History and Fiction: Ibrahim Pasha, Christian Dressed as Moslem

Abstract

Suleyman the Magnificent is one of the historical oriental characters who inspires most Turkish authors and orientalists who choose an historical framework for their works. But sometimes Ibrahim Pasha, his Grand Vizier, friend and confidant also becomes the hero of some fictional works. This choice is certainly not arbitrary and in this article, the author will treat the dramatic appeal that Ibrahim Pasha particularly generates in two novels of the French literature: Ibrahim ou l’Illustre Bassa (1642) by Mlle de Scudéry and La Sultane (1981) by Catherine Clément. Taking these two novels, published in a three-century gap and having amazing similarities, as her basis, Mrs. Kasap intend to reveal the approaches of the two female writers who pick out Ibrahim Pasha’s commitment to the Christian faith as the leitmotif in their novels.