Pir Sultan Abdal

 Pir Sultan Abdal 

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Pir Sultan veya Pir Sultan Abdal, it is believed that he used the pen name of Pir Sultan Abdal and was considered to be one of the six aşiks (wandering minstrels): Banazlı Aşık Pir Sultan, who was executed by Deli Hızır Paşa, the governor of Sivas during the reign of Sultan Murad III[12]; Pir Sultan'ım Haydar from the regions of Merzifon and Çorum; Abdal Pir Sultan from Daduk village in Artova, who is the author of poems written in the meter of aruz; Pir Sultan Abdal, who lived after Banazlı Pir Sultan and sang songs about his hanging, also known by his real name Halil İbrahim[11]; according to Kaya-Çetin, there are ten aşiks who use this pen name; according to Bezirci, there are eight aşiks[1][14].

It is presumed that Pir Sultan was born in the village of Banaz, which is connected to the Yıldızeli district of Sivas, at the beginning of the 16th century[8]. It is also thought that Pir Sultan's lineage comes from the region of Hoy in the West Azerbaijan province of Iran, based on the verse attributed to him, "My origin is from Horasan and Hoy"[8][1].

He lived during the reign of Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent and Shah Tahmasb of Iran. He participated in a rebellion against the Ottoman Empire and allegedly engaged in espionage in favor of Iran, which led to his execution by Hızır Paşa in Sivas. The date of Pir Sultan Abdal's death, as a result of his execution, is believed to be between 1547-1551 or 1587-1590[15]. Additionally, in his poems, Pir Sultan Abdal frequently expressed his love for Allah, the Islamic Prophet Muhammad, Ali, the Twelve Imams, and the Ahl al-Bayt. He also addressed social issues and used them as social critiques. Most of his poems were written in the form of nefes[15]. As an Alevi poet, he used the motif of Hak-Muhammad-Ali. He was raised in a dergah environment adhering to Alevi traditions and became a person who called people to this path. Despite receiving education in a madrasah in Erdebil, he was not influenced by Ottoman Divan literature, unlike some other folk poets[16].

Pir Sultan Abdal is one of the Yedi Ulu Ozans (Seven Great Bards) among Alevis. He is generally known for his stance against the Ottoman bureaucracy[17]. His verses reflect ancient Turkish culture and Alevi beliefs[4]. His death and poems have created a collective consciousness, and many poems, words, and anecdotes have been created in his name. He is seen as a living element of Anatolian folk culture[17].

Pir Sultan, who lived in Sofular village in Hafik district of Sivas, heard his name and took inspiration from him. Later, he was executed by Hızır Paşa, who became the governor of Sivas[18]. It is likely that his support for the Safavid Empire, reflected in the line "Çeke sancağı götüre, Şah İstanbul’a otura" (Take the flag and go to Istanbul, Shah), and his efforts in this direction led to his execution.