1. Evliya Çelebi ibn Dervish Mehmed Zilli. Real name unknown, Evliya Çelebi is a pen-name From rich family. Father was a jeweller at court Attended elementary school, medrese and Qur’an school, where distinguished self in recitation. Thereafter trained at palace in calligraphy, music, grammar and reciting Evliya Çelebi (≈ “Evliya the Gentleman,” b. Istanbul 1611, d. after mid-1684)

2. Became companion to sultan, but in 1630 had dream of Prophet telling him to travel. Began series of journeys throughout Ottoman empire, lasting until 1676, usually in retinue of Ottoman dignitaries Recorded experiences in Seyehatname (“Book of Travels”). This section concerns Melek Ahmed Pasha (1588-1662), official who became grand vizier in 1060 Evliya Çelebi (≈ “Evliya the Gentleman,” b. Istanbul 1611, d. after mid-1684)

3. ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn al-Hasan al-Jabarti. From prominent family Historian best known for ‘Aja‘ib al-Athar fi’l-Tarajim wa’l-Akhbar, originally meant as biographical dictionary, but he turned it into a history covering 1688-1821 Text here is from Muzhir al-Taqdis bi-Dhahab Dawlat al-Faransis, history of French occupation of Egypt, finished 1801 or 1802 Al-Jabarti 1753-1825/6)