Ottoman sultans hired historians to publicize victories to rival rulers

Evidence

When an Ottoman sultan won a battle, the practice was to hire a historian who would then write it up in suitably grandiloquent language. This fathname would then be sent to other Muslim rulers, to say “Look what I’ve done.” — Bernard Lewis, From Babel to Dragomans, 1932

Categorization

• CANDY: The victory letter as grandiloquent diplomatic flexing — ‘Look what I’ve done’ — is a charming, low-context anecdote.