Pir Sultan Abdal

Pir Sultan Abdal (1480 - 1550). Poet, mystic, troubadour and hero of the resistance. Very little is known about this author who lived throughout the 16th century, but his poems and exploits about him were transmitted for centuries by Alevi popular culture. His real name was probably Haydar and his family probably came from Azerbaijan although he was born in Banaz, a town in Anatolia (in present-day Sivas province). His Alevi identity made him adopt Bektasism when he met various Bektaşi religious orders. It is known that he was involved in resistance activities against the cruelty of the Ottoman government of the time. He was eventually captured and hanged by the area's ruler Deli Hizir Pasa. His name Pir Sultan Abdal, which means The Holy Dervish Sultan, shows the importance given to this character in Anatolian popular culture. His teachings in which humanity is given a very important role as well as his mystical character in combination with his resistance to injustice have made him a legend in Anatolian culture. He was one of the first people to use Turkish, without Persian or Arabic influence, in his works. His poems have characteristic elements such as life, death, humanity, justice, nature, love and mysticism.

Example of his poetry

Gelmiş İken Bir Habercik Sorayım
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Gerçek Erenlere Yüzler Süreyim
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Alçağında Al Kırmızı Taşın Var
Yükseğinde Turnaların Sesi Var
Ben De Bilmem Ne Talihsiz Başın Var
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El Ettiler Turnalar Bazlara
Dağlar Yeşillendi Döndü Yazlara
Çiğdemler Taşınsın Söylen Kızlara
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Şah'ın Bahçesinde Gonca Gül Biter
Anda Garip Garip Bülbüller Öter
Bunda Ayrılık Var Ölümden Beter
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Ben De Bildim Su Dağların Sahisin
Gerçek Erenlerin Nazargâhısın
Abdal Pir Sultan’ın Seyrangâhısın
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