Murad IV

He had many sons and daughters, but all his sons died as infants. Following his death in Istanbul due to cirrhosis on February 8, 1640, his insane brother Ibrahim took to the throne.

Murad IV was born Murad bin Ahmed on July 26, 1612, in Constantinople, Ottoman Empire, to Sultan Ahmed I and his favourite consort, Kösem Sultan, who later became his legal wife.

Sultan Ahmed I ruled Ottoman Empire from 1603 until his death in 1617. His rule was notable for the construction of one of the most popular mosques of Turkey, the ‘Blue Mosque’; and for termination of the royal fratricide tradition of Ottoman Empire where rulers executed their brothers after ascending the throne.

Untimely death of Sultan Ahmed I and multiple princes eligible for the throne created confusion in selecting the successor. For the first time in the Ottoman history, a brother of a demised Ottoman Sultan succeeded the throne instead of a son.

Sultan Ahmed I’s younger and mentally disturbed brother, Mustafa I, was enthroned in 1617 as Murad IV’s brother Osman II was considered too young to be enthroned. However, support of a palace faction helped Osman II to ascend the throne in 1618. His rule ended on May 20, 1622, when he faced regicide leading eccentric Mustafa I to ascend the throne once again in 1622.

While there was no improvement in mental state of Mustafa I, palace conspiracy amidst political instability and conflicts between several factions resulted into Murad IV’s accession. He succeeded Mustafa I to become the new Ottoman Sultan on September 10, 1623 at just 11 years of age.

The early years of his reign were marked by the regency of his mother. During this period he was controlled by his relatives while a general lawlessness and disorder prevailed much to the rising discontent of the people against the central government.

Much power was exercised by the turbulent spahis and the Janissaries, who plotted execution of high officials while the government was debilitating due to corrupt officials.

Iraq was invaded by the Safavid Empire in 1623 immediately after Murad IV took the throne. They were successful in recapturing Baghdad from the Ottomans. It was earlier conquered by Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent in 1534.

Meanwhile in 1626, an alliance was considered by Mughal Emperor Jahangir between the Mughals, Ottomans and Uzbeks to combat the Safavids, but this plan couldn’t take shape as he died in 1627. Later his son Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan was successful in materialising alliance with the Ottoman Empire.