Shadow of God

by Anthony Goodman

  dhimmi. (t) Protected People. Designation given to Jews and Christians, as People of the Book (Bible). The Qur’an prescribed protection of these people within Muslim society.

  Divan. (t) Ottoman council of state. Taken from the Turkish word for a low couch—the seats upon which members of the council would be seated.

  Eis teen polin. (g) Literally, “into the city.” Origin of the word “Istanbul,” the major city of Turkey and the Ottomans.

  enceinte. (f) An enclosure; a fence; a girdling. Refers to the encircling battlelines.

  firman. (t) A legal decree issued by the Sultan. Also, “ferman.”

  ferenghi. (t) Europeans or foreigners in general. Pejorative.

  fetvà. (a) A judicial ruling made by the Sheik-ul-Islam, the chief Islamic scholar of the community.

  Grand Vizier. (t) Chief advisor to the Sultan in both military and civil affairs. Highest rank attainable in the Devshirmé system.

  Gülbehar. (t) Literally, “Flower of Spring.” Name of Suleiman’s First Lady.

  harem. (a) Area of palace or Muslim house where the women live. Set apart from the remainder of the palace. Literally, “inviolable area.”

  Ixarette. Sign language used by the Palace mutes and by Suleiman to converse with servants.

  Inch’ Allah. (a) “God be willing.”

  Janissary. (t) Elite military guard or force. Corruption of the Turkish, “yeni cheri,” or “young soldiers.”

  jihad. (a) Literally, “a struggle.” Often used by Muslims to describe a holy war.

  Kadin. (t) Literally “first girl,” or the woman most special to the Sultan at the time. Sultans rarely married the mothers of their children.

  Kapudan. (t) Fleet admiral.

  Khürrem. (t) Literally, “Smiling or laughing one.” The name of the second wife of Suleiman.

  kilim. (t) Woven rug or tapestry, without a pile.

  kohl. (t) Eye shadow.

  Kubbealti. (t) Another term for the Imperial Council. See Divan.

  Kuffar. (a) Infidels. Foreigners.

  langue. (f) Literally, “tongue.” Refers to the divisions by language and country among the Knights Hospitaller of St. John.

  Loggia. (l) An architectural arcade open to the outside on at least one side.

  Mameluke. (Egyptian) Military order that seized control over Egypt from 1254–1811.

  Mufti. (t) The definitive authority on Muslim law and the Muslim Institution.

  odalisque. (f) Female slave or resident in a Turkish harem.

  Osmanli. (t) Refers to the House of Osman, founder of the Ottoman Empire. “Ottoman” in Italian.

  Ottoman. (t) Dynasty founded in the fourteenth century by Osman, and reaching its pinnacle under Suleiman the Magnificent in the sixteenth century.

  Pasha. (t) Any high-ranking Turkish official, either military or civil. Agha.

  Pilier. (f) High-ranking officer of a langue.

  rambade. (f) A wooden platform at the bow of galleys. Used to ram, grapple, and board the enemy galley.

  Reis. (t) Naval Commander-in-Chief.

  quarrel. (me) Square-headed bolt or arrow used with the crossbow.

  Qur’an. (a) The Koran. Muslim Holy Book.

  sappers. (e) Soldiers employed in building trenches and fortifications.

  Selim. Father of Suleiman. Known as “Yavuz,” (the Grim), as well as “Protector of the Faithful.”

  Seneschal. (me) Officer in charge of domestic arrangements, justice, and ceremony.

  serai. (t) House or dwelling place (tent, pavilion, etc).

  Seraskier. (t) A Commander-in-Chief.

  Sheik-ul-Islam. (a) “Ancient of Islam.” The Mufti of Istanbul and the leader and authority of the Muslim community.

  Sheitan. (a) From “Ash-Shaytan.” Satan, the devil.

  Shiite. (a) Member of the Shiite movement of Islam, which considers Mohammed’s true successor to be Ali, the Fourth Caliph, and cousin of the Prophet.

  Sipahi. (or spahi) (t) Calvary soldier. Can be either permanent professional cavalry or feudal cavalry.

  Sultan Valideh. (t) The current Queen Mother.

  tura. (t) Official seal of the Sultan, affixed to any official decree, and confirming its authenticity.

  Turcopilier. (t) Commander-in-Chief of the light cavalry.

  Vizier. (a) High official in a Muslim country; minister of state. See Grand Vizier.

  yarak. (t) In fine condition. Physically fit.

  yeni cheri. (t) Literally, “young soldier.” Later Anglicized to “Janissary.”

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  The idea for this book was conceived in August of 1982 as I stood on the battlements of Rhodes and watched the sound and light show with my daughter, Katie. My special thanks to her and my family for listening to me ramble through the ideas for a story as the next two decades slipped by, buried in research and musings.

  I want to thank Jerry Gross, the Editor’s Editor, for his invaluable help in shaping and refining my writing, as well as playing the roles of father and advisor.

  And thank you to Hillel Black, Executive Editor at Sourcebooks, who also stood on the battlements of Rhodes with his son eighteen years later, and listened to the same story of Suleiman and the Knights of St. John; who read the original manuscript and was able to see a book in there somewhere. I am grateful for his editing and his private tutorial on writing.

  To Peter Lynch at Sourcebooks for his editing skills and patience; and to Taylor Poole for allowing me to participate in the overall artistic design. Finally, to Judith Kelly, Maggy Tinucci, Sean Murr
ay, Jeff Tegge, Todd Stocke, Jon Malysiak, and Jennifer Fusco.

  Anthony A. Goodman is an adjunct Professor of Medicine at Montana State University. The Shadow of God, his first novel, was inspired by a visit to Rhodes, where he became fascinated by the conflict that engulfed the three great monotheisms five hundred years ago. He lives in Bozeman, Montana.