Encyclopedia Ottomanica is an independent educational project dedicated to making the history of the Ottoman Empire accessible, engaging, and academically grounded.

Our aim is to create a comprehensive online reference for students, teachers, researchers, and anyone interested in Ottoman history. From sultans, statesmen, and scholars to women, artists, soldiers, institutions, cities, ideas, and everyday life, Encyclopedia Ottomanica explores the Ottoman world across more than six centuries.

We believe Ottoman history is best understood through a wide range of perspectives and sources. Our encyclopedia brings together historical events, biographies, primary sources, art and material
culture, timelines, educational resources, and scholarly articles to provide a broader understanding of the empire and the people who lived within it.

Whether you are encountering Ottoman history for the first time, preparing a lesson, conducting research, or simply exploring a subject that interests you, Encyclopedia Ottomanica is a reliable and accessible starting point.

Our mission is simple: to make the study of Ottoman history more accessible, more engaging, and more deeply understood.

Meet our team

Hilal Nur Kuyruk

Founder 

Hilal is a historian specialising in the Ottoman Empire. She is currently undertaking a PhD in Ottoman History and is completing a book exploring the history of fashion change and continuity in Ottoman Turkey. She is also a contributing writer for The Collector and appears monthly on ABC Radio, where she discusses Ottoman and Islamic history.