Plural Pasts: Power, Identity and the Ottoman Sieges of Nagykanizsa Castle

Through A Study Of A Variety Of Ottoman And Modern Turkish Accounts Of The Ottoman-habsburg Sieges Of Nagykanizsa Castle (1600-01) Including Official Documents, Correspondence, Histories, And More Literary Genres Such As Gazavatnames [campaign Narratives], Plural Pasts Explores Ottoman Literacy Practices. By Considering The Diverse Roles That The Various Accounts Served – Construction Of Identities, Forging Of Diplomatic Alliances And Legitimization Of Political Ideologies And Geo-political Imaginations – It Explores The Cultural And Socio-political Significance The Various Accounts Had For Different Audiences. In Addition, It Interweaves Theoretical Reflection With Textual Analysis. Using The Sieges Of Nagykanizsa As A Case Study, It Offers A Sophisticated Contribution To Ongoing Historiographical Arguments: Namely, How Historians Construct Hierarchies Of Primary Sources And Judge Some To Be More Truthful, Or More Valuable, Than Others; How Texts Are Assigned To Particular Genres Based On Perceived Epistemological Status – As Story Or History, Fact Or Fiction; And The Circular Role That Historians And Their Histories Play In Constructing, Reflecting And Reinforcing Cultural And Political Imaginaries.