Warrior, Poet and Artist

Sixteenth-Century Ottoman Naval Battles through the Eyes of Nigârî

Abstract

Nigârî was a significant painter of miniatures in the sixteenth century, known primarily for his portraits of Sultan Selim II and Barbaros Hayreddin Pasha (Barbarossa), which brought influences from Western-style portraiture to the Ottoman tradition of miniature painting. Since he was a sociable and cheerful person, he was popular in many assemblies, and even became Prince Selim’s (Later Sultan Selim II) boon companion. In addition, Nigârî was a long-serving captain in the Ottoman navy, fighting in many sea battles and proving his usefulness as a soldier. Moreover, Nigârî was a poet, and, while some of his shorter poetry can be seen written beneath his paintings, his major literary work is the heroic poem in praise of Grand Admiral Sinan Pasha, Ghazavat-i Sinan Pasha (Holy Wars of Sinan Pasha). In this book, Nigârî tells of the naval battles that occurred under Admiral Sinan Pasha which he witnessed personally. Among them were the expeditions to Messina and Malta, the conquest of Tripoli, and the defeat of the Crusader fleet under the command of Andrea Doria. A great deal of detail about these expeditions and battles is included in the work that is not found elsewhere. There are many subjects mentioned by the poet, including the places they stopped at on their voyage, the people they travelled with, the number of navy ships, and the admiral’s consultations with the sailors. Furthermore, it includes elements of military and state traditions as well as social life. Therefore, Nigârî’s work holds significant value for literature as well as maritime, social, and cultural history, and carries the potential to serve as a valuable supplementary source in these fields. This paper is organised into two sections, the first of which is an overview of Nigârî’s life and major works. The second section discusses Nigârî’s Ghazavat-i Sinan  Pasha, notable for its portrayal of naval battles firsthand and its insight into the broader sociocultural intersections of military history.