Ottoman Emperor. Born in Manisa Palace, the younger son of Sultan Mehmet III and Sultana Handan. He was twelve when his father died, and his fourteen year old brother, Ahmed, ascended. Departing from tradition, he was not executed as a rival since the new Sultan, as yet, had no other heirs. He was confined to the Kafes, or cage, a windowless section of the Imperial Harem, where he was walled in and kept under house arrest. Believed by most to have all ready had impaired mental facilities, the confinement apparently exacerbated his condition. When Ahmed died in 1617, his eldest son was only 12, and court politics contrived to put Mustafa on the throne. It was the first time an Ottoman Sultan was succeeded by his brother rather than his son. Released from the Kafes, he was declared Sultan. He was reputed to have had visions and some declared him a holy man. He did not, however, seem to have capabilities as a ruler. He appointed young pages as governors of Cairo and Damascus, and replaced one of his high officers with a farmer who had once offered him a drink. He pulled the turbans off his viziers and was known to pull at their beards. Within the year, he was removed from the throne and again imprisoned in the Kafes accompanied by two concubines. His 13 year old nephew took the throne, and when he made enemies of his elite infantry, the Janissaries, they assassinated him within two years. Mustafa was retrieved from the Kafes, voicing reluctance to emerge, and restored to the throne. His first act was to order the execution of all those who had taken any part in the murder of his nephew. He was said to forget his nephew was dead and repeatedly searched for him through the palace, begging to be relieved of the burden of rule. Governors began to refuse to obey orders issued in the Sultan's name or send taxes to the capital. When the Janissaries could not be paid, they rebelled. He was compelled to renounced his throne in favor of his nephew, Murad IV. He was confined once more, and died at age 47. He has been called both Mustafa the Saint and Mustafa the Mad.
Ottoman Emperor. Born in Manisa Palace, the younger son of Sultan Mehmet III and Sultana Handan. He was twelve when his father died, and his fourteen year old brother, Ahmed, ascended. Departing from tradition, he was not executed as a rival since the new Sultan, as yet, had no other heirs. He was confined to the Kafes, or cage, a windowless section of the Imperial Harem, where he was walled in and kept under house arrest. Believed by most to have all ready had impaired mental facilities, the confinement apparently exacerbated his condition. When Ahmed died in 1617, his eldest son was only 12, and court politics contrived to put Mustafa on the throne. It was the first time an Ottoman Sultan was succeeded by his brother rather than his son. Released from the Kafes, he was declared Sultan. He was reputed to have had visions and some declared him a holy man. He did not, however, seem to have capabilities as a ruler. He appointed young pages as governors of Cairo and Damascus, and replaced one of his high officers with a farmer who had once offered him a drink. He pulled the turbans off his viziers and was known to pull at their beards. Within the year, he was removed from the throne and again imprisoned in the Kafes accompanied by two concubines. His 13 year old nephew took the throne, and when he made enemies of his elite infantry, the Janissaries, they assassinated him within two years. Mustafa was retrieved from the Kafes, voicing reluctance to emerge, and restored to the throne. His first act was to order the execution of all those who had taken any part in the murder of his nephew. He was said to forget his nephew was dead and repeatedly searched for him through the palace, begging to be relieved of the burden of rule. Governors began to refuse to obey orders issued in the Sultan's name or send taxes to the capital. When the Janissaries could not be paid, they rebelled. He was compelled to renounced his throne in favor of his nephew, Murad IV. He was confined once more, and died at age 47. He has been called both Mustafa the Saint and Mustafa the Mad.
Bio by: Iola
Family Members
Advertisement
