Sultan by Qamar Ajnalvi Pdf Down: An Epic Tale of War, Love, and Power in the 14th Century Anatolia and Europe
Sultan by Qamar Ajnalvi Pdf Down: A Historical Novel About the Ottoman Empire
Are you a fan of historical novels? Do you enjoy reading about the rise and fall of empires, the clash of civilizations, and the romance of royalty? If so, you might want to check out Sultan by Qamar Ajnalvi, a novel that tells the story of Orkhan, the second sultan of the Ottoman Empire, and his conquests in Anatolia and Europe.
Sultan By Qamar Ajnalvi Pdf Down
Introduction
Who is Qamar Ajnalvi?
Qamar Ajnalvi (1919-1993) was a Pakistani novelist who wrote in the Urdu language. He was born in Ajnala, Amritsar district, British India. He moved to Lahore in 1940. He wrote his first historical novel, Shaheed Pujaran, in 1938. He also wrote several Pakistani Urdu movie scripts, such as Anarkali and Laila Majnoo. He was known for his extensive research and historical accuracy in his novels. He wrote about various periods and regions of history, such as India, Turkey, Iran, Egypt, and Spain. Some of his famous historical novels include Baghdad Ki Raat, Lala-Rukh, Parthal, Ghazala, and Sultan.
What is Sultan about?
Sultan is a historical novel that covers the life and reign of Orkhan (1281-1362), the second sultan of the Ottoman Empire. Orkhan was the son of Osman I, the founder of the Ottoman dynasty. He expanded the Ottoman territories in Anatolia and Europe, and established Bursa as the capital of the empire. He also fought against the Byzantine Empire and captured several important cities, such as Nicaea and Nicomedia. He married Nilufer Hatun, a Byzantine princess who converted to Islam. He was succeeded by his son Murad I, who continued his father's legacy.
Why should you read Sultan?
You should read Sultan if you are interested in learning more about the history and culture of the Ottoman Empire, one of the most powerful and influential states in the world for over six centuries. You will also enjoy reading about the personal and political struggles of Orkhan, who had to balance his ambition with his loyalty, his love with his duty, and his faith with his pragmatism. You will also appreciate the vivid descriptions of the battles, sieges, ceremonies, costumes, architecture, and customs that Qamar Ajnalvi provides in his novel.
Main Body
The Plot of Sultan
The novel follows the chronological order of Orkhan's life and reign. Here are some of the main events that take place in the novel:
The Rise of Orkhan
The novel begins with Orkhan as a young prince who accompanies his father Osman on his raids against the Byzantines. He proves himself to be a brave and skilled warrior who earns his father's trust and respect. He also falls in love with Nilufer Hatun, a beautiful Byzantine princess who is captured by Osman's men. He convinces his father to let him marry her, and she converts to Islam.
The Conquest of Bursa
After Osman's death in 1326, Orkhan becomes the second sultan of the Ottomans. He decides to launch a siege on Bursa, a strategic city that was the capital of the Byzantine province of Bithynia. After a long and fierce siege that lasted for eight years, Orkhan finally captures Bursa in 1326. He makes it his capital and builds a magnificent palace there.
The Battle of Pelekanon
In 1329, Orkhan faces a major challenge from Andronicus III Palaiologos, the Byzantine emperor who wants to reclaim his lost territories from the Ottomans. Andronicus leads a large army that includes Serbian, Bulgarian, Catalan, and Genoese mercenaries. He meets Orkhan at Pelekanon (also known as Paleokastron), near Nicomedia. The battle is fierce and bloody, but Orkhan manages to defeat Andronicus and force him to retreat.
The Siege of Nicaea
In 1331, Orkhan decides to attack Nicaea (also known as Iznik), a historic city that was once the capital of the Byzantine Empire during the Crusades. Nicaea is well-fortified and defended by a loyal garrison led by Theodore Synadenos. Orkhan lays siege to Nicaea for two years, using various tactics such as tunnels, catapults, mines, and treachery. He finally captures Nicaea in 1331 after Synadenos surrenders.
The Death of Orkhan
The novel ends with Orkhan's death in 1362 at the age of 81. He dies peacefully in his palace in Bursa after ruling for 36 years. He leaves behind a vast empire that spans from Anatolia to Europe. He is buried in a mausoleum that he built next to his wife Nilufer Hatun's tomb.
The Characters of Sultan
The novel features many historical characters who played important roles in Orkhan's life and reign. Here are some of them:
Orkhan: The Second Sultan of the Ottomans
Orkhan is the protagonist of the novel. He is portrayed as a courageous, wise, generous, pious, and just ruler who expanded his father's legacy and established a strong empire. He is also shown as a loving husband, father, brother, and friend who cares deeply for his family and people. He faces many challenges and enemies during his reign but overcomes them with his skill and strategy.
Nilufer Hatun: The Byzantine Princess and Orkhan's Wife
Nilufer Hatun is one of the main female characters in the novel. She is depicted as a beautiful, intelligent, kind, and loyal woman who loves Orkhan unconditionally. She converts to Islam after marrying him and adopts the name Fatima. She supports him in all his endeavors and bears him four sons: Suleyman, Murad, Halil, and Ibrahim. She also acts as a mediator between the Ottomans and the Byzantines, and helps many people in need.
Osman: The Founder of the Ottoman Dynasty
Osman is Orkhan's father and the first sultan of the Ottomans. He is portrayed as a visionary leader who started from humble beginnings and rose to power by fighting against
and the Byzantines. He is respected by his people and feared by his enemies. He dies in 1326 and passes on his throne to Orkhan.
Murad: The Third Sultan and Orkhan's Son
Murad is Orkhan's eldest son and successor. He is portrayed as a brave and ambitious ruler who continues his father's expansion of the empire. He conquers Thrace, Macedonia, and parts of Bulgaria. He also establishes the Janissary corps, an elite military force composed of Christian slaves who are converted to Islam. He dies in 1389 after winning the Battle of Kosovo against the Serbs.
Andronicus III Palaiologos: The Byzantine Emperor and Orkhan's Rival
Andronicus is the Byzantine emperor who opposes Orkhan's advances in Anatolia and Europe. He is depicted as a proud and stubborn ruler who tries to restore the glory of his empire but fails to stop the Ottoman threat. He allies with various Christian states and mercenaries but cannot match Orkhan's military prowess. He dies in 1341 after losing most of his territories to the Ottomans.
The Themes of Sultan
The novel explores various themes that are relevant to the historical context and the human condition. Here are some of them:
History and Culture
The novel depicts the historical events and cultural aspects of the Ottoman Empire and its surroundings in the 14th century. It shows how the Ottomans emerged from a small Turkmen principality to a powerful empire that challenged the Byzantines and other states. It also shows how the Ottomans assimilated various elements from different cultures, such as Persian, Arabic, Mongol, Turkic, and Byzantine, and created their own unique identity.
War and Diplomacy
The novel portrays the wars and diplomacy that shaped the relations between the Ottomans and their neighbors. It shows how Orkhan used both force and negotiation to achieve his goals. It also shows how war affected the lives of soldiers, civilians, prisoners, and slaves. It illustrates the brutality, courage, glory, and tragedy of war.
Love and Loyalty
The novel depicts the love and loyalty that bound Orkhan and his family, friends, and followers. It shows how Orkhan loved his wife Nilufer Hatun despite their different origins and religions. It also shows how he loved his sons Murad, Suleyman, Halil, and Ibrahim despite their rivalries and conflicts. It also shows how he was loyal to his father Osman, his brother Alaeddin Pasha, his mentor Sheikh Edebali, his friend Candar Bey, and his people.
Power and Succession
The novel explores the issues of power and succession that faced Orkhan and his successors. It shows how Orkhan inherited his father's throne without any opposition but faced challenges from his sons who wanted to rule after him. It also shows how Murad had to deal with rebellions from his brothers Suleyman and Halil who claimed their rights to the throne. It also shows how power corrupted some of Orkhan's relatives and officials who became greedy and treacherous.
Conclusion
Summary of the Main Points
In conclusion, Sultan by Qamar Ajnalvi is a historical novel that tells the story of Orkhan, the second sultan of the Ottoman Empire, and his conquests in Anatolia and Europe. It is written by Qamar Ajnalvi, a Pakistani novelist who wrote in the Urdu language. It is based on historical sources and research, but also includes some fictional elements and dramatization. It covers the main events, characters, and themes of Orkhan's life and reign, such as the capture of Bursa, the battle of Pelekanon, the siege of Nicaea, the death of Orkhan, his marriage to Nilufer Hatun, his son Murad, his rival Andronicus III Palaiologos, and the topics of history, culture, war, diplomacy, love, loyalty, power, and succession.
Recommendations for Further Reading
If you enjoyed reading Sultan by Qamar Ajnalvi, you might want to read some other historical novels by him or other authors who wrote about similar topics. Here are some recommendations for further reading:
Lala-Rukh by Qamar Ajnalvi: Another historical novel by Qamar Ajnalvi that tells the story of Lala-Rukh (also known as Roxelana), a Ukrainian slave girl who became the wife of Suleiman I (also known as Suleiman the Magnificent), one of Orkhan's descendants and one of the greatest sultans of the Ottoman Empire.
The Architect's Apprentice by Elif Shafak: A historical novel by a Turkish-British author that tells the story of Jahan, a young boy who arrives in Istanbul with a white elephant named Chota as a gift for Suleiman I. He becomes an apprentice to Sinan (also known as Mimar Sinan), one of Orkhan's descendants and one of the greatest architects of all time.
The Conqueror's Wife by Stephanie Thornton: A historical novel by an American author that tells the story of Alexander III (also known as Alexander the Great), one of Andronicus III Palaiologos' ancestors and one of the greatest conquerors of all time. It focuses on four women who played important roles in his life: Roxana, his first wife; Statira, his second wife; Olympias, his mother; and Drypetis, his sister.