Abstract
The present study sheds light on the “Eight Paradises” (Heșt Behișt) chronicle, a narrative source written in Persian by Idris Bitlisi (1457–1520). In a plastic exposition the Oriental chronicler depicted Stephen the Great as “the prince of Moldavia” (Kara Boğdan hakimi), who surpassed his contemporaries, i.e. the khans from Crimea, the princes of Wallachia and the Hungarian kings, in bravery and courage. In Idris’ allegorical vision, Prince Stephen the Great had ruled independent Moldavia for almost ninety years. Through Heșt Behișt, the figure of Stephen the Great entered for good in Persian culture.
Keywords
Heșt Behișt, Idris Bitlisi, Moldavia, Stephen the Great
