The information compiled mostly from what he said
reveals that he was born on 25 March 1611 in Istanbul in Unkapani. His father was the
chief jeweler of the palace, Dervish Mehmed Zılli. Evliya Çelebi, having completed his
Medrese education in Istanbul, received music and writing lessons, memorized the Koran,
tried to become a poet, and gained skills in many handicrafts. He knew Arabic, Persian and
Greek.
Evliya Çelebi, who had a beautiful voice, attracted
the attention of Sultan Murad the 4th, reciting Koran in Saint Sofia Mosque in a Kadir
night in 1630. Sultan, who was in the mosque with his retinue, asked this youth, for whose
voice he was filled with admiration, and took information. He ordered that he should be
recruited in the palace as consultant with Silahtar Melek Ahmet Pasha's mediation.
Silahtar Melek Ahmet Pasha was the husband of Evliya's aunt.
As from this date, he
stayed at the palace as the consultant of the sultan for a period of four years, and then
by attending spahis, started out for his famous travels in 1640. As per his statements, he
went to Ahi Çelebi Mosque one night in his dream. He dreamt the Prophet with his
disciples, and kissed his blessed hands being filled with admiration, and with excitement,
instead of saying (Şefaat ya Resulüllah!...), meaning intercession o prophet of Allah!,
he said (Seyahat Ya Resulüllah!..), meaning travel o prophet of Allah!. and wanted to
travel.
Compassionate great
prophet fulfilled both of his wishes. After his happy dream, starting out for his travels,
Evliya Çelebi, first strolled all mosques and tombs, coffeehouses and divans of Istanbul,
and wrote one by one what he saw into his notebook. After that, he went to Bursa and
Izmir, and then Trabzon.
Evliya Çelebi says
that he left no place he did not visit in the vicinity of Istanbul when he was only 19.
While he talked about what he saw, he thought of writing those, and then he began to write
all of his memories. This is how his famous Seyahatname emerged. Now all doors were open
for Evliya Çelebi. Military expeditions, official posts, embassies, all are opportunities
for him.
As a result of Both
Melek Ahmed Pasha's being the grand vizier in 1650 and then his being dismissed and
appointed as the Emirate of Thrace, he found the opportunity to travel and see places. His
travels extended beyond the borders of Ottoman State. Evliya, describing himself as World
wandering, friend of human, Evliya without hypocrisy, wrote what he saw with his sweet
style by exaggerating a little, and left an immortal work for our travel literature.
He depicts in his
travel book the history, historical monuments, living style of people of the places he
visited as well as their folk, traditions, clothes, crafts, beliefs etc. Daily events, and
comments on the same are also involved. Evliya Çelebi Seyahatnamesi, gathered in ten big
volumes, bears great importance as a treasure of culture, art and examination.
The ancestors of
Evliya Çelebi comes from Kütahya. In the sixth volume of his Seyahatname, he wrote that
his family roots come from Yakup Bey, a Germiyanoglu, and his family from Ahmet Yesevi.
We find out from his
famous Seyahatname that Evliya Çelebi lived for more than 70 years more than 50 years of
which was elapsed in travels. Çelebi, who strolled nearly all cities and towns of Ottoman
Empire three hundred years ago, and went to the foreign countries frequently.
The primary prices he
visited are: Anatolia, Thrace, Syria, Iraq, Egypt, Crete, Hijaz, Hungary, Transilvania,
Moldavia, Potonia, Austria-Germany, Holland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Dalmatia, South
Russia, Crimea, Caucasus, and Iran.
He investigated in a
very curious manner the habits, living styles, all buildings bazaars, famous people,
histories and languages of all places he visited with his sincere style peculiar to
himself. We see that he gave much place to superstitions, myths and exaggerations broadly.
These gave a unique color to his unique book.
Evliya Çelebi
Seyahatnamesi, wrote every place, villages, towns and cities and travels on sometimes
horse, sometimes ship. He went beyond countries. His book carries the reader like an
adventure noval. 17th century is visible in Evliya Çelebi's screen with all of its
details.
This great book
attracted other nations' attention too, many investigations were made on it, being
translated into more than 10 languages. It is not certain when Evliya Çelebi passed away.
Investigators report that he died about 1682 in Istanbul when he was 71.
|
