AHMED I (Achmed I)

Sultan Ahmed I was born on 18th April 1590 in Manisa. His father was Sultan Mehmet III, his mother was Handan Sultana. He was very well educated, he had spoken Arabic and Persian fluently. He was a very brilliant rider, and a fencer. He was a successful soldier and he was very fond of archery and hunting. He had dressed up so modest. He came to throne after his father�s death on 21st December 1603. Sultan Ahmed I was the first sovereign who organised the administrative regulations since Suleyman the Magnificent. He was a political genius, although he ascended throne very young he administrated the empire very successfully. In Sultan Ahmed�s life the number 14 was important. He came to throne in the age of 14, he reigned for 14 years and he was the 14th sultan of the Ottoman Empire. He had died at the age of 28 because of typhus (22nd November 1617. Sons: Osman II, Murad IV, Ibrahim, Bayezid, Suleyman, Kasim, Mehmed, Hasan, Selim, Hanzade, Ubeyde Daughters: Gevherhan, Ayse, Fatma, Atike

RELATIONS with IRAN . When Sultan Ahmet came to the throne, the Ottoman Empire was in war with Austria in the West, with Iran in the East. The Ottoman Army commanded by Sinan Pasha marched through Revan but the Persians were plundering the villages on the way. Because of lack of food, the Ottoman Army spent the winter in Van (Eastern Anatolia). The Ottoman army defeated the Persian commanded by Shah Abbas, their target was to take back Tabriz. But, Shah Abbas made a sudden attack and defeated the Ottomans and they withdrew firstly to Van and after to Diyarbakir. As the Ottoman-Austrian war was continuing, grand vizier Nasuh Pasha accepted Shah Abbas� request of peace. In 1612 the Ottoman-Iran war was ended with the Treaty of Nasuh Pasha. The REVOLTS of CELALI . Celal of Yozgat revolted with his thousands of supporters during the period of Selim I. This revolt had been repressed but conflicts in Anatolia had continued. In Ahmed�s period these revolts appeared again. Tavil Ahmed, Canbolatoglu, Kalenderoglu and Deli Hasan had revolted. Grand vizier Kuyucu Murad Pasha was a very strict soldier and he was rather cruel. He repressed these revolts so violently. He killed even the innocent people, but he ended the revolt. The TREATY of ZITVETOROK . When Sultan Ahmed I was ascended the empire was in war with Austria. The Ottoman forces were advancing through Budapest from Belgrade. The castles of Pest and Hatvan were captured bloodlessly (September 1604). The castle of Vac was captured in October 16, 1604. With the command of Sultan Ahmed I the Ottoman army walked through Budapest and besieged the castle of Estergon in August 29, 1605. In October 3, 1605 the castle was captured. Both the Ottomans and the Austrians were in economic and politic attrition. And they decided to sign a peace treaty. The Zitvatoruk treaty was signed in November 11, 1606. The castles of Egri, Estergon, Kanije were given to the Ottomans, the castles of Rop and Koman were given to the Austrians. Austria would pay Ottomans 70.000.000 gold of compensation. The Ottoman Sultan would call the Austrian sovereign as the Emperor of Rome (Caesar) and two sovereigns would send gifts to each other in every three years. With this treaty the Ottoman supremacy on Austria began to be declined. ARCHITECTURE . On 4th January 1610, the foundation of famous Sultanahmet Mosque was laid. Sultan himself worked as a labourer. The mosque was completed in June 1617. The other mosques built in his period are; Istanbul Mesih Pasha Mosque, Piyale Pasha Mosque, Omer Pasha Mosque.

MEHMED III (Mohammed III)

Sultan Mehmed III was born in Manisa, on 26th May 1566. His father was Sultan Murad III and his mother was Safiye Sultana. His grandfather Suleyman the Magnificent gave his name as an attribution to Mehmed the Conqueror. Mehmed was medium size and he had a handsome face. He had a very strong education. He attended the classes of famous scholar Hoca Sadeddin Efendi. In 1583, he was appointed as Manisa governor. On 27th January 1595, he succeeded his father. Sultan Mehmed III admired his mother. His mother Safiye Sultana benefited from this and she dominated the state by using her influence on her son. She forced the sultan to be acted in the way she desired. Mehmed III was a very religious sultan, he appreciated Islam. He was so sensitive that on hearing bad news he had fallen ill. The Celali revolts and the Iran Wars made him so depressed. He prohibited alcohol and closed all the taverns. Sons: Ahmed I, Mustafa I, Selim, Mahmud AUSTRIA and WALLACHIA CAMPAIGNS . When Mehmed III came to throne while the Ottoman-Austrian wars were continuing and he immediately focused on the Wallachia problem. In 1595, the Austrian Army besieged the Castle of Estergon. Mehmed Pasha did not assisted the castle although he and his army were 49 km. away from the region. As a result of this negligence, the castle surrendered after a very brave defence. Sinan Pasha campaigned to Wallachia ruled by Prince Mihai Vitezul. The Ottoman forces invaded Bucharest and Tergoviste. But, Mihai attacked after a while and the Ottoman forces retreated. Many soldiers had died. Following the fall of the Estergon Castle, Visegrad was occupied by the Austiran forces. The yeniceris reacted against the loss of these important castles, and towns and they forced the sultan for another campaign. INVASION of the CASTLE of EGRI . As the empire was facing with crisis, Sultan Mehmed III assembled the state council and said: �From, our forefather, the founder of our empire Osman Ghazi; to our grand father Suleyman the Magnificent all the sultans went campaigns in front of their armies. Our grandfather Sultan Selim II and our father Murad III left this tradition. We too, had mistaken while ordering our pashas campaign. Surely, our soldiers sons would like to see us in front of them. We have decided, were are going to campaign very soon. Be prepared.� His mother rejected this plan, fearing to let the Sultan out of Istanbul. But her son said; �Mother, we are a Sultan son of a sultan, why we have armoured this sword in Eyup Sultan Mosque? Our decision is certain we are going for the campaign. We do not sacrifice our state for the throne.� On 20th July the army had moved and the castle of Egri was besieged and on 12th October 1596, it was surrendered to the sultan. The TRIUMPH of HACOVA . Following the invasion of Egri Castle, the Ottoman army had advanced to Hacova where they came across with the European army, organised by Austria, Germany, Wallachia, Spain, France, and Poland. Austrian archduke Maximillian was commanding this army. In the war, the Ottoman army was failed to defend the riffle shots of the Europeans and many soldiers had died. But the Ottoman raiders were continuing to struggle very courageously and they defeated their enemies and opened the way through Vienna (26th October 1596). After this triumph the sultan returned to Istanbul. Satirci Mehmed Pasha was appointed to the Austria front. He recaptured the Tata Castle but he was defeated by the Austrian Army on the north of Budapest. Meanwhile, a peace treaty was tried to be signed with the representatives of Austria. After a while, the Austrians captured the castle of Raab which was invaded by Suleyman the Magnificent (1598). INVASION of the CASTLE of KANIJE . Satirci Mehmed Pasha did not win a military success for two years. During these years Austria occupied many Ottoman castles. Therefore, Mehmed Pasha was executed and grand vizier Damat Ibrahim Pasha replaced him. He marched through Vienna. Meanwhile, Austria demanded peace and offered to give Egri and Hatvan. The Ottoman representatives wanted Estergon, Neograd, Vurek and Yanikkale, as well; and the treaty was abandoned. Damat Ibrahim Pasha spent the winter in Belgrade, and he begun to put pressure on Austria by besieging the castle of Kanije. The Turkish slaves in the castle exploded the powder magazines and very badly damaged the walls. But, the castle did not surrendered. An army of 20.000 soldiers commanded by Philippe Emanuel arrived to defend the castle. But the Ottoman Army defeated both of the armies and the castle had surrendered. Kanije was transformed to the centre of the Roumelia region. Tiryaki Hasan Pasha was appointed as the governor of Kanije. Damat Ibrahim Pasha was promised to be the grand vizier as long as he lived (10th September 1601). After this triumph, Istolni, Belgrade and Estergon were invaded (1601-1603).

RELATIONS with IRAN . Iran ignored the treaty signed in 1590. Shah Abbas by benefited from the Ottoman-Austria war and declared war in 25th August 1603. Shah Abbas invaded Tabriz and Erivan. Sultan Mehmed III had passed away while this war was lasting. He was 38 years old. ARCHITECTURE . Sultan Mehmed III had build the Golmarmara Halime Hatun Mosque and for his mother, he build Yeni Valide Mosque. Beside these, Mehmed III had restored many mosques.

MURAD III (Amurath III)

Sultan Murad III was born in Manisa, on 4th of July 1546. He was the son of Sultan Selim II and Afife Nur Banu Sultana who was Venetian originated.

He was a gracious ruler, he had spoken Arabic and Persian fluently. After, his father ascended he was appointed as the governor of Manisa. He took lessons from the famous scholars of Manisa. He was one of the most intelligent sultans of the empire. After, his father�s death he went to Istanbul and ascended the throne on 22nd December 1574. Like his father, he left the administration to Sokollu Mehmed Pasha.

Sultan Murad III led a life of pleasures, he never left Istanbul during his reign and he was very much influenced by the women in the palace. The woman dynasty emerged in his period continued in the following years. The mothers and wives of the sultans began to dominate the empire. He ascended the throne at the age of 29 and reigned for nearly 21 years. He died because of apoplexy on 15th January 1595.

With Sokollu Mehmed Pasha�s successful administrations, the Ottomans gained power. The territories extended to 19.902.000 km square. The relations with protestant Britain had been improved against a Catholic unity led by the Pope, and, later Holland joined the Ottoman-Britain alliance. First British capitulation was given and Britain sent a permanent ambassador to Istanbul.

Sons: Mehmed III, Selim Bayezid, Mustafa, Osman, Cihangir, Abdullah, Abdurrahman, Abdullah, Hasan, Ahmed, Yakub, Alemsah, Yusuf, Huseyin, Korkud, Ali, Ishak, Omer, Alauddin, Davud.
Daughters: Ayse, Fatma, Mihrimah, Fahriye.

RELATIONS with POLAND
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The King of Poland Henry ascended the throne with assistance Sultan Selim II. The Sultan was intending to ally with Poland against their neighbour Austria. The beneficial relations with France designed by Suleyman the Magnificent was continuing. Domination on Poland would give the Ottoman Empire superiority on Austria. However, the French King had died and Henry left the Polish throne, and was crowned king in France. Sultan Murad III intervened Poland again and favoured Bathary the Ruler of Transylvania to succeed the throne. The Sultan signed an agreement with Bathary and the security of the northern border of the empire was consolidated. RELATIONSHIP with VENICE . Until 1584 the Ottoman-Venetian relations were remained peaceful. But in this year, the Venetian navy commanded by Admiral Emmo attacked an Ottoman ship in Kefelonia. That Ottoman ship was bringing the corpses of the Governor of Trablusgarp Ramazan Pasha, his wife and his children killed in the Yeniceri Revolt. The Venetians, killed 250 Ottoman naval cadets in this attack, raped women and thrown them into sea. The Ottoman council sent an ultimatum to the senate of Venice. The Venetian Senate accepted the Ottoman ultimatum and executed admiral Emmo, sent the corpses of Ramazan Pasha, his wife and his children and the goods in the ship to the kadi of Preveze. The Ottomans sent another ultimatum to Venice saying; �The Venetian pyrites will never touch an Ottoman ship military or civilian. If happens a navy will be immediately sent against Venice.� The Senate of Venice against the decisiveness of Sultan Murad III sent three ambassadors to Istanbul and tried to solve the conflict tranquilly. RELATIONSHIP with BRITIAN . The Ottoman-British trade relations were established in this period as Queen Elisabeth I sent two ambassadors to Istanbul and addressed Sultan Murad III as the �Great Turk�. The Sultan responded the Queen as; �We are not only an ally of the federation of England but also the protector of the Queen�. The first English ambassador William Harborne entered the presence of Sultan Murad III in April 24, 1583 and presented gifts to him. Until this time Genoise, Venetian, Dubrovnic and French merchants had the right for trading in the Ottoman harbours due to the capitulation given in 1569. Elisabeth I was sent the ambassador in order to have a capitulation for merchandising in the Ottoman lands. The countries without capitulation were entering the Ottoman seas with a French flag. But, the Ottoman Government estranged the Catholics following the blood-bath of St. Bartholomew in 1572. In order to break the war equipment embargo imposed by the Pope, the Ottomans designed firm relations with Protestant England. Consequently, English-French rivalry in the Mediterranean had began and the Ottoman Empire had benefited from this rivalry. The CONQUEST of MOROCCO . The Ottoman Empire captured whole Northern Africa except Morocco. When Murad III acceded the throne, a rivalry was going on for Morocco and the Moroccans were divided in to two as the Ottoman supporters and Portuguese supporters. In 1578, the Moroccan Sultan invited the Ottomans to the land and the Ottoman forces led by Ramazan Pasha defeated the Portuguese army in Vadi-ul Sebil and annexed the Sultanate of Morocco in to Ottoman territories. RELATIONS with IRAN . Shah Ismail the son of Shah Tahmasb, ignored the peace treaties singed with the Ottoman Empire. Some Emirates depended to the Ottoman Empire favoured Shah Ismail, and Sultan Murad commanded the Governor of Van to reconcile the peace in that region. The Governor of Luristan (Iran) took refuge to the Ottoman Empire and the relations with Iran had been ruined. Meanwhile, Shah Ismail had died and throne rivalry was began. The Governor of Van, declared that, an attack to Iran should be made by benefiting from the disorder in Iran. Grand Vizier Sokollu Mehmed Pasha was against the war but, Sinan Pasha and Lala Mustafa Pasha were desiring to command the army in the campaign. The war was declared in spite of the oppositions of Sokollu Mehmed Pasha and the first stage of the war took 12 years between 1577 and 1589. Turkish troops commanded by Ozdemiroglu Osman Pasha, had defeated the Persian forces in Cildir and invaded the whole Georgia. Tiflis became an Ottoman federation in 1578, Sirvan was annexed into Ottoman territories in the same years. Under these circumstances Iran requested a peace treaty. In March 21, 1590 the treaty of Ferhad Pasha was signed in Istanbul. According to this treaty; Kars, Tabriz, Gence, Sehrizur (Azerbaycan, Georgia, Northern Caucus, Daghestan) remained in Ottoman territories. RELATIONS with AUSTRIA . In 1590 a peace treaty was signed with Austria valid for nine years. In 1593, Telli Hasan Pasha attacked rebellious Uskuks and Emperor Rudolph II regarded this attack as a reason for war and he rejected to pay taxes by ignoring the peace treaty. Moreover, he incited Wallaciha and Moldavia to rebel against the Ottoman Empire. Telli Hasan Pasha besieged the Castle of Siska in Croatia. At the end of very bloody collisions Hasan Pasha and his soldiers and the Governor of Herzegovina had died. As a result of these casualties the Ottoman government declared war against Austria. After the wars fought between two armies, Austrian Army passed the River Tuna and attacked Ruscuk, they tyrannised the Muslim people there. When Sultan Murad III had died the war was continuing. ARCHITECTURE . Sultan Murad III had had built new parts to the Palace of Topkapi. Famous architect Sinan built many masterpieces until his death. Some of the monuments commissioned to Sinan are; Azapkapi Sokollu Mosque, Izmit Pertev Pasha Mosque, Semsi Ahmed Pasha Mosque and School, Kilic Ali Pasha Mosque in Tophane, Muradiye Mosque in Manisa, Ivaz Efendi Mosque and Ramazan Efensi Mosque. Architect Sinan had died in 1588 and the monumental architecture had been declined. In Sultan Murad III�s period, the Castle of Kars was built. The walls of Kabe-i Serif in Mecca were rebuilt by marble. The Toptası Asylum in Istanbul was constructed.