74

THE TAESCHNER COLLECTION (Or. 12.356)

Cod.Or. 12.356 Fethname-i Kibns An incomplete and undated copy of a rare history of the conquest of Cyprus under the command of Lala Mustafa Pa§a in 977-9 (1570-1) by the Persian poet Zïrek. The work is also known as ‘Tdrih-i Kibns’. Neither title, however, is found in the manuscript; the author mentions himself in the text (9b: 11, where he tells that he interviewed clerks and accountants of the Topbane arsenal), but his name mostly occurs in the form of a mahlas in a number of poems found in the text (see f. 23b: 15 and f. 62b:9). A biography of this obscure poet is found in Mustafa ‘All’s Kiinhil l-ahbar, who was a close friend of his. Both authors were present during the conquest, Mustafa ‘All as secretary of Lala Mustafa Pa$a. Zïrek, who is called Zïrekï by ‘AIT, later died on the island (see Schmidt, Pure Water, pp. 100, 360; cf. Levend’s study). The Fethname contains a Persian chronogram by ‘All (47b). According to a concluding chronogram found in the Vienna manuscript (Fliigel 1015), the work was completed in 982/1574. The work is written in an, in parts, extremely florid rhymed prose alternated by a great many, mostly Persian, poems of various formats, including long kastdes. The introductory part (which is not formally separated from the description of events) contains praise of Sultan Selim II (mentioned in f. 2b:2) and describes how his predecessor, Sultan Siileyman, had already made plans to conquer the island. The events of the military campaign - it also contains descriptions of the island (12a), and the towns of Lefko§e (Nicosia, 23a) and Magosa (Famagusta, 33b) - are followed by sections on following expeditions and other events (from f. 35b), among these, notably, the death of the beglerbegi of Anatolia, iskender Pa§a (979/1571, cf. S(? Ill, p. 809) (40b): the appointment of [Koca] Sinan Pa§a (d. 1004/1596, cf. SCr V,'p. 1512) as beglerbegi (46a); and the restoration of the fortress of Magosa. The Fethname proper is followed by an introductory part of, seemingly, a different work, styled ‘risale’ (cf. 48b:6) by the same author which begins with a long kaside in praise of conqueror of Cyprus, the Vizier Lala Mustafa Pa§a (50b-51b). It is followed by a description of the Battle of InebaJjti/Lepanto (979/1571), the expedition against Halkulvad (La Goletta) and Turns (982/1574, 63a), and the death of the Sultan followed by the succession of Murad III in the same year (70b). The text breaks off at the bottom of f. 70b; the catchword on that page has been erased. Rebound in boards with brown linen edges and backing; glazed cream paper