Personalities in the Divan of Sehâbî

Sehâbî is one of the Divan poets who lived in the 16th century. Although he was not as widely recognized as the prominent poets of his time, he successfully represented the language and literary style of the era through his ghazals. He is known to have authored two works: Divan and Tedbîr-i İksîr. The Sehâbî Divan reflects the characteristics of a well-organized divan, consisting of various poetic forms such as a preface (dibace), qasidas, ghazals, a historical chronogram in verse, rubāʿīs, muhammas, and a qiṭʿa indicating the date of completion.In this work, Sehâbî refers to a wide range of significant figures, including historical and legendary personalities, Arab, Persian, and Turkish poets, prophets, mystics, and many other prominent names mentioned in religious texts. By incorporating these individuals into his poetry, he aims to praise his patrons, enhance the meaning of his verses, and commemorate personalities he regards as important. Especially in panegyrics, he often emphasizes the superiority of his patron in comparison with these figures.This study focuses on the aforementioned individuals, analyzing them through Sehâbî's couplets. Their biographies are presented in modern Turkish alongside the poet's verses, and their portrayal is evaluated in comparison with the aesthetic norms of classical Divan poetry.