Sheikh Hamdullah (1436–1520) (), born in Amasya, Ottoman Empire, was a master of Islamic calligraphy. Life and work Sheikh Hamdullah was born in Amasya, a north-central town in Anatolia. His father, Mustafa Dede, was a Sheik of the Suhrawardi order, and had migrated from Bukhara (in present-day Uzbekistan) to Anatolia. In Amasya, he studied the six scripts under the tutelage of Hayreddin Mar'asi. He learned the traditional method of the old masters, but struggled to reproduce it. While studying, he met Bâyezïd, the son of Sultan Mehmed, the Conqueror who was a fellow student, and the pair became friends. When Bâyezïd assumed the throne in 1481, following his father's death, he invited his friend, Sheikh Hamdullah, to the capital, Istanbul. Hamdullah went on to become a master calligrapher at the Imperial Palace. In 1485, Bâyezïd II acquired seven works by the great calligrapher, Yaqut al-Musta'simi. Bâyezïd then encouraged his court calligrapher, Hamdullah, to devise a new script, inspired by the acquisition. Hamdullah regarded al-Musta'simi's work as unsurpassable, but at Bâyezïd's insistence, Hamdullah reluctantly agreed. Scholars have suggested that Bâyezïd's enthusiasm for a new script was symbolic of his desire to establish a new empire and a new dynasty. Hamdullah underwent a period of reclusion during which time he claimed that a prophet taught him the new scripts in a vision. He ultimately recodified and refined the nashk style of calligraphy, originally developed by Yaqut al-Musta'simi. Hamdullah's scripts were more elegant, balanced and legible. From 1500, the majority of Q'rans adopted Hamdallah's new style, which became known as the Ottoman style or "Seyh's manner'. For this, he is often considered to be the "father of Ottoman calligraphy". His many students spread his style throughout the Ottoman Empire. His style endured for 150 years, making him one of the greatest Ottoman calligraphers of all time. As much as two centuries later, students of calligraphy such as Hâfiz Osman continued to copy his works assiduously as part of their training. He devoted his whole life to the art of calligraphy, continuing to produce works well into his 80s. He produced 47 Mus'hafs, book of Quran, and innumerable En'ams, Evrads and Juz', a number of which are held in the collection of the Topkapi Palace. His inscriptions also decorate the Bâyezïd, Firuzaga and Davud Mosques in Istanbul and the Bâyezïd Mosque in Erdine. His son, Mawlana Dede Chalabi, became a calligrapher after studying with