Meaning of Ottoman Tugras
The Oghuz language is Tuğrağ, and it has become common by saying it directly as "Tuğra" because it is difficult to pronounce (ğ) in the Anatolian dialect. It is called the signature of the sultan in printed form. In Persian, engagement means "sign", and in Arabic, "tawki" means "leaving no trace". The existence of tugras can be found in the Great Seljuks and the Anatolian Seljuks. Shaped ones are seen in the Ottoman Empire and Anatolian principalities.
In the tugra, which passed from the Great Seljuks to the Ayyubids and from there to the Mamluks, the name of the ruler and his father is included with an excessive letter extension. The oldest tugra in Anatolian principalities is found on 1374 silver coins belonging to İshak Bey, son of Saruhan.
The signature of the sultan's name and nickname is called the signature of the Ottoman tugra. At the same time, the names of the sultan and his father are included. It was first used by Orhan Gazi. In the tugra, there is only the expression Orhan Bin Osman. This tugra was first used in 1324 and 1348.
Since there is no tughra belonging to Osman Bey, the founder of the Ottoman State, there are only 35 tugras among 36 sultans. The tugra of Abdulhamid II is considered to be the best designed one among the tugras. Here, the characteristics of the Ottoman tugra, its meaning, its picture, what is written in it, its drawing, its picture, its secret, its Turkish meaning are explained.
The meanings of the symbols in the Ottoman tugra;
Sere (lecture): It is located at the bottom of the tughra, it is the name given to the section where the main meaning is found. Here, the name of the sultan, the name of his father, the titles they have, and the al-Muzaffer prayer are always found.
Beyzeler: It is the place on the left side of the tugra and consists of two intertwined curved sections.
Tugs: The extensions extending upwards in the form of the letter “elif” on the tugra are called.
Zülfe: The curves in the form of a streamer next to the bricks are called.
Arms(Dagger): The parallel extensions in the form of following the beyzes are called. In the upper right corners of the sultans, there is also the adjective "pseudonym".
Places of Use of Ottoman Tugra;
The size of the tughra varies according to the content of the text and the document. It would take place in harmony depending on size. Tugras are always at the beginning of documents and documents. None of the bricks are at the end. Writing a flower pattern and pseudonym on the right side of the tugras is a situation that emerged later.
No two Ottoman monograms are alike. The first tughra, which belongs to Orhan Gazi, was inspired as an example for all other tugras. Tugras, which took the form of coat of arms over time, started to be used in many places such as money, stamps, documents, promissory notes, fountains, mosques, official offices, navy and palaces.
Tugras have been used in various places from passing to the Ottoman Empire through the principalities to their destruction, becoming an artistic branch in calligraphy, and today it continues by taking part in many artistic activities. Calligraphers worked hard to produce the most beautiful Ottoman tughra, and tugras containing verses, prayers and hadiths from the Qur'an emerged.
As a part of calligraphy, it has been drawn up to the present day with this art for years. In addition to the Ottoman Emperor, it is seen that the prince, vizier-i azam, vizier, beylerbeyi and sancakbeys used insignia, which is called the claw in the place of the tughra, to be used in state affairs. The biggest difference between the signatures we call claw and the tugra is the single and double curves. There is a single arc on the claws and a double arc on the tugras. Tugras, which have taken their place in many artistic painting works today, are drawn in the most beautiful form that will appeal to the eye.
Other names of Ottoman tugras are as follows;
"sign-i sheriff", "misal-i humayun", "tugray-i meymun", "mekan-i hakani", "tugray-i garra", "tevk-i ref-i humayun", "tevk-i humayun" ”, “tevki-i refi”, “nişan-ı şerif-i alişan-i sultan-i”, “tugray-i garray-i sami”, “nişan-i Hümayun”, “misal-i meymun”, “marking” -ı sherif-i alişan-i.”