Qanun-i Shahanshahi

Idris Bidlisi (d. 926/1520) was the son of a munshi (secretary) in the chancery of the court of the Aq Qoyunlu ruler Uzun Hasan (d. 882/1478) first in Diyarbakir and then Tabriz. Idris must have enjoyed the usual education for an adolescent of his social background. He was fluent in Persian and Arabic, knowing Kurdish as well. He started his career in Tabriz under Ya?qub Beg (d. 896/1490), and served him and his descendants for seventeen years in various high administrative offices. When Tabriz was conquered by the Safavids in 907/1501, he fled to the court of the Ottoman emperor Bayazid II (d. 918/1512) in Istanbul, serving him and Selim I (d. 926/1520) in different positions and capacities. Bidlisi authored more than twenty works but is best known for his Hasht Bihisht, a history of the Ottoman empire written for Bayazid II. The present work is a mirror for princes type of composition with a strong religious colouring.