Life, Works and Literary Personality of Kahvecibaşı Nakşi Mustafa Ağa (died 1764)

Abstract

Kahvecibaşı Nakşî Mustafa Ağa (died 1764) is a member of Enderun who lived during the reigns of Mahmud I, Osman III and Mustafa III. Nakşi is also known as Eyyubi. Before the Sultan Mustafa’s reign, he served as a müezzinbaşı (chief muezzin) with many viziers. He succeeded in establishing a close relationship with Mustafa III and becoming one of the favorite state officials of the sultan. He served to Mustafa III as a kahvecibaşı (chief coffee maker), musahip (chat friend) and tebdil hasekisi (incognito attendant). Nakşi is also a calligrapher, poet and historian. In this study, Nakşi was introduced in detail as a statesman, poet and writer. In the first part, information was given about Nakşi's life, death, inheritance, his activities in Enderun, his relations with the sultans and his sect. Some information about Nakşi in the history books and archive documents was revealed. In the second part, Nakşi was evaluated with his works as a poet and writer. The content of the books named Nakşi Divanı and Vekayi‘-i Sultani / Tarih-i Nakşi were emphasized. Information was also given about Nakşi's poems in Ottoman archive documents and poetry macmuas. In addition, the literary personality of Nakşi was evaluated in detail.