Literarna pisma Nergisija kao izvor za rekonstrukciju biografskih i društvenih okolnosti u 17. stoljeću
Nergisî’s literary letters (17th century) as biographical and historical sources

Summary/Abstract: Beyond doubt, munsheâts represent a significant secondary source of research into the social developments of a particular time period. Based on the individual narrative, they disclose the “social pulsation” in the development of individual career paths. The content of the letters written by the renowned munshî Nergisî from Sarajevo, a highly educated, talented and ambitious qâdî directly and indirectly offer diverse information about the vocational, cultural and social context in the first half of the 17th century. An analysis and interpretation of Nergisî’s letters as well as his works offer an opportunity for the reconstruction of the biographical and social circumstances which defined his career. The network of correspondence built by ambitious qâdî Nergisî is a source of valuable information about the painstaking struggle through the class of ulamâ in a constant search for the patronage and positioning at a higher judicial level, even the Court itself. Members of ulamâ educated in legal science in Arabic were the recognized masters of inshâ style. By writing down the munsheâts, they left behind artistic literary works which, having been personal references, were initially addressed to the members of umerâ (the viziers, beylerbeys, qâdiaskers and other important figures of the social and cultural elite in the capitol). Later they became independent artistic collections used to study the style and role models for transcribing. In essence, by addressing them, qâdis, authors of stylized letters, made efforts to build their own career. Therefore, such letters were rather specific in their pragmatic nature, being a ticket for the Ottoman elite. In their letters, the authors of the munsheâts, Nergisî himself as well, wrote in a convoluted metaphorical manner about the corruption of ulamâ and a drop in all the standards, which was an opportunity for the voice of an individual to speak for himself. Nergisî belonged to a highly educated ulamâ. For him, writing letters was an integral part of the overall literary competence which involved the writing of sharîa commentaries, epistles, fatwas, endowment (waqf ) certificates and poetry. His literary work surpassed the minimum requirements for the advancement in both judicial and educational hierarchy, which was to open a door to him for the judicial and artistic career. After twenty years of service in the provinces, he had an opportunity to crown his career as a court chronicler, only for a short while though – a single day of the crusade to Erevan, when he fell off his horse and died afterwards.

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