ÂŞIK PAŞAZÂDE

Historian (b. 1392, Elvan Çelebi village / Amasya - d. 23 March 1481, İstanbul). He was also known as Derviş Ahmed Âşıkî. He was the great grandson of Aşık Paşa. He went to Rumelia in order to support Musa Çelebi against Çelebi Mehmet for the throne (1413). He went on pilgrimage and on his return he joined the Sadrettin Konevi order with permission from Abdüllatif Mukaddes (1436). He participated in many invasions and campaigns in Hungary (1443) and Kosovo (1448) at the time of Sultan Murad II. He fought during the invasion of İstanbul alongside other theologians such as Akşemseddin and Şeyh Vefa. He was honored and rewarded by Sultan Murad II and Fatih Sultan Mehmed.

In his late years he wrote the work with the title Tevarih-i Âl-i Osman (History of the Ottoman Empire), which was also known as Âşık Paşazâde Tarihi (History by Âşık Paşazade) in which he described the first years of the Empire. Until one year before his death, he continued writing on social issues, away from the battles for the throne and in a language that would be understandable to the public. The work, which also included some pieces in verse, was first published in İstanbul by Âli Bey (1914). Later on, it was re-published in Leipzig, with a foreword in German (1928-29).