Hundred Great Muslims

SULAIMAN, THE MAGNIFICENT
The great Ottoman Empire, spread over three continents-Europe, Asia
and Africa-was like a tongue, surrounded by 32 teeth-the Christian European
States-which were continuously plotting against it. It washeaded by a succession
of six brilliant rulers, who, side by side with braving the onslaughts of Christian
monarchs, extended the boundary of the Turkish Empire up to the gates of
Vienna. The greatest of all Ottoman Emperors was Sulaiman I, better known in
history as Sulaiman, the "Magnificent", or Sulaiman, the "Lawgiver".
Sulaiman, son of the Ottoman Emperor Salim and Aisha Sultan, was born
in 1494-95 A.C. He was given a thorough education, both in the arts of war and
peace, by his illustrious father. Later, he wasappointed the Governor ofMaghnisa,
and ascended the throne on September 20, 1520 A.C., eight days after his
father's death.
Thereafter, started a career, which was brilliant both in war as well as in
peace and won for Sulaiman an honoured place amongst the greatest rulers of
the world. A man of indomitable will and untiring energy, as he was, he proved
his greatness on the battlefield and at the conference table alike. He was
essentially a man of peace who ceaselesslystrove for the peace and prosperity of
his people, but when the call for war came, he was never found wanting and
always took the field in person.
Sulaiman took part in 13 major campaigns-ten in Europe and three in
Asia. The first campaign against Belgrade was provoked by the illtreatment by
the King of Hungary of the Turkish Envoy who had gone to collect annual
tribute from him. The Ottoman army advanced under the Grand Vizier Piri
Pasha and captured Belgrade on August 29, 1521. This was preceded by the
fall of Sabacz, Danubian town, to the Ottoman forces. Sulaiman, the
Magnificent, entered Belgrade on August 30 and stationed a Brigadethere.
The following year he captured Rhodes, a strategic island, from the
knights of St. John who had been for long a, "menace to the Ottoman power
because they supported the Christian Corsairs".
The Grand Vizier Piri Pasha was replaced by Ibrahim Pasha who remained
a faithful companion of the Sultan till his sudden execution in 1536.
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