He compiled it partly from the books and partly from the...

He compiled it partly from the books and partly from the oral traditions handed down in his own family.[^26] Therefore, the anecdotes cited in it begin invariably with the phrase, “So says Khuwaja Nizam al-Mulk.” The preface, which is one of the reliable sources of Nizam al-Mulk’s life, is evidently from the pen of the compiler.

But the other two chapters, which form the main part of the work and contain much valuable material on the political ideas of this famous vizier, are composed from his own authentic writings and utterances. It has been justly remarked[^27] that there is no internal evidence in the main part of the work to show that it does not owe its contents to his pen.

A large part of the Wasaya may be regarded as the actual utterances of Nizam al-Mulk.[^28] We are fortunate in having these two important works of Nizam al-Mulk representing his thoughts about kingship and vizierate, which were the two political institutions of primary importance in his days. The Siyasat Nameh , which is the exposition of his theory of kingship, was originally written to serve as a “monarch’s primer.”[^29] It is said that in 484/1091[^30] Sultan Malik-shah (r.