The Ottoman chronicles recount that the first sultan, Osman, dreamt of
the dynasty he would found -- a tree, fully-formed, emerged from his
navel, symbolising the vigour of his successors and the extent of their
domains. This is the first book to tell the full story of the Ottoman
dynasty that for six centuries held sway over territories stretching, at
their greatest, from Hungary to the Persian Gulf, and from North Africa
to the Caucasus. Understanding the realization of Osman's vision is
essential for anyone who seeks to understand the modern world.