Among those affected by the shortage of meat was a dervish, who worked as a cook for a chamber of Janissaries. His duty was to prepare meals for the soldiers, and he knew very well the punishment he would face if he failed. The chief officer of the chamber was strict, and any neglect or delay was punished severely.
Because of his lack of care or simple bad luck, the entire company of Janissaries would have to go without their dinner that day. This placed the cook in great danger, and fear quickly turned into anger.
Public Complaints in the Streets
Filled with frustration, the dervish walked through the streets shouting loudly. He openly accused the authorities of poor government and complained that no care was taken to correct such common abuses. He cursed the principal officers and blamed them for allowing disorder in the markets.
His cries attracted attention, and many people heard his angry words. He was no longer thinking carefully but spoke openly from pain and fear, knowing what awaited him if the soldiers went hungry Customized Tours Istanbul.
A Stranger’s Question
By chance, at that very moment, the Grand Signior himself passed by in disguise. Seeing a man in such emotional distress, the Sultan approached him politely and asked the reason for his anger.
The dervish answered sharply. He said it was useless for the stranger to ask questions or for him to explain his troubles, because the man before him could offer no remedy. Only the Grand Signior, he said, had enough power to correct such wrongs.
The Truth Revealed
After much urging, the dervish finally explained the problem. He spoke of the great abuses in the butchers’ shops, saying that the meat markets were badly managed. He explained that he had missed the usual portion of meat that morning for the Janissaries’ chamber and described the punishment he was likely to suffer for arriving even a moment late.
He went on to say that the Vizier and other high officers failed in their duty. According to him, they did not properly supervise the markets or protect ordinary workers from unjust punishment.
A Moment of Fate
This honest and emotional complaint, spoken by a humble man, reached the ears of the most powerful ruler in the empire. Though the dervish did not yet know it, this moment would soon lead to great changes.
The story shows how, in the Ottoman world, even the voice of a poor cook could reach the throne when injustice became clear. It also reminds us that chance encounters sometimes shaped history in unexpected ways.