Nurbahçi sect after his death. Like his father, Idris Bitlisi began his career in the Akkoyunlu court, in the service of Yakup Bey, son of Uzun Hasan. Later he attracted the attention of the Ottoman sultan Yavuz Sultan Selim
Yavuz Sultan Selim
Yavuz Sultan Selim may refer to:* Selim I * SMS Goeben, a German cruiser renamed Yavuz Selim after she was transferred to the Ottoman Empire, and later simply as Yavuz...
and served under him for much of the rest of his life. He joined Yavuz Sultan Selim in his campaigns against Mamluks and Safavids. Bitlisi assisted the sultan in establishing an Ottoman administration in Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
after its conquest in 1517. He was appointed to numerous administrative positions of significant responsibility including Kazasker (district supreme administrative judge) of Diyarbakir and Arabia.
He was instrumental in the incorporation of the territories of Urfa and Mosul
Mosul
Mosul , is a city in northern Iraq and the capital of the Ninawa Governorate, some northwest of Baghdad. The original city stands on the west bank of the Tigris River, opposite the ancient Assyrian city of Nineveh on the east bank, but the metropolitan area has now grown to encompass substantial...
into the Ottoman Empire without a war, and of Mardin
Mardin
Mardin is a city in southeastern Turkey. The capital of Mardin Province, it is known for its Arabic-like architecture, and for its strategic location on a rocky mountain overlooking the plains of northern Syria.-History:...
, after a long siege. He played a key role in driving the Alevi
Alevi
The Alevi are a religious and cultural community, primarily in Turkey, constituting probably more than 15 million people....
Turkomans
Turkmen people
The Turkmen are a Turkic people located primarily in the Central Asian states of Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, and northeastern Iran. They speak the Turkmen language, which is classified as a part of the Western Oghuz branch of the Turkic languages family together with Turkish, Azerbaijani, Qashqai,...
from the whole region and the assimilation and Ottomanization of the remaining Sunni Kurds.
He died in Istanbul on November 15, 1520, shortly after the death of his longtime benefactor, Sultan Selim. İdris-i Bitlisi is buried in Eyüp, in the garden of the mescit named "İdris Köşkü" (Idris House) or "İdris Çeşmesi" (Idris Fountain) built by his wife, Zeynep Hatun.
He wrote extensively towards the end of his life: his best known book is "Selim Şahname", an epic history of sultan Selim's reign.