Gurbi’s “Qasida of Yeni Pazar” in the Context of 18th-Century Bosnian Yeni Pazar

In the Ottoman literary tradition, poets from provincial regions shaped their works by blending the classical poetic style with regional motifs. In this context, Gurbî, one of the prominent provincial poets of the period, established a unique place within Ottoman provincial literature through his panegyric dedicated to Yeni Pazar, Bosnia. This study examines the socio-cultural structure of Yeni Pazar in the 18th century through an analysis of Gurbî’s Yeni Pazar Panegyric. Gurbî’s panegyric provides a detailed portrayal of Yeni Pazar’s geographical beauty, natural resources, economic structure, spiritual and religious identity, as well as its historical and strategic significance. Beyond being a mere literary text, the poem serves as an important document that offers valuable insights into the social life, cultural dynamics, and societal structure of the Ottoman provinces. While depicting the mosques, dervish lodges, commercial hubs, and natural landscapes of Yeni Pazar, the poet simultaneously reflects the literary sensibilities of his era from a provincial perspective. In Gurbî’s poetry, Sufi thought intertwines with social observations of the Ottoman provinces, thereby presenting both a religious and cultural perspective. This study focuses on Gurbî’s panegyric to analyze the cultural identity of the Ottoman provinces and its place within the broader literary tradition.