About the genealogy of Nizami Ganjavi

Abstract

To reach the accurate information about the national identity, name, title, pseudonym, grandfathers, fathers, mothers, brothers, children, uncles and guardians of the great Azerbaijani poet Nizami Ganjavi is of great importance in the world oriental studies among researches dedicated to his biography. In this article, we intend to examine a number of topical issues to be formulated based on historical and literary sources and the poet’s own works, as well as references to the writings of his contemporaries and successors. Based on researches and facts, we have come to the conclusion with confidence that Nizami Ganjavi’s grandfather, Zaki Muayyad-din, was originally from the Gai tribe of the Boz-okh branch of the Oghuz Turks. He was a cleric in Ganja and a person close to the Seljuk palace, and was awarded the title of “Muayyad-din” (strengthened and protected in the religion by God).
Nizami Ganjavi's mother was a noble Turkish girl born in Azerbaijan. She was born in Ganja. Unfortunately, some researchers have grossly distorted her Turkish national identity. Recently, a new fact in the solution of the problem has radically changed the approach to the issue. Thus, Hurnisa Bashirova, a researcher representing the new generation of Azerbaijani Oriental Studies, researched the ancient manuscript of Nizami Ganjavi’s “Leyli and Majnun” kept in the Topkapi Palace in Turkey and found that this authoritative copy did not contain the verses “My mother Kurdish Raisa died before me as a mother.” So, these so-called verses were later attached to Nizami’s work and distorted the Turkish origin of the poet’s mother. Nizami Ganjavi’s uncle, that is, his mother’s brother Khaja Omar, was a person of high prestige close to the Ganja palace. During this period, the title “Khaja” was given to the head of the guards of the Shah’s palace. According to the famous Dehkhoda dictionary, “the chief of the palace was called Khaja.” It is also important to note that according to the rules of the Turkish sultan’s palaces, Turkish nobles, known for their courage and loyalty, were elected to the post of chief of the palace – Khaja. This fact itself confirms that Nizami’s mother was a noble Turkish girl.