Crossing the Bridge on the Drava, from the History of Sultan Süleyman

Crossing the Bridge on the Drava, from the History of Sultan Süleyman by Sayyid Luqman.
The Ottoman court historian Luqman composed this versified account of Süleyman the Magnificent's last seven years, describing events in the capital Istanbul, as well as the sultan's many military campaigns abroad. Here, the sultan watches his janissary army cross the bridge over the river Drava (at Osijek, Croatia), en route to besiege the fort of Szigetvar (in Hungary), in 1566.
The Ottoman court historian (sahnameci) Sayyid Luqman composed this versified account of Süleyman the Magnificent's last seven years, describing events in the capital Istanbul, the sultan's military campaigns in the Balkans, Austria, Hungary, on Malta, and on Chios, and concluding with the sultan's death and funeral in 1566. Luqman was continuing the Ottoman dynastic chronicles established by his two immediate predecessors: Eflatun and before him the renowned court historian `Arif. `Arif composed the multi-volume Shahnama-yi Al-i Osman (Book of Kings of the House of Osman): Luqman’s work (CBL T 413) carefully follows this work’s form in language and general layout. `Arif also worked on two other important accounts of the Ottoman sultan, Mujmal al-Tumar (imperial scroll, 1584) and Hüner-nama (begun 1577), which were completed by his two court successors.
Detached folio, ink, pigments and gold on paper, Persian verses with full-page painting (on recto), Istanbul, Turkey, 1579.