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Seals of Ottoman Sultans: Tughra

Seals of Ottoman Sultans: Tughra

Seals of Ottoman Sultans: Tughra

Seals of Ottoman Sultans: Tughra

The characteristics and administrative qualities were some of the powerful aspects that defined the Ottoman Empire. Their interest in art was one of the main influences that proved their worth and gave them the ability to sustain such a culturally diverse and enormous empire. It is common sense that understanding and practice of art is needed for such empires in order to maintain their growth most suitably. To keep people safe, calm and pleased, the administration requires a strong hand to rule over them and fulfill their needs. As humankind, our needs to continue living gradually changed from basic needs such as shelter, food, and reproduction to search for knowledge, wisdom. Sultans, pashas, viziers and scholars of Ottoman were aware of such needs, and they were specially educated in the best way in these fields. The mesmerizing seals of Ottoman Sultans is an example of the importance of art and science in the Ottoman Empire. Interwind and influenced by numerous art techniques, Ottoman Sultans had a special kind of seal that had the name of “tughra.”

Tughra is a calligraphic work of art used as a seal or signature by Ottoman Sultans in which their name and father’s name were written in different techniques along with their nicknames. All seals had the names with the inscription of ‘’victorious forever,’’ along with the unique names some Sultans possessed. Tughra was used for the approval of official documents, fermans, and correspondences. This seal was also carved into coins and more products manufactured during each Sultan’s reign. Every Sultan’s Tughra is special to themselves, and each one has his own. Tughra of a Sultan was generally designed and drawn by the calligrapher of the Sultan who called nişancı. First tughra belonged to the Orhan I, and there are many special tughras, such as the one owned by Suleiman the Magnificent.

History of Tughra

The word tughra originates from the Turkic language of Oghuz. Even though evolution and the address of such usage still remain unknown, it’s biased that many Turkic tribes, as well as Seljuks and Mamluks, used to validate their signatures via special seals with their names written on them. Along with the historical presence of this seal, there are many mythological understandings of tughra as well. Some of these beliefs are that tughra comes from “tugri” which is a mystical hawk that watches over Turks, as there are some attending the thought derives from “tuğ,” which is the insignia for horsetails. Although usage of tughra is an ancient practice, typical and detailed version of a tughra that we know as of our day is a product of Ottoman art and remains unchanged for more than six hundred years.

Specialities of Tughra

Tughra that was generally used by Ottoman Sultans, had four basic details. These four components were named “sere,” “tuğ,” “beyze,” and “kol.” Lower portion that consisted of the Sultan’s name was called “sere” while “tuğ” was the three decorative vertical lines accompanied by an S figure. There are two versions of “beyze” that differs in their sizes and are two circular motions on the left side of the tughra. And “kol” is a curved line that connects these details. The base of the tughra has a motive that inscribes “victorious forever,” as other parts and seals describe the name of the Sultan and their father. As tughra was initially written with black ink, Mehmed II changed the ink using gold. Tughra is a well-respected form of art with the essential values it possesses.