Death and Life in the Ottoman Palace

Sheds light on Ottoman palace life in an era that witnessed some of the most wrenching changes in Ottoman history Exploring one small building in Istanbul, the Sultan Abdülhamid I Tomb, this book reveals the culture of death and life in the Ottoman palace from 1780 to 1860. It investigates the paths that open to us through the graves of royalty in the mausoleum and of eunuchs, concubines, courtiers and female harem staff in the garden graveyard around it. Enriched by archival documents, Ottoman chronicles and gravestone inscriptions, the insights into Ottoman palace life 'buried' at this site range from architecture, poetry, calligraphy and smallpox to funeral customs, turbans and harem life. In considering why this tomb and its garden graveyard look the way they do, we come to understand the role royal cemeteries played in strengthening the bonds between the Imperial Family and the people of the Ottoman Empire. Douglas Scott Brookes teaches Ottoman Turkish language at the University of California, Berkeley, where he has also taught courses in Ottoman history and culture. His other books include On the Sultan's Service (2019) and Harem Ghosts (2016).