NAÎMA

Historian (b. 1655, Aleppo - d. 1716, Peloponnese). He came to İstanbul when he was very young and became a halberdier at the Palace. While he was serving in this office, he also worked as secretary of history and literature. At the time of the Grand Vizier Amcazade Hüseyin Paşa (1677-1702), he was appointed the secretary of Divan* and he was given the duty to write history taking the historical principles of Menarîzade Ahmet Efendi. During the time of the Grand Vizier Ahmet Paşa, his former guardian, he worked in high positions such as the Accountant of Anatolia (1704), Treasurer of the Galleons and Minister of Protocol (1709), and the Accountant of Anatolia for the second time (1712), registrar (1713) and First Accountant (1714). Naima was sent into exile at times by those who envied him and then was re-appointed to different offices. Finally, he went to Mora with Damat Ali Paşa to live there as the registrar after the War of Mora where later he died.

His famous history book, known as Naîma Tarihi (History by Naima) was originally entitled Ravzatü'l Hüseyin fi Hülasâ-i Ahbarü'l-Hâfikeyn (Hüseyin’s Garden to Summarize the News from the East and the West). In this book, which he dedicated to Amcazade Hüseyin Paşa and which he wrote in simple, impartial language, he explains the events in the Ottoman Empire between 1591 and 1659 (to cover the times of Murad III and Mehmed IV). Naîma Tarihi (History of Naima) was firstly published by İbrahim Müteferrika in two volumes in 1734, and finally by Zuhuri Danışman in six volumes in 1967.