Origins & Early Life

Yunus Emre (Turkish pronunciation: [juːˈnus emˈɾe]), also known as Derviş Yûnus (Yûnus the Dervish; 1238–1320; Old Anatolian Turkish: يونس امره), was a Turkish folk poet and Sufi who greatly influenced Turkish culture. The UNESCO General Conference unanimously passed a resolution declaring 1991, the 750th anniversary of the poet's birth, International Yunus Emre Year. Yunus Emre has exercised immense influence on Turkish literature, because Yunus Emre is, after Ahmed Yesevi and Sultan Walad, one of the first known poets to have composed works in the spoken Old Anatolian Turkish. His diction remains very close to the popular speech of the people in Central and Western Anatolia.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

This is also the language of a number of anonymous folk-poets, folk-songs, fairy tales, riddles (Hayran), and proverbs. Like the Oghuz Book of Dede Korkut, an older and anonymous Central Asian epic that inspired Yunus Emre in his occasional use of Hayran as a poetic device had been handed down orally to him and his contemporaries. This strictly oral tradition continued for a long while. Following the Mongolian invasion of Anatolia, facilitated by the Sultanate of Rûm's defeat at the 1243 Battle...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

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• Abby Stein — Historical peer (Born in 1991) (1991): Israeli-American author, rabbi, and activist who speaks on faith and gender identity.
• Andros Townsend — Historical peer (Born in 1991) (1991): English professional footballer known for his time at Tottenham Hotspur and subsequent moves.
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