Historical poems are a genre that developed within the tradition of classical Turkish literature. Dating is an art that is preferred for recording the history of a significant event via poetry, as defined by the poet, under the "abjad calculation" system. The poet expresses the date of the event in one or more phrases, poems, or couplets. According to the abjad calculation, each letter has a numerical value, and the desired date is achieved by adding the numerical values of each of the letters that make up the poem. The date is frequently provided in the last line of the poem. Classical literature poets have enjoyed the benefits of this skill in many aspects of life, including birth, death, marriage, war, peace, circumcision, beard growth, fire, earthquake, instances of descent and appointment, victories, conquests, and the construction or repair of architectural monuments. First and foremost, information about Kilisli Rıfki (Rıfkî of Kilis), a poet of eighteenth-century classical literature, and his works will be provided in this study, in which the form and content of 20 date poems from his Divan will be examined. The transcribed text of these poems will be provided at the end of this study. Hence, previously unpublished historical poetry will be added to the literature.
Classical Turkish poetry, historical poetry, Kilisli Rıfki.