Sultan Plays Jereed! (Ottoman Sultans Who Plays and Supports the Jereed Sport)

Djerid game one of the important sport were played by Turks before and after the period of Islam. Today mounted jereed is a traditional ancestor sport now because of its past date backs to thousand years. The horse had a very exceptional place and value in the life of the Turks who were fulfill their past and near history with wars. In this regard mounted jereed is more special for Turks by as a kind of quality for preparation of war. Besides, mounted jereed is also one of the basic item of a festival to show fun and splendor. All these qualities make it easier for us to understand why the game was played by Turks for centuries. In all the Turkish states, especially the Seljuks, mounted jereed was performed. When it comes to the Ottomans, it is seen that the sultans also appeared frequently in the playground of jereed. This work is especially focused on the Ottoman sultans who played the game himself or contributing by creating a necessative ground for the sport. In this context the main topics are what time and which sultan were play or run the game and what kind of support they provide to the players or games have been discussed during the study. There is considerable information in the current literature on the mentioned issues. The main source group that constitutes the basis for the study is Ottoman archive documents and chronicles. It has also benefited from the researchs and review studies on the subject. In this way, the relation between the Ottoman sultans and jereed was revealed and reached on some information which thought to be important about given traditional importance and support for the organization of the mounted jereed competitions where were did in and around the Ottoman palace