Mustafa IV, an Ottoman Sultan whose reign was as brief as it was tumultuous, remains a figure of intrigue and controversy in the annals of Ottoman history. Born on September 8, 1779, in Constantinople, Mustafa IV ascended to the throne during a period of intense political upheaval. His rule, from 1807 to 1808, was marked by his conservative stance and his role in the overthrow of his reformist cousin, Sultan Selim III. Despite his short tenure, Mustafa IV’s actions had lasting impacts on the empire, making the Extra History Of Mustafa IV a compelling chapter in the saga of the Ottoman sultans. This article delves into the lesser-known aspects of Mustafa IV’s life and reign, shedding light on the complexities and contradictions that defined his time as sultan.
Sultan Mustafa IV, who can also be called the ruler of the coup period, was born on September 8, 1779. Sultan Mustafa IV, the son of Abdulhamid I, had a comfortable childhood and youth. During his princedom, he received the classical education system of the palace and received the love he found in his father from his uncle Selim III. After Selim III paid the price for his efforts to renew the Ottoman Empire according to the requirements of the age with his life, he was hastily enthroned on May 29, 1807, at the age of 18. Two days after enthroning him, the rebels held a meeting, which he also attended, and obtained a “proof of sharia” stating that they would not be held accountable for their rebellion. Thus, the District Governor Köse Musa Pasha, who led the rebels, Sheikhulislam Topal Ataullah Mehmet Efendi, kazaskers and leading ulema Ayıntabi Mehmet Münip Efendi and Kabakçı Mustafa, as well as all the corps managers, secured themselves. In return, he received a promise from the Janissaries that they would no longer interfere with state affairs and would obey orders. Mustafa IV approved this document and swore that the rebels would not be held accountable.
The Rebels Did Not Keep Their Word
It would be a dream to expect those who shed blood on the sultanate to keep their promises at a time when the army was fighting on the Russian front. Indeed, they soon tried to rule the state. Since they had made it a habit to have everything done by force, they turned Sultan Mustafa IV into the legitimate representative of their own wishes. For this reason, it did not take long for the people of Istanbul to regret the dethronement of Selim III. During the one year that Sultan Mustafa IV reigned, the state order in Istanbul was disrupted. The state structure dominated by irregulars began to disintegrate rapidly.
A One-Year Ceasefire Was Made for Internal Reckoning
The Ottoman Empire declared war on the Russians in 1806. Due to the war, Grand Vizier Ibrahim Hilmi Pasha went to the Danube at the head of the army. The coup in Topkapi Palace also affected the soldiers at the front and the Janissaries rebelled. The Janissaries who chased Grand Vizier Ibrahim Hilmi Pasha, who was at the head of the army, kidnapped the army commanders. The chaos in the army caused a great weakness against the Russians. The Ottoman army signed a ceasefire agreement with the Russians on August 24, 1807 due to the disorder in Istanbul. The one-year armistice in Slobozia, instead of being used as an opportunity to eliminate the deficiencies in the army, was turned into an opportunity for internal conflict. Since the leaders of the rebels, the Grand Vizier Kaymakam Musa Pasha and Sheikhulislam Ataullah Mehmet Efendi could not control the new situation, Musa Pasha was forced to resign. In his place, Tayyar Mahmut Pasha, the mortal enemy of Selim III, was appointed in November 1807. Tayyar Mahmut Pasha was dismissed in March 1808 because he could not get along with Sheikh ul-Islam Ataullah Mehmet Efendi.
His Reign Didn’t Last a Year
Although Sultan Mustafa IV was the ruler, the rebels were the ones who ruled the palace. Therefore, his presence was only symbolic. In the meantime, those who wanted to put Selim III back on the throne had also taken action and gathered around the Rusçuk Ayan Alemdar Mustafa Pasha. Bad days began for the rebels when Alemdar Mustafa Pasha arrived in Istanbul with a large force. The people of Istanbul were tired of the vandalism of the irregulars and welcomed Alemdar Mustafa Pasha’s arrival with joy. With his arrival, security was restored in the capital and Kabakçı Mustafa was killed where he was caught. Sheikhulislam Ataullah Mehmet Efendi was dismissed and Arapzade Mehmet Arif Efendi was brought in his place. The goal of those who gathered around Alemdar Mustafa Pasha was to put Selim III back on the throne. The rebels wanted to leave Sultan Mustafa IV as the only option. The situation was extremely frightening. Therefore, Alemdar Mustafa Pasha first raided the prime ministry building, known as the Sublime Porte, where the grand vizier was located, and arrested the grand vizier. Then he headed to Topkapı Palace and detained Selim IV. He asked Mustafa through Şeyhülislam Mehmet Arif Efendi to enthrone Selim III. Sultan Mustafa IV resisted because he did not want to step down from the throne. He ordered the palace gates to be closed and his uncle and brother Mahmut to be killed. If both of them were killed, it would not be possible to dethrone Mustafa IV. Because there was no prince to replace him. Although Alemdar Mustafa Pasha broke through the palace gates, he could not prevent the rebels from killing Selim III. Mahmut escaped from the hands of the rebels with injuries. According to the stories, Sultan Mustafa IV himself attacked to kill Mahmut. However, when he could not do this, he was forced to step down from the throne.
Alemdar Mustafa Pasha Became Grand Vizier
Although dethroned, Sultan Mustafa IV maintained his hope of becoming the ruler again. After Alemdar was killed in a raid about three months later and the rebels wanted to march on the palace, Mustafa was strangled with the sash around his waist on November 17, 1808 by Abdullah Ramiz, Kadı Abdurrahman Pasha, Seyyid Ali Efendi and İnce Mehmet Bey upon the orders of his brother. His funeral was held with a ceremony and buried in the tomb of his father Abdulhamid in Bahçekapı. Although his funeral was held, rumors spread among the rebels that he was not dead, as an old habit. Those who did not accept the rule of Mahmud II spread rumors that if necessary, someone from the Crimean Dynasty, Esma Sultan or Molla Hünkâroğlu in Konya could ascend to the throne. It has been claimed that Sultan Mustafa IV was also involved in opposition movements against his uncle Selim during his years as a prince. III. It has been stated that Selim’s tolerance prevented him from seeing the activities carried out against him. The ambition for power that Selim III did not have emerged in Sultan Mustafa IV. Although he struggled to protect his throne by learning from his uncle’s weaknesses, he strengthened the hands of the forces against his not being the ruler with a legitimate method.
Extra History Of Sultan Mustafa IV
It has been stated that Sultan Mustafa IV, who had reigned for a short period of one year and was difficult to prosecute, could have followed in his uncle’s footsteps if he was not dethroned by the intervention of Alemdar Mustafa Pasha. The reason for this is given as his mentioning some figures from the period of his uncle Selim III and saying that he could immediately appoint one of them as the Prime Minister if they were alive. He thought of placing trained soldiers in the Artillery Barracks in Taksim, closely interested himself in the situation of the engineering school, attempted to reorganize it and had a detailed code of law drawn up. Despite being overthrown because he was a reformist, IV. It is stated in historical records that Mustafa secretly supported the revival of the Nizam-ı Cedid and even assigned Süleyman Ağa, who had previously been an instructor to the trained soldiers at Levent Farm, to work on this issue.
Final Words
Mustafa IV’s reign, though fleeting, was a pivotal moment in Ottoman history. His conservative policies and the dramatic events that led to his deposition highlight the volatile nature of the empire during this era. While his actions were often driven by a desire to maintain traditional power structures, they also set the stage for significant reforms under his successor, Mahmud II. The Extra History Of Mustafa IV is a testament to the intricate and often tumultuous dynamics of Ottoman politics. As we reflect on his life and reign, we gain a deeper understanding of the challenges and transformations that shaped the Ottoman Empire during the early 19th century. Through this exploration, we honor the complex legacy of Mustafa IV, a sultan whose story continues to captivate historians and readers alike.