Not to be confused with Zafarnama (letter), by Guru Gobind Singh (10th Guru of the Sikhs).
The Zafarnama (Persian: ظفرنامه, lit. 'Book of Victories') is a panegyric book written by Sharaf al-Din Ali Yazdi approximately two decades after the death of its main subject, Timur, the Turco-Mongol conqueror. It was commissioned by Ibrahim Sultan, Timur's grandson between 1424–28, and remains one of the best-known sources of Timur's life.[1] The text was written using the notes taken by royal scribes and secretaries of Timur, suggesting that the history of the book was based on a careful and desired selection of facts.
Timur granting audience on the occasion of his accession, from the Garrett Zafarnama
Most of the poetry and texts in the beginning of Islamic Iran were panegyric, written at the demand of political and religious leaders as part of their attempt to establish their own legacy. In his lifetime, Timur wished that his deeds would be commemorated through clear and simple language.[2] However, the Zafarnama has a decent amount of hyperbolic language and panegyric sentiment, revealing that the current literary tastes of the next generation of writers prevailed over Timur's wishes.[2] The Zafarnama was often copied and illustrated in Persia before making its way to being translated into Chagatai under the Uzbeks, and into Ottoman Turkish during the 16th century. More recently, the Zafarnama was translated into French in 1722 by François Pétis de la Croix and into English the following year.
"Conquest of Baghdad by Timur", from Ibrahim Sultan's copy, 1435–1436
The Zafarnama of Yazdi is one of several fifteenth-century texts that highlights Timur's leadership and military accomplishments. Sharaf al-Din Ali Yazdi relied on these previous texts about Timur's career as a conqueror to influence his text of the Zafarnama. One of his main influences was a biography written by Nizam al-Din Shami in 1404.[1] An example of proof of this statement is the use of Ghiyas al-Din Ali's story detailing Timur’s experience in India (the Ruz-Name-ye Ghazavat-e Hindustan) that is present in both versions of the Zafarnama that are decades apart. In 1410, one of Timur's sons, Shah Rukh, demanded an updated version of his father's history. By then, the original Zafarnama's author, Nizam al-Din Shami, had died so another scribe, Taj al-Salmani, finished the manuscript and put Timur's last few years onto paper.[2] These textual precedents were important to the creation of the Zafarnama of Sultan Husayn, as they dictated the content of the text in the manuscript.
Sharaf al-Din Ali Yazdi, also known by his pen name Sharaf, was a 15th-century scholar who authored several works in the arts and sciences, including mathematics, astronomy, enigma, literature such as poetry, and history, the Zafarnama being his most famous (539).[3] He was born in the affluent city of Yazd, Iran in the 1370s. He devoted much of his life to scholarship, furthering his education in Syria and Egypt until Timur’s death in 1405 (1,19).[4] Sharaf al-Din rebelled against ruler Shah Rukh in 1446–47 when the government was vulnerable, but was later commissioned to different cities for his acumen. The later years of his life were spent in Taft, where he eventually died in 1454 (Monfared 539).[3]
Yazdi was directed to write a biography of Timur in 1421 known as the Zafarnama, completing it four years later in 1425. Timur’s grandson Sultan Abu al-Fath Ibrahim Mirza was patron during the completion of his father’s biography (Monfared 539).[3]
ManuscriptsEdit
Several illustrated manuscript versions of the Zafarnama exist; however, out of the versions written in the fifteenth century, only three illustrated copies survive, the Zafarnama of Ibrahim Sultan, the Garrett Zafarnama, and the Turk ve Islam Eserleri Müzesi Zafarnama.[2] The variety of versions of the Zafarnama can be attributed to the wide variety of patrons who commissioned the production of this manuscript. Each patron had different personal tastes and goals for their version of the Zafarnama, which influenced the choices of illustrations and design executed by the artists of their choosing.
The Garrett Zafarnama (or Baltimore Zafarnama or Zafarnama of Sultan Husayn Mirza) is an early manuscript of the Zafarnama (Book of Victories) by Sharaf al-Din Ali Yazdi now in the Johns Hopkins University Library in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. The manuscript has twelve Persian miniatures, in six double-page spreads, and was made around 1467–8, possibly in Herat.[5] The colophon states that the manuscript was the work of "the most humble Shir Ali," who was a popular scribe in his day.[2] It is believed that the six illustrations were painted by the renowned artist, Kamāl ud-Dīn Behzād.
A version was produced in the workshop of the Mughal EmperorAkbar in the 1590s.
1436 edition (Ibrahim Sultan's copy)Edit
This is the original edition, ordered by Ibrahim Sultan, Timur's grandson, and completed in 1436.
^Binbas, Ilker Evrim (2009). Sharaf Al-Dīn 'Alī Yazdī (ca. 770s–858/ca. 1370s–1454): Prophecy, Politics, and Historiography in Late Medieval Islamic History. The University of Chicago. pp. 1, 19.
^Natif, Mika (2002). "The Zafarnama [Book of Conquest] of Sultan Husayn Mirza". Insights and Interpretations: 211–228.
September 29, 2023
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Not to be confused with Zafarnama letter by Guru Gobind Singh 10th Guru of the Sikhs The Zafarnama Persian ظفرنامه lit Book of Victories is a panegyric book written by Sharaf al Din Ali Yazdi approximately two decades after the death of its main subject Timur the Turco Mongol conqueror It was commissioned by Ibrahim Sultan Timur s grandson between 1424 28 and remains one of the best known sources of Timur s life 1 The text was written using the notes taken by royal scribes and secretaries of Timur suggesting that the history of the book was based on a careful and desired selection of facts Timur granting audience on the occasion of his accession from the Garrett ZafarnamaMost of the poetry and texts in the beginning of Islamic Iran were panegyric written at the demand of political and religious leaders as part of their attempt to establish their own legacy In his lifetime Timur wished that his deeds would be commemorated through clear and simple language 2 However the Zafarnama has a decent amount of hyperbolic language and panegyric sentiment revealing that the current literary tastes of the next generation of writers prevailed over Timur s wishes 2 The Zafarnama was often copied and illustrated in Persia before making its way to being translated into Chagatai under the Uzbeks and into Ottoman Turkish during the 16th century More recently the Zafarnama was translated into French in 1722 by Francois Petis de la Croix and into English the following year Conquest of Baghdad by Timur from Ibrahim Sultan s copy 1435 1436The Zafarnama of Yazdi is one of several fifteenth century texts that highlights Timur s leadership and military accomplishments Sharaf al Din Ali Yazdi relied on these previous texts about Timur s career as a conqueror to influence his text of the Zafarnama One of his main influences was a biography written by Nizam al Din Shami in 1404 1 An example of proof of this statement is the use of Ghiyas al Din Ali s story detailing Timur s experience in India the Ruz Name ye Ghazavat e Hindustan that is present in both versions of the Zafarnama that are decades apart In 1410 one of Timur s sons Shah Rukh demanded an updated version of his father s history By then the original Zafarnama s author Nizam al Din Shami had died so another scribe Taj al Salmani finished the manuscript and put Timur s last few years onto paper 2 These textual precedents were important to the creation of the Zafarnama of Sultan Husayn as they dictated the content of the text in the manuscript Contents 1 Author 2 Manuscripts 2 1 1436 edition Ibrahim Sultan s copy 2 2 1467 edition Garrett Zafarnama 2 3 1485 edition Herat Afghanistan 2 4 1595 1600 edition Akbar s copy 2 5 Other editions 3 ReferencesAuthor EditSharaf al Din Ali Yazdi also known by his pen name Sharaf was a 15th century scholar who authored several works in the arts and sciences including mathematics astronomy enigma literature such as poetry and history the Zafarnama being his most famous 539 3 He was born in the affluent city of Yazd Iran in the 1370s He devoted much of his life to scholarship furthering his education in Syria and Egypt until Timur s death in 1405 1 19 4 Sharaf al Din rebelled against ruler Shah Rukh in 1446 47 when the government was vulnerable but was later commissioned to different cities for his acumen The later years of his life were spent in Taft where he eventually died in 1454 Monfared 539 3 Yazdi was directed to write a biography of Timur in 1421 known as the Zafarnama completing it four years later in 1425 Timur s grandson Sultan Abu al Fath Ibrahim Mirza was patron during the completion of his father s biography Monfared 539 3 Manuscripts EditSeveral illustrated manuscript versions of the Zafarnama exist however out of the versions written in the fifteenth century only three illustrated copies survive the Zafarnama of Ibrahim Sultan the Garrett Zafarnama and the Turk ve Islam Eserleri Muzesi Zafarnama 2 The variety of versions of the Zafarnama can be attributed to the wide variety of patrons who commissioned the production of this manuscript Each patron had different personal tastes and goals for their version of the Zafarnama which influenced the choices of illustrations and design executed by the artists of their choosing The Garrett Zafarnama or Baltimore Zafarnama or Zafarnama of Sultan Husayn Mirza is an early manuscript of the Zafarnama Book of Victories by Sharaf al Din Ali Yazdi now in the Johns Hopkins University Library in Baltimore Maryland USA The manuscript has twelve Persian miniatures in six double page spreads and was made around 1467 8 possibly in Herat 5 The colophon states that the manuscript was the work of the most humble Shir Ali who was a popular scribe in his day 2 It is believed that the six illustrations were painted by the renowned artist Kamal ud Din Behzad A version was produced in the workshop of the Mughal Emperor Akbar in the 1590s 1436 edition Ibrahim Sultan s copy Edit This is the original edition ordered by Ibrahim Sultan Timur s grandson and completed in 1436 nbsp Conquest of Baghdad Shiraz 1435 1436 Ibrahim Sultan s copy nbsp Timur s celebration of the conquest of Delhi in 1396 1436 copy of the Zafarnama nbsp Timur hunting page from the Zafarnama of Sharaf al Din Ali Yazdi Shiraz AH 839 1436 CE1467 edition Garrett Zafarnama Edit Main article Garrett Zafarnama nbsp Depiction of Timur granting audience on the occasion of his accession 1467 edition nbsp Assault on the Fortress of the Knights of St John at Smyrna nbsp Battle on the River Oxus nbsp Building of the Great Mosque in Samarkand1485 edition Herat Afghanistan Edit nbsp Battle scene with Timur1595 1600 edition Akbar s copy Edit This is Akbar s copy completed between 1595 and 1600 nbsp Timur besieging Urganj Published 1595 1600 nbsp Timur defeats the sultan of Delhi from Akbar s copy between 1595 and 1600 nbsp Timur s army attacks the fortress of Herat and Ghiyath al Din the Kartid ruler sues for peace signed Dharm Das Mughal India circa 1595 1600 Other editions Edit nbsp Wedding of Timurid Princes Muhammad Sultan Pir Muhammad and Shah Rukh nbsp Timur feasts in the environs of Samarkand 1628References Edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Zafarnama a b Woods John E April 1987 The Rise of Timurid Historiography Journal of Near Eastern Studies 46 2 86 99 101 doi 10 1086 373225 JSTOR 545014 S2CID 161334068 a b c d e Sims Eleanor 1973 The Garrett Manuscript of the Zafar Name A Study in Fifteenth Century Timurid Patronage New York University p 147 a b c Monfared Mahdi Farhani 2008 Sharaf al Din Ali Yazdi Historian and Mathematician Iranian Studies 41 4 537 547 doi 10 1080 00210860802246226 ISSN 0021 0862 JSTOR 25597488 S2CID 144120516 Binbas Ilker Evrim 2009 Sharaf Al Din Ali Yazdi ca 770s 858 ca 1370s 1454 Prophecy Politics and Historiography in Late Medieval Islamic History The University of Chicago pp 1 19 Natif Mika 2002 The Zafarnama Book of Conquest of Sultan Husayn Mirza Insights and Interpretations 211 228 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Zafarnama Yazdi biography amp oldid 1176569597, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
