Manisa – City of Crown Princes
Manisa first became Turkish in the 14th century under the rule of Saruhan Bey and later was taken by the Ottoman Empire. Before Constantinople (later: Istanbul) was conquered in 1453 and made capital of the Empire, Manisa served as capital city in turns with Bursa. But even after Istanbul had become the centre of the Ottoman Empire, Manisa remained a city of great importance. It used to be the place were the crown princes, i.e. the future Sultans of the Empire, were raised and educated. So, even today, Manisa is known as “Şehzadeler Şehri” (City of Crown Princes).
When in 1522 Ayşe Hafsa Sultan, Kanuni Sultan Süleyman’s mother, fell ill, the court’s medical men were ordered to find a cure for her illness. It was then that Merkez Efendi invented a paste – Mesir macunu (Mesir paste) – which he mixed out of 41 different spices and herbs. Cured by her illness the Sultan wished the paste to be distributed among the people so that they, too, could benefit from its healing powers. This soon became a custom in Manisa and, after nearly 500 years, the tradition is still held alive today. So, on the first spring day of each year, thousands of people come together at the Sultan Mosque, from whose minarets sticks of Mesir paste are thrown down to the crowd.
When in 1522 Ayşe Hafsa Sultan, Kanuni Sultan Süleyman’s mother, fell ill, the court’s medical men were ordered to find a cure for her illness. It was then that Merkez Efendi invented a paste – Mesir macunu (Mesir paste) – which he mixed out of 41 different spices and herbs. Cured by her illness the Sultan wished the paste to be distributed among the people so that they, too, could benefit from its healing powers. This soon became a custom in Manisa and, after nearly 500 years, the tradition is still held alive today. So, on the first spring day of each year, thousands of people come together at the Sultan Mosque, from whose minarets sticks of Mesir paste are thrown down to the crowd.
