Piri Reis: One of the most famous figures in the history of world cartography

Piri Reis achieved a great success in Turkish maritime history with the maps he drew and his work called Kitab-ı Bahriye. During the expeditions that he joined with his uncle Kemal Reis, he examined the Mediterranean coasts to an inch by inch. He shed light on maritime activities with the maps he drew. The world map he completed in 1513 was the first map to show the newly discovered continent of America in the Turkish-Islamic world. And besides, he was able to draw the map with the closest accuracy to current information. His second world map, which he completed in 1528, was much more comprehensive than the first. The first map of Piri Reis was found by chance in the Topkapı Museum in 1929. By the order of President Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the first facsimile was published in 1935 with explanations in Turkish, German, English and French. Since then, this map has been the subject of many studies and has been considered as one of the milestones of Turkish maritime history.

Muhiddin Pîrî, known as Pîrî Reis, was born in Gallipoli between 1465-1470. There is very little information about the life of Piri Reis in the sources. Most of this information is based on his own narratives in his most important work, Kitab-ı Bahriye. Some of it is learned from the work of Mehmet Tahir Bey, one of the Ottoman biographers, named Ottoman Authors. According to this information, Piri Reis' family lived in Karaman. His father, Hacı Mehmet, and his family were among the families who were immigrated to Istanbul by the sultan's edict after the conquest of Istanbul. Hacı Mehmet and his family lived in Istanbul for a while. Then they migrated to Gallipoli. Little Muhiddin was born in this period. His uncle Kemal Reis was one of the famous sailors of the time. He especially participated in expeditions in and around Eğriboz. Muhiddin's childhood and youth years were spent with Kemal Reis. Between 1487 and 1493, he was a pirate in the Mediterranean with Kemal Reis. On the western shores of the Mediterranean, he clashed most with the Venetians. He joined the expeditions as a warship captain since 1500.

At the beginning of the 16th century, the Venetians had a significant power in maritime trade. The Ottomans, who wanted to seize the superiority in the Mediterranean, attached great importance to piracy activities. As a matter of fact, Turkish pirates were engaged in many naval wars in order to establish Ottoman domination in the Mediterranean. During this period, Piri Reis managed to attract attention with the naval battles he participated in in Modon, which is around the Peloponnese. He gained significant experience in the management of warships. Moreover, it inflicted great losses on the Venetians and the Portuguese. According to sources, Piri Reis was only in his 30s at this time. However, his fame began to spread in the Mediterranean. However, Kemal Reis died in 1511. Due to the sadness of his uncle, Piri Reis went into seclusion in Gallipoli. Among the spoils he won during the naval battles was the world map drawn by Christopher Columbus in 1498. In addition, different types of maps drawn by Muslim cartographers were at his disposal. During his seclusion years, Piri Reis began to draw a world map by examining these maps. The world map that he completed in 1513 was of great importance in terms of Turkish maritime history.

Alongside Kemal Reis, Piri Reis took part in many sea expeditions and observed the Mediterranean coast closely during these expeditions. Each time he participated in the Mediterranean, especially Sicily, Corsica, Sardinia and the coasts of France, he got to know this geography better. During the expeditions, he took various notes, thus creating an archive for the Kitab-ı Bahriye that he would write in the future. In those years, Muslims in Spain were going through difficult times. As a matter of fact, after the massacre that started in Granada, Muslims asked for help from the Ottoman Empire. However, the Ottoman Empire did not yet have a navy to go overseas. Thereupon, the Ottoman State decided to send Kemal Reis under the Ottoman flag to help the Muslims in Spain. Kemal Reis and Piri Reis left the Muslims they had taken from Granada to North Africa. Thanks to this expedition, Piri Reis had the opportunity to directly observe the coasts of Spain and North Africa. At the same time, he learned about the newly discovered American continent. His capture of Columbus' map on one of his expeditions enabled him to draw the first world map showing America.

In 1517, Piri Reis served as a commander in the Ottoman navy during the conquest of Egypt. He won the appreciation of Yavuz Sultan Selim for his success in the conquest of Alexandria. He presented her with the first world map he had drawn. Piri Reis' map aroused great interest as it showed the newly discovered America. For this reason, his work was highly appreciated by the palace. After the conquest of Alexandria, Piri Reis returned to Gallipoli and continued to work on his book. He completed his work called Kitab-ı Bahriye in 1521. On this date, the ruler died and his son Suleiman the Magnificent came to the throne. But the expeditions continued to ensure Turkish dominance in the Mediterranean. As a matter of fact, in 1522 Piri Reis went on a campaign again and ensured the capture of Rhodes. Thanks to his outstanding achievements in the campaign, he won the appreciation of Kanuni. He guided the Grand Vizier Pargalı İbrahim Pasha, who was sent to Egypt in 1524. In 1525, he expanded the Kitab-ı Bahriye with the suggestion of İbrahim Pasha and presented it to the ruler. He also drew a new world map in 1528 and presented it to Kanuni.

Both world maps drawn by Piri Reis are considered to be the most successful maps of their period. Unfortunately, only a third of the first map has survived. However, when examined carefully, it is seen that this part has been drawn with the closest accuracy to today's information.

Piri Reis's life was full of maritime activities and map drawings. The perfection of his maps and his success in campaigns also led to some enemies. Capturing Muscat and Hormuz Fortress, which were in the hands of the Portuguese, in 1552 was one of the most important achievements of his life. As a matter of fact, he was in his 80s at this time, and moreover, he had a military strength of half the Portuguese navy. After the victory, he left part of his fleet in the Persian Gulf and headed for the Bahrain Islands. When he captured these islands, Piri Reis's fame increased considerably. However, this situation disturbed some circles who were jealous of Piri Reis and pursued success. Basra Beylerbeyi Kubad Pasha, who could not bear their success, accused Piri Reis of leaving the navy alone in Basra. Moreover, he accused the Portuguese of releasing them in exchange for bribery. At the same time, he accused him of looting and making unfair profits. As a result of an intrigue in the palace, Piri Reis was executed in Cairo in 1553 by the sultan's edict.