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Kara Şemsi

1828 – 1886

Turkish poet

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About Kara Şemsi

Lived 1828 – 1886 (aged 57–58). Kara Şemsi was a Turkish poet and writer.

Qara Shemsi Abdal (; born 1828 – died 22 September 1886), was a Turkish poet of the Ottoman era. He wrote in Turkish and Persian.

Abdal was born in Konya into a poor family, and did not receive institutional education. He became a member of the Mevlevi Order and was tutored by Emir Şah Kaygusuz, the custodian (türbedar) of Rumi's mausoleum. After his studies under Kaygusuz, he took the name "Abdal" as pen name. Prior to this, he apparently has used the pen names "Shemi", "Nuri", "Shemsi", and "Niazi". Abdal later went to Crete, where he became the shaykh of the retreat of the Mevlevis in Hanya (Chania). He died in Crete as well.

Abdal's son Aref published his father's poems; the first part of the work contains his Persian poems, about the Islamic prophet, the first four caliphs, and the Islamic saints. The last part of the work contains material about the Battle of Karbala, condemnation of Yazid, and other such texts (e.g. an "elegy for the martyrs of Karbala").

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Important facts

Born
1828, Konya
Birth century
Occupation
Nationality

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Kara Şemsi's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Kara Şemsi?

Turkish poet

When was Kara Şemsi born?

Kara Şemsi was born in 1828 in Konya.

When did Kara Şemsi die?

Kara Şemsi died on 22 September 1886 in Chania.

What was Kara Şemsi's occupation?

Kara Şemsi was a poet and writer.

What nationality was Kara Şemsi?

Kara Şemsi was Turkish.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Kara Şemsi

· Wikidata: Q47167015

· DBpedia: Qara Shemsi Abdal

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Kara Şemsi. https://biography.guide/kara-semsi/

MLA: "Kara Şemsi." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/kara-semsi/.

Chicago: "Kara Şemsi." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/kara-semsi/.

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