Ottoman Empire History

Throughout the Ottoman Empire, the rulers of the empire enriched themselves through international trade networks. The Ottomans, through their trade networks, were able to buy luxury goods, art, and foods from across the world. This process made the Ottoman state vital in circulating goods. The Ottoman state also continued to produce food and distribute raw materials and goods, ensuring that all citizens had access to them.

Mehmed I

Sultan Mehmed I of the Ottoman empire was a Turk whose family was of Germiyanid descent. His mother, Devlet Hatun, was a Sufi mystic. Mehmed's lineage goes back to the Caliphs Abu Bakr and Omar, and through them, to the Prophet Muhammad through his grandson Hussein. The Ottoman Empire became one of the great empires of the world.

Mehmed was a notoriously brutal ruler. He was notorious for his harsh tactics and was accused of abusing and murdering people. He was also a patron of the arts, and was considered a good poet. During his reign, Mehmed restored the name of his dynasty and the Ottoman Empire to its greatest territorial extent.

Mehmed II

The Ottoman Empire was a powerful empire based on territorial conquests. After conquering Constantinople in 1453, Mehmed II reunified Anatolia and continued conquests in Southeast Europe and Bosnia. He also made many reforms to his empire and encouraged the arts and sciences. He also started a rebuilding program to transform Istanbul into a thriving imperial capital. Today, Mehmed is revered as a hero in modern-day Turkey.

Mehmed was the vizier of the Empire. His first priority was to quell the revolts taking place on the eastern frontier. However, he was also faced with a revolt among the Janissaries. During his reign, he reorganized the elite military corps under his authority and used this military force to enforce his will throughout the Empire. Mehmed also no longer felt the need to maintain good relations with his western neighbors.

Mehmed III

The expansion of the Ottoman Empire began with Mehmed's conquest of Istanbul. This Ottoman ruler was very interested in Christianity. In fact, the Pope tried to persuade Mehmed to make the Ottoman Empire a Christian state. However, Mehmed was interested in the religion only and became the archenemy of Western Christians.

Mehmed was a young ruler who had strong ideas about expanding the Ottoman Empire. The Ottoman government was very weak and Mehmed wanted to strengthen it by force. His knowledge of Venetian ships helped him strengthen the Ottoman navy. Mehmed's vision was to become the next superpower.

Mehmed IV

Mehmed IV, the Muslim ruler of the Ottoman Empire, ruled between 1644 and 1688. In this time, the Ottoman Empire was in financial trouble, and Mehmed was forced to appoint several grand viziers to solve its problems. Mehmed's first grand vizier was Koprulus, who gave the empire some domestic relief while also ushering in victories over Poland, Austria and Venice in the Mediterranean.

Mehmed was born in Romania, and was a son of Gulnus Sultan. He was the first sultan born outside of Turkey since Suleiman I. His brother, Sehzade Suleyman, died in childhood, but his sister, Ayse Sultan, survived to marry Mehmed IV and become the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire.

Mehmed V

Mehmed V was the 35th Sultan of the Ottoman Empire. His reign was brief, lasting only three years. His reign was marked by the absolute rule of the Committee of Union and Turkey's defeat in World War I. Mehmed issued gold, silver and copper-nickel coins from the Qustantiniyah mint. The coins were issued in the Kurush and Para denominations.

Mehmed V declared jihad against the Entente Powers on 14 November 1914. This was a reaction to the pro-German policy of Enver Pasha, his predecessor. However, Mehmed was unable to prevent World War I due to his diminished influence after the overthrow of Abdulhamid II in 1909.

Mehmed VI

Mehmed VI, or Ahbaba, was the 36th Sultan of the Ottoman Empire. He ruled the country from 4 July 1918 until 1 November 1922. After World War I, the empire fell into dissolution, and on 29 October 1923, the Republic of Turkey was founded in its place.

Mehmed's early years were spent in the Ottoman Empire, where he was tutored by female servants and nannies. As a prince, he was interested in the arts, including music and calligraphy. He was a good reader and learned the Arabic script, as well as the musical instruments. Mehmed's brother Mehmet V "Muhammad Rashad" died before him, and he succeeded him. During his reign, he was close to his brother, and their close relationship shaped Mehmed's political views. He disliked the Young Turks and distrusted Germans.

Mehmed VIII

During Mehmed VIII's rule, the Ottoman Empire had an increasingly centralised government. However, the Sultan's administration also adopted a more hands-off approach to religion. Non-Muslims within the Ottoman Empire were allowed to practice their faith, as long as they paid a special tax called cizye. Mehmed also sought to legitimize his rule over the Eastern Orthodox minority by appointing religious leaders who were aligned with his own interests. This included the Patriarch of Constantinople, Gennadious Scolarious, to whom Mehmed gave authority over the Eastern Orthodox community.

After conquering Constantinople, Mehmed turned his attention to the Balkan Peninsula and the Aegean Sea. He achieved some success in these areas and took control of Athens, which remained under Ottoman rule for more than 300 years. He also subjugated the kingdom of Morea in 1459, and occupied Serbia in 1459. In 1460, he conquered Trebizond, a town in northern Asia Minor on the Black Sea.