An evaluation of Kochi Bey's Risale presented to Murad IV in the context of the authority of the sultan from the perspective of Islamic law as an example of a siyasetname

The art of governance, known as politics, is very significant for societal life. Due to its importance, the principles of politics were first transmitted orally and later in written form from generation to generation. In Islamic history, political matters have been addressed from various perspectives such as Islamic law, philosophy, and sociology. Siyasetnames have their own distinct characteristics. Although they resemble Islamic law-based works due to containing rulings related to Islamic law (fiqh), they differ because their content is advisory in nature. In addition to fiqh rulings, they distinguish themselves from other works on politics by including examples from both Islamic history and pre-Islamic periods. Among the siyasetnames that focus on the problems of their respective periods, Koçi Bey's Risale holds an important place. The Risale is original due to several reasons: it was written during a time of significant issues caused by a power vacuum; it candidly expresses problems to a ruler like Sultan Murad IV, who was known for his fearless leadership; and, unlike previous works, it includes not only critiques but also analyses and suggestions. In this study, an evaluation of the risale has been attempted in terms of the sultan's authority in Islamic law.