Odes to a Rūmī Qāḍī in Greater Syria and Egypt: Literary Networks Surrounding Zekeriyāzāde Yaḥyā Efendī (1561–1644)

Abstract This study focuses on the tenure of Zekeriyāzāde Yaḥyā Efendī, an influential political and literary figure of the 17th century, as qāḍī in Aleppo, Damascus, and Cairo between 1596 and 1600. In this context, it analyzes how Yaḥyā Efendī, and by extension the Ottoman administration, formed his relations with the local dignitaries, scholars, and other figures in these places. The centerpiece of the study is a collection of qaṣīda s Madāʾiḥ presented to Yaḥyā Efendī. Madāʾiḥ contains about 150 poems written by more than 60 poets with various motivations. This collection demonstrates the pivotal role of literary relationships and gatherings in constructing professional networks. In these interactions, poetry was essential, serving as a vital medium of communication within the Rūmī-Arab social and professional spheres. Through poetry, various requests – including appeals for office, material gifts, assistance, and expressions of friendship – were conveyed and solidified, highlighting its central importance in these exchanges. All these illustrate how Yaḥyā Efendī strategically recruited individuals from the Arab provinces, integrated them into his extensive mülazemet network in Istanbul, and employed them for decades.