I. Mehmed, also known as Mehmed I, was the fifth Sultan of the Ottoman Empire (reign: 1389?-1421). His father was Sultan Beyazıt I, and his mother was Devletşah Valide Sultan. While the exact date of his birth is uncertain, he was born in 1389 in Edirne.
Çelebi Mehmed faced a challenging period before ascending to the throne, which was a tumultuous time for the Ottoman Empire.
During his princely years, he learned about state administration in Amasya. Çelebi Mehmed, who demonstrated his abilities in the region of Amasya, participated in the Battle of Ankara with his army. Due to leading the rear guard, he emerged from the battle with the least damage and earliest withdrawal (1402).
Interregnum Period:
After the defeat in the Battle of Ankara, Timur stayed in Anatolia for a while and effectively revived the emirates that were under Ottoman control. During this period, the Ottoman Empire became a vassal of Timur. Timur granted Tokat and Amasya regions to Sultan Mehmed I before leaving Anatolia. After Timur's departure, a fierce struggle for the throne ensued among the sons of Bayezid I. Princes Süleyman, İsa, and Mehmet resided in Edirne, Bursa, and Amasya, respectively. The Interregnum Period, which lasted from 1403 to 1413, witnessed intense rivalry between Süleyman Çelebi and Çelebi Mehmet, with Musa Çelebi also entering the fray. In 1406, Mehmet and Süleyman fought, and although Süleyman initially won, Musa emerged victorious in the battle that took place the following year, besieging Istanbul. In 1413, Çelebi Mehmet defeated Musa in the Battles of Çamurlu Derbent and Vize, successfully rallying support around his rule and ending the Interregnum Period.
Reign:
Taking sole power from 1413 onwards, Sultan Mehmed I laid siege to Konya and captured Hamideli. He then turned his attention to Western Anatolia and annexed Izmir, which Timur had taken. A conflict with the Venetians ensued, and subsequently, Bayezid's son Mustafa emerged in Rumelia (1418). Mustafa Çelebi, who appeared 18 years after the Battle of Ankara, declared his rule in Thessaly, making an agreement with the Byzantines and setting fire to the Ottoman fleet in Gallipoli. Sultan Mehmed I marched towards Edirne and, after defeating Mustafa, the latter sought refuge in Byzantium. During this period, the rebellion of Sheikh Bedrettin erupted and he was captured and executed.
Due to the turmoil in the country, the Balkans remained unsettled. The Wallachian voivode took advantage of this and occupied Silistra and Deliorman. Çelebi Mehmed simultaneously advanced in Anatolia, incorporating Karaman, Kırşehir, and Niğde into Ottoman territory. He then launched a campaign against the Wallachian voivode.
Death of Sultan Mehmed I:
In 1421, while on a hunting expedition, Sultan Mehmed I fell from his horse and suffered a stroke, passing away in Edirne. On his deathbed, he instructed his viziers, "I cannot rise from this bed; call for Murad quickly. If he cannot make it in time, hide my death, or else turmoil will arise." When Sultan Mehmed I suddenly passed away, his son Murad was in the Sanjak of Amasya. Additionally, there were numerous claimants to the throne at that time, and the rebellion of False Mustafa had just been suppressed. Çelebi Mehmed was particularly concerned about Murad. For this reason, Sultan Mehmed I's death was kept hidden for about 42 days until Prince Murad arrived in Bursa from Amasya. It is rumored that during this time, he was supported by braces to appear alive to the public. He is the only Ottoman Sultan whose death was concealed.
His body was brought from Edirne and he was buried in the Green Tomb in Bursa.
Sultan Mehmed I was among the physically strongest sultans. In his youth, he engaged in wrestling and was a skilled archer. During his reign, he personally participated in 24 battles and received around 42 battle wounds.
Çelebi Mehmed's significance in Ottoman history is substantial. During the Interregnum Period, when the Ottoman Empire was on the verge of collapse, he managed to emerge victorious from the throne struggles, demonstrating that the Ottoman Empire was in the process of recovering after losing territories to Timur. He is referred to as the second founder of the Ottoman Empire for reuniting the empire that was on the brink of dissolution.
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