Origins of the Ottoman Dynasty

Ahmedi's History of the Kings of the Ottoman Lineage and Their Holy Raid(s) against the Infidels is the foundation text for the study of the rise of the Ottoman State. Virtually, every scholarly work dealing with the subject refers to his versified account of the early Ottomans. Even though it encompasses only a limited period of the Ottoman dynastic history, its importance derives from the fact that it is the oldest annalistic account of Ottoman history that has come down to us. Because the earliest Ottomans left no accounts of themselves, Ahmedi's work became the key source-though almost always without a proper reading of the text-for subsequent theories regarding the social and political structure of the early Ottoman State.

Review:

"Professor Kemal Silay's Origins of the Ottoman Dynasty is a philological tour de force and the culmination of his twenty-some years of painstaking work. We now finally have an authoritative book providing us with an excellent interpretation and impeccable critical edition and index verborum of the oldest versified Ottoman history. Silay is the leading Ottomanist focusing mostly on philology and literature. He is not a historian by training, but what impressed me the most in this book is that he is indeed following very carefully what Ottoman historians around the globe are publishing. I recommend this fascinating book to anyone who teaches Ottoman history at the college level."- Professor Mehmet Akif Erdogru, Ege University

"No study of Ottoman origins can be complete without understanding Ahmedi's versified history. Ahmedi sings the praises of the Ottomans as champions of gaza and cihad, terms used synonymously to refer to the border raiding that drove Ottoman expansion. Historians need guidance to know how to read this and other early sources created to appeal to audiences of that period. Kemal Silay's Origins of the Ottoman Dynasty responds to this need by offering the scholarly world a lucid English translation, a comparative edition, and a fastidious transcription of the text, with full critical apparatus. Silay's edition is a model for the study of early Ottoman texts, and his analysis is essential for understanding the gaza as both narrative and history." - Carter V. Findley, Humanities Distinguished Professor Emeritus, Department of History, Ohio State University