Piri Reis

Piri Reis was born in Gelibolu in the 1470s; his father was Hacı Mehmed, and his grandfather was Ali Reis. The most important information about the years he spent in the Mediterranean with his uncle Kemal Reis and his later life can be found in his work Kitâb-ı Bahriye, in which he recounts his own experiences, and in other sources of the period. In his youth, he participated in maritime activities in many regions of the Mediterranean, particularly along the Venetian coast, alongside Kemal Reis; he gained experience on various coasts and islands during piracy and jihad campaigns. This early Mediterranean experience formed the basis of his maritime geography and cartography knowledge.

When Kemal Reis was called to state service by Bayezid II (1481-1512), Piri Reis also took up a position in the Ottoman navy. From 1499 onwards, he participated in important expeditions such as the siege of Lepanto and the conquest of Modon, Koron, and Navarin; he took part in battles with the Knights of Rhodes and in activities aimed at ensuring trade security in the Aegean. After Kemal Reis’ death in 1510 (916), Piri Reis gained an independent identity within Ottoman maritime affairs.

Piri Reis, who participated in the Egyptian campaign during the reign of Yavuz Sultan Selim, presented his first world map, dated 1513 (919), to the sultan in Cairo. He also participated in naval expeditions during the reign of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent and served as a guide during Grand Vizier Makbul Ibrahim Pasha’s journey to Egypt. During this period, he wrote the first edition of his Kitâb-ı Bahriye (1521/927) in Gelibolu. The work describes the coasts of the Aegean and Mediterranean from a sailor’s perspective.