Or 16120

This volume contains a biography of the Bosnian vizier Murtaza Paşa (1000-1045 AH/1592-1635 CE). The work was composed by Nergisi Mehmed Efendi (died 1044 AH/1635 CE), perhaps the most distinguished writer of ornate Ottoman prose (inşa).

Nergisi was born in Sarajevo between the years 988-994 AH/1580-1586 CE. He began his education in Sarajevo and continued studying in Istanbul, receiving his mülazemet from his teacher and patron Kafzade Feyzullah Efendi (died 1020 AH/1611 CE). He went on to serve as a kadı in various posts, mainly in Rumelia and espeically in Bosnia. He was appointed by Murad IV as vak‘anüvis for the Revan campaign in 1044 AH/1634-5 CE. However, due to a fall from his horse near Gebze, he died soon after, on 9 Şevval 1044 AH/28 March 1635 CE.

Composed in 1038 AH/1628-9 CE and sometimes called Gazavat-ı Murtaza Paşa, Nergisi composed the Vasfu’l-kamil while kadı of Banja Luka in 1038 AH/1628 CE. The work recounts the life, exemplary character, and battlefield victories of Murtaza Paşa, then governor of Buda. The latter was appointed to this role in 1036 AH/1626-7 CE and was appointed to Ochakiv in 1039 AH/1629-30 CE. He died in Yerevan in 1045 AH/1635 CE. The work is organised in a mukaddime and five parts, called vasıflar (also adumbrated on ff 8v-9r). They are as follows:

• (9r-13v) Mukaddime
• (13v-21v) Vasf-ı evvel: On Murtaza Paşa’s praiseworthy characteristics, his piety, his love for the ulema and the pious, his care for the destitute and those in his charge
• (21v-34r) Vasf-ı sani: On his courage, gallantry, and bravery, his skill in the arts of war and astute governorship, his control of criminals and bandits
• (34r-44r) Vasf-ı salis: On Murtaza Paşa’s curbing of oppression, reprehensible innovation, corruption, and his building of fortresses and buildings
• (44r-60v) Vasf-ı rabi‘: On his courage in engaging the enemy in their own fortresses and territories, which the Muslims have not entered since the dawn of time
• (60v-78r) Vasf-ı hamis: On Murtaza Paşa’s overcoming the enemies of Islam, forcing them to come to peace and thereby preserving the safety and security in the Ottoman lands. Moreover, on God allowing Murtaza Paşa to unprecedentedly accomplish a successful winter campaign in Hungary without suffering from shortfalls in fighters and supplies.

The present manuscript lacks the first page of text. There is gilding of poor quality on ff 1v-2r. The gilding on 1v appears to be a later replacement, and also has a small, coloured headpiece. There is an inscription mentioning a peace treaty between the Porte and Russia on the front flyleaf.

Begins:

...dil-ara-yı hatır-guşasından keşide-bala olan her nevres-nihal tabir u edanın bih u bin mevzu-u medlulüne isale cuy-bar, imla ve inşada bi-diriğ-saz makdur-ı nadire-peyma olan…

Ends:

yümn-i teveccüh-i Hazret-i Şehriyar-ı dadgüster ile serhadd-ı memalik-i mansure mamur ve abazan (sic, i.e. abadan) ve çarcihet-i gülşen-seray-ı dünyada hazar gune şükufe-i hoş-buy-i emani ve amal şüküfte ve handan oldu ve’lhamdülillahi …

The work is undated, but is probably from the later 11th century AH/17th century AH.