Sulaimān (the Magnificent), al-Qānūnī

views updated

Sulaimān (the Magnificent), al-Qānūnī (‘ the law-giver’, 1494–1566 (AH 900–74)). Ottoman caliph (khalīfa) who led the empire to its highest points of achievement. Committed to good administration, he issued in 1530 (AH 937) the Kānūnnāmeh, a corpus of law to bring greater uniformity to the immense empire. He initiated public buildings and municipal works, encouraging the great architect Sīnān (1488–1587 (AH 895–996)), who built many of the best-known mosques in Istanbul and Turkey, and rebuilt the Great Mosque in Mecca.