The Sultan's Heart

**The Sultan's Heart** is the 14th episode in Season 2 of Expedition Unknown.

## Plot Synopsis

Gates hunts for the Heart of Suleiman the Magnificent, ruler of the Ottoman Empire in the 16th century. When Suleiman died in 1566 during a battle in Hungary, his body was brought back to Istanbul, but not before a ritual was performed involving the removal of his heart being placed in a gold container and buried beneath his tent. The Sultan's followers believed his heart has magical powers and continues to beat, waiting to be returned to its host. The town of Tubek was built over the burial site to honour the Sultan. A century later, invaders destroyed this now lost city and the heart vanished.

## Historical Context

"In the 16th century, Suleiman the Magnificent ruled the Ottoman Empire for a staggering 46 years, and he very nearly conquered all of Europe. In 1566, Suleiman died during a battle in Hungary. His body was carried back to his capital of Istanbul, but not before a strange ritual was performed. His heart was removed, placed in a golden container, and buried beneath his command tent. His followers claim the heart is a magical and mystical relic. Legend says the heart continues to beat, waiting to be reunited with its host. An entire town called Turbek was built over the burial site to honour the sultan. But less than a century later, invaders wiped it off the face of the Earth, and the location of Suleiman's heart vanished with it."

- Josh Gates

## Summary

Josh goes to Istanbul, Turkey and meets with Gunhan Borecki, a history professor, at the Suleymaniye Mosque. He gives Josh historical context and they go to see Suleiman's mausoleum. Josh heads to Budapest, Hungary and takes the Gyermekvasut to Buda Castle to meet Zoltan Heygi, a conservationist. They go into a tunnel system and see a mammoth tooth and human bones from the Middle Ages. They use metal detectors and uncover an old musket ball, but don't find the heart.

Josh heads to the National Archives of Hungary where he meets Mate Kitanics, an archivist. Mate shows Josh a manuscript that talks about the lost location of Turbek and Suleiman's tomb. He also shows Josh a blueprint sketch of the city that marks the place where Suleiman was originally entombed.

Josh takes the Danube Express to Szigetvar and to a fortress, where he meets Gabor Bertok, an archaeologist. Gabor tells Josh about the battle and shows him a nearby dig site where they are discovering Ottoman artefacts. They find a battle axe from the siege. They take an aeroplane to see if they can see where Turbek would've been. They find a hill with vineyards like is described in the manuscript at the archives.

Josh goes to the hill and meets Norbert Pap, a historian and Erika Hancz, an archaeologist. Using GPR, they've found walls under the vineyard that lines up to the map from the archives. They find brick and ceramic littering the fields along with a lead spike. They go to a wine cellar and find a very old stone that was part of a wall or an important Ottoman building.

## Final Words

"Many times, the search for historic truth proves impossible, the trail too cold to follow. But other times like today, seasoned detectives are so determined, passionate, and perhaps lucky enough to have the puzzle pieces of their case fit neatly together ... the work isn't done, and the case technically remains open. But back in Istanbul, where a nation and a sultan have waited patiently for 450 years, the case of the missing hear is - I have no doubt, about to be solved."

- Josh Gates

## Notes & Trivia

* In the following weeks, the team continued to dig in the vineyard and found the tomb of the sultan but the heart has yet to be found.

## Quotes

* "People are coming to Istanbul, visit fake, miniature, versions of real landmarks. And I am one of those people."
* "I can see every important site in Istanbul in 10 minutes flat and pretend I'm Godzilla at the same time."
* "There is even a hip Turkish TV show about him called Magnificent Century. It's sort of like The West Wing except with less Rob Lowe and more beheadings."
* "12-hour shift with no play? I believe that's called child labour. Something about that doesn't seem right."
* "This is the perfect vehicle if you want to feel like you're in a car and have all the safety features of a circus cannon."
* "This is like the Supermarket Sweep version of excavation."

## References

1. ↑ https://discovery.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/discovery/go/shows/e/expedition-unknown/200/the-sultans-heart.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.347.suffix/1560975855066.jpeg