The Foolish King and the Wise Vizier – A Turkish Fairy Tale about Wisdom and Prudence

Brief Description: A Turkish folk tale about a foolish king and his wise vizier who saved the kingdom from war. A story that teaches that wisdom and cleverness are more important than brute strength, and that careful thought leads to better decisions.

In a distant kingdom, there ruled King Ahmed, known for his quick temper and foolish actions. King Ahmed's kingdom was large and rich, but his rule often brought trouble, as he made decisions based solely on his desires and the strength of his army.

At the king’s court served Vizier Hasan, a wise and thoughtful man who was devoted to his people. Many troubles of the kingdom were averted only thanks to his wise counsel, but the king rarely acknowledged Hasan's contributions, thinking it was his own strength that kept the kingdom safe.

One day, envoys arrived from distant lands. They brought news that unrest had begun along the kingdom's borders. The villagers of neighboring lands complained about the cruelty of the king's soldiers, who were allegedly collecting tribute on the border. The envoys warned that if this did not stop, their ruler would declare war.

When the king heard this, he flew into a rage. "How dare they accuse my soldiers?!" he shouted. "I will send my army to destroy these pathetic rebels. They will know that the power of Ahmed knows no bounds!"

But Vizier Hasan, understanding that war would bring nothing but suffering, decided to intervene. "Great king," he said, "allow me to look into this matter. It may be nothing more than a misunderstanding. If you send the army, it could lead to unnecessary losses."

The king frowned. "Fine," he said, "but remember: if your wisdom is of no use, I will do things my way."

Hasan set off for the border villages. He spent many days speaking with the villagers, investigating what had really happened. Soon, he discovered that the culprits were not the king's soldiers, but a band of robbers who were posing as Ahmed's envoys. They had been plundering the villages and spreading rumors of the king's cruelty.

The vizier returned to the king with this news. "My king," he said, "the problem is not with our neighbors, but with a band of robbers hiding in the mountains. Instead of declaring war, we must eliminate the true threat."

The king thought for a moment, but again became angry. "Why should I trust your words? It is better to send the army right away!" Hasan, remaining calm, suggested a clever plan. "Let me organize an ambush to catch the robbers. It will be quicker and result in fewer casualties."

The king reluctantly agreed. Hasan gathered a group and they went into the mountains. They set the ambush as planned, and soon the entire band of robbers was captured. When they were brought before the king, he could hardly believe that they were the cause of all the trouble.

"You saved us from war," said Ahmed to the vizier. "Now I understand that strength is not always the answer. Your wisdom helped preserve our kingdom."

From that day on, the king listened more often to Hasan’s advice. The kingdom flourished, and the story of how the wise vizier saved the country from war was passed down from generation to generation.

The Moral of the Story: This story teaches that wisdom and prudence are more important than brute force. It is important to think before acting in order to avoid unnecessary misfortunes.

Questions about the story:

• Why did King Ahmed want to send the army right away?
• How did Vizier Hasan find out who was really responsible for the unrest?
• What lesson did the king learn from this story?