Chapter 1 - At the Beginning: The Formation of the Kurdish-Ottoman Nobility of Palu in the Sixteenth Century

Summary

Soon after, Kethüdabey appeared at the door: ‘It is the hâkim of Palu, Cemşit Bey,’ he called out. [Cemşit Bey] looked to be in his fifties. He was very tall and had a dark complexion. He was wearing an abani turban and an embroidered cardigan. There was an empty scabbard for a dagger on his belt wrapped around his waist. His dagger was taken before he entered; it was forbidden to appear before the sultan with a weapon. Cemşit Bey was one of the Kurdish beys who declared their loyalty to the Sultan during the Çaldıran Battle where he distinguished himself and he showed significant achievements. He put in effort and had a share in victory. [Bey] stopped three feet from the throne, put his hand on his chest and greeted the Sultan. The Sultan responded, ‘Aleykümüsselâm, Cemşit Bey; it makes us pleased to see you among us. How are our brethren along the borderlines?’

[…]

‘I represent the Sunni Kurdish Beys in your presence. They chose me from among themselves. They asked me to convey their loyalty.’ He took out a kozak from his belt and passed it to Sultan: ‘Here is the deed of alliance. It is sealed by twenty-five Kurdish beys.’ Sultan Selim opened the kozak, took the paper out and read it carefully. Kurdish beys were proclaiming their unconditional acceptance of the sublime and just rule of the Ottomans. There were twenty-five seals on the bottom of the page. The hâkim of Bitlis Emir Şerefüddin, the melik of Hizan Emir Davud, the emir of Hisnakeyfa from the Ayyubid [descent] Melik II. Halil, the hâkim of Imadiye Sultan Hüseyin and others. The Sultan’s face lightened up. He said ‘thanks.’ ‘God bless you all. Now we will get a menşur written and give it to you. We are appointing these beys whose names appear here as the emirs of the places where they are [situated]. Praise be.’ Cemşit Bey reached out to Sultan to kiss his hand. Yavuz stood up hastily, grabbed Cemşit Bey from his shoulders and pulled him towards himself: ‘We like hugging our brethren, brother Cemşit.’