To Forge a Book in the Medieval Ages: Nezām al-Molk's Siyar al-Moluk (Siyāsat-Nāma)

Author: Khismatulin, Alexey A.

Source: Journal of Persianate Studies, Volume 1, Number 1, 2008 , pp. 30-66(37)

Publisher: BRILL

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Abstract:

Statements by medieval authors notwithstanding, the issue of counterfeiting the texts during the Islamic Medieval Ages has not been seriously discussed by modern researchers. The latter prefer to pass in silence over the possibility that an unauthentic text could be intentionally forged by someone with selfish, ideological, and other purposes. This problem especially concerns the texts written in the genre of medieval advice literature and attributed to the prominent state figures or outstanding Muslim scholars. The article presents conclusive evidence that such is the case of the Siyar al-moluk (Siyāsat-nāma) forged by a Saljuq court poet, Mohammad Mo'ezzi, and ascribed by him to the famous Saljuq vizier Nezām al-Molk.

Keywords: MEDIEVAL FORGERY; ADVICE LITERATURE; SIYAR AL-MOLUK; NEZĀM AL-MOLK

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/187471608784772733

Publication date: 2008-06-01