Readıng the perceptıon of relıgıon durıng fatih sultan mehmet’s reıgn ın the lıght of saltuk-nâme

Saltuk-Nâmewas penned down by Ebû’l Hayr-ı Rûmî at the request of Cem Sultan, Fatih Sultan Mehmet’s (Mehmet II) son. In the centre of it, as a product of a field work that lasted for seven years between 1473-1480, lies Sarı Saltık/Saltuk who lived in Anatolia and the Balkans in the 13th century.The work that covers the period from Gıyaseddin Keyhüsrev II on to the beylik of Osmanoğulları focuses on the gaza and jihad ideology in the light of Sarı Saltık. Besides, the activities of Sarı Saltık, as the main character,in the name of Islam and the islamic community are included. At the same time, Saltuk-Nâmereveals significant traces of the Ottoman official ideology, perception of religion and social anticipations. For this reason, it not only reflects the 13th century; it mirrors the change, transformation and aspirations in the perception of state and society till Fatih’s rule as well.This paper aims to analyze a-) the portrayal of Sarı Saltık, a cult in Alevism and Bektashism primarily in the Balkans,and b-) in conjuction with it, the role of the narratives referred to in Saltuk-Nâme as an epic-legend genre in the consolidation of the aforementioned perception as well as the perception of religion during the Fatih period.