Dream Motifs as Instruments of Legitimacy and Motivation in the Ottoman Empire (1453–1566)

During the foundation and expansion periods of the Ottoman Empire, various political strategies were employed to secure legitimacy, gain support, and facilitate territorial expansion. Within this framework, dream narratives emerged as important instruments of political and ideological representation. These narratives frequently included religious figures such as prophets and caliphs, who possessed strong legitimacy within the Islamic world. Dreams presented to the sultan often contained symbolic elements associated with the ideal of universal sovereignty (cihan hâkimiyeti). Dreams reportedly seen before military campaigns, foretelling victory and sometimes indicating the direction of conquest, appear to have functioned as tools of political legitimation. At the same time, these dream narratives also reflected the folkloric and cultural characteristics of the period. Celestial symbols such as the moon, sun, and stars, together with mythological motifs including birds, fish, and rams, may be interpreted as symbolic representations of cosmological beliefs, collective hopes and fears, and perceptions of power, authority, and destiny. This study draws primarily upon archival documents, alongside chronicles and other relevant contemporary sources related to the period under examination.