Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent put great emphasis on equality and he took the name “Kanuni”(the Lawgiver).

The armies returning from Budapest campaign had to walk through the fields as the roads were so narrow. A farmer dropped the thing in his hand on sultan’s way and his horse was frightened. The farmer was caught and brought to the sultan.

Suleyman asked: “What is in your mind? Why did you do something like that?”

He said: “We are poor villagers. Some of your soldiers crossed on our newly planted lands. Either you pay our losses or I complain you.”

Thereupon Suleyman said that: “Well then, to whom are you going to complain us?”

He answered: “Are not you the Lawgiver? We will complain you to the law.”

Sultan Suleyman pleased with this respond and he had had calculated the losses of villagers and paid.

©Copyright 1999 FORSNeT  (All Rights Reserved)