Greetings from the Chief Religious Leaders
After the Grand Vizier completed his greeting, the next important person to appear before the Sultan was the Mufti, the highest religious authority in the Ottoman Empire. The writer explains that the Mufti stood at the head of the empire’s religious scholars and legal officials.
Standing with him were several important members of the religious establishment. These included the Kazaskers, who served as the chief military judges for Anatolia and Rumelia; the Nakibü’l-Eşraf, who was responsible for the descendants of the Prophet Muhammad; the Mollahs, who were respected scholars and judges; and the Sheikhs, who served as religious teachers and preachers Kukeri Carnival.
According to the author, the Mufti approached the Sultan with great respect. He bowed deeply, kept his hands on his belt, and kissed the Sultan’s left shoulder. In return, the Sultan stepped forward one pace to greet him before returning to his throne. This small gesture showed the special honor given to the highest religious official.
A Carefully Ordered Ceremony
After the Mufti, the remaining officials came forward one by one according to their rank. The writer explains that each person’s greeting depended on his position within the Ottoman government.
Some officials were permitted to kiss the Sultan’s hand, while others kissed the edge of his robe, his sleeve, or even his chest. These differences reflected the importance of each person’s office and their relationship to the Sultan.
The author remarks that the ceremony was so detailed and precise that an entire book had been written explaining every movement and every rule. Even the smallest gesture followed long-established traditions, and every official knew exactly how to behave during the ceremony.
The last senior official to offer his greetings was the Janissary Agha, the commander of the famous Janissary army. His appearance marked the end of the formal greetings by the highest officers of the empire.
The Inner Palace Ceremony
After the public ceremony was completed, the Sultan moved into a more private room within the Topkapı Palace, known in the old text as the Seraglio. There he received the greetings of the palace staff.
The first to enter were the Arz Ağaları, four of the Sultan’s principal pages, who served him closely inside the palace. After them came the palace eunuchs and the remaining pages. Each person paid respect to the Sultan according to palace custom before leaving the chamber.
A Feast for the Officials
While these ceremonies were taking place, a large meal was prepared in the Divan Chamber, where the highest government officials gathered. After completing their formal duties, they shared a generous banquet provided at the Sultan’s expense.
The meal was not only a celebration of Bayram but also an opportunity for the empire’s leading officials to meet together in a spirit of unity and loyalty.
Gifts from the Sultan
At the end of the celebration, the Sultan presented valuable robes of honor, known as robes of office, to sixteen of his highest-ranking officials. Receiving one of these robes was a great privilege and symbolized the Sultan’s favor and appreciation.
These gifts marked the conclusion of the Bayram ceremony and strengthened the bond between the ruler and his senior servants.