Sultan I. Mustafa (1591-1639) was the son of Sultan Mehmet III and his mother was Halime Sultan. He was the 15th Sultan of the Ottoman Empire and the 94th Caliph of Islam.
Sultan I. Mustafa holds significant importance in Ottoman history. This is because his older brother, Sultan Ahmet I, had prohibited fratricide and introduced the "Kafes" system. For the first time in the Ottoman dynasty since Osman Gazi, the throne passed from brother to brother, not from father to son, after the death of Sultan Ahmet.
His reign was short-lived due to Sultan Mustafa's health issues and his ineffective rule. After three months, he was deposed by the decision of the scholars, viziers, and statesmen. During his first reign, he was under the influence of his mother, who took on all his responsibilities. He was placed on the throne by those who believed he would improve over time, but his reign, lasting from November 22, 1617, to February 26, 1618, came to an end due to his reluctance to involve himself in state affairs.
Sultan Ahmed ascended the throne at the young age of 14 and had no offspring to continue the lineage. It is believed that he did not order the execution of his brother Mustafa, immediately after taking the throne, possibly because of concerns about Mustafa's mental state. Additionally, it's suggested that Sultan Ahmed's decision may have been influenced by the negative public perception of his father Sultan Mehmet III, who had ordered the execution of 19 of his own brothers upon ascending the throne.
Despite all this, Sultan I. Mustafa lived in constant fear of being killed from a young age, which contributed to the corruption of those around him. After his deposition, his nephew, Genç Osman, the son of Sultan Ahmed, was brought to the throne, and Sultan Mustafa was confined to a room in the palace for four years.
Upon the brutal murder of Sultan II. Osman, Sultan I. Mustafa was reinstated, but his second reign began amidst turmoil. The Governor of Erzurum, Abaza Mehmet Pasha, rebelled seeking revenge for Sultan Osman II, leading to Sultan Mustafa's second deposition. His second reign lasted around 1 year and 4 months. After being deposed again, he remained secluded in the palace for 17 years until his sudden death in 1639. He was buried in a derelict building that had previously served as the baptistery of Hagia Sophia. Later, Sultan Ibrahim was also interred there.
While some sources refer to Sultan I. Mustafa as "the Mad", it is certain that he was not insane. However, it can be said that he had a troubled personality, with his nerves and entourage being greatly disturbed. It is reported that he randomly distributed money during his reign and even fed fish with gold. Despite all the encouragement and incentives, he showed no interest in women and did not have an heir.
He did not engage in state affairs and remains the only Sultan in Ottoman history to ascend and descend the throne twice.
Post a Comment