The History of the Life and Death of Sultan Solyman the Magnificent and of His Son Mustapha

What it is

This is an English-language pamphlet printed in London in 1739, giving an account of the life of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent and his son Mustapha, including a geographical description of his military campaigns in Hungary, Germany, and other regions. It was published to accompany a tragedy about Mustapha performed at the Theatre-Royal, Drury-Lane. The author is unknown.

Why it matters

Written over a century and a half after Suleiman's death, this pamphlet shows how Suleiman's reign and the dramatic story of his son's execution captured European imagination long after the events. It reflects European fascination with the Ottoman Empire and its most famous sultan, filtered through later dramatic and literary retelling rather than direct testimony.

Look closer

• Why might an English theatre audience in the 1700s be interested in a story about an Ottoman sultan?
• How might a text written to promote a play differ from a more neutral historical account?
• What parts of Suleiman's life does the pamphlet focus on, and what might it leave out?