Taşköprüzade


Taşköprüzade Ahmet ; variant Aḥmad ibn Muṣṭafá ibn Khalīl Ṭāshkubrīʹzādah was an Ottoman historian-chronicler living during the reign of Suleiman the Magnificent, who was famous for his great biographic encyclopedia.

Life

The family was known as 'Taşköpülüler' because Ahmet's grandfather had been a professor at the Muzafferiye Madrasah of Hayreddin Halil in Taşköprü. Taşköprülüzade received his first education from his father and uncle Kemaleddin Kasım, in Ankara and Bursa, and completed his studies in Istanbul. He was appointed to Oruç Pasha Madrasah in Dimetoka in 1525, and then to Hacı Hüseyinzade Madrasah in Istanbul. Later, he worked as a professor in various madrasas in Skopje and Edirne. He was appointed qadi of Bursa in 1545, and of İstanbul in 1551. A sight problem led to an early retirement from public service in 1554, but he continued working on the publication of his writings.

Works