Ahdi`s Gülşen-î Şuarâ An Unusual Example of Biographical Dictionary of Poets

Şair Tezkires are an important source of information. For history-writing and literature, biographies have played an important role. Important for XVI Century Ahdi’s Gülşen-i Şuara written in 1564 is the fourth Şair Tezkire example in Ottoman Turkish. Among many Şair Tezkires in Ottoman literature, Ahdi`s work is different than others. This work is an important source of information for poets around Baghdad. The Biographical Dictionary of Poets provided in Gülşen-i Şuara is hard to find anywhere else. Another important point which makes Gülşen-i Şuaraa worthy text is Ahdi himself. Being from Baghdad he showcases an Arabic perspective inside his text in Ottoman Turkish. A very strong argument comes out of reading Ahdi, is an outsider perspective of the Ottoman. Ahdi comes out of the text as a devoted personality. He makes sure to mention all the religious information inside the text. While no classification is given inside the text but a non-stated classification comes out as the text continues. Ahdi before moving to poets, tries to introduce poets in different classes of the Ottoman empire