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Murad IV

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Murad IV was a powerful sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1623 to 1640.

IV Murad young age
IV Murad young age

He was born in Constantinople on July 27, 1612. His father was Sultan Ahmed I, and his mother was Kösem Sultan. Kösem Sultan was an ethnic Greek woman. Murad became the sultan when he was only 11 years old. He succeeded his uncle, Mustafa I. Because he was so young, his mother ruled as the regent. This role is called nāʾib-i salṭanat. She held the real power until Murad assumed absolute rule on May 18, 1632.

Murad's early years were marked by instability and violence. During his minority, the Safavid Empire invaded Ottoman Iraq. Revolts also broke out in Northern Anatolia. In 1631, the Janissaries stormed the palace. During this attack, they killed the Grand Vizier and others. This event deeply affected Murad. He swore to seek revenge for these actions. In 1628, he executed his brother-in-law, Kara Mustafa Pasha. He claimed the official had acted against the law of God.

Murad IV minature
Murad IV minature

Life in the empire faced other major challenges during this era. In the summer of 1625, a disease called the plague of Bayrampaşa began to spread. It threatened the population of Constantinople. On average, one thousand people died every day. Many people fled to the Okmeydanı to escape the sickness. The situation was even more difficult in the countryside. Later, in September 1633, the Cibali fire broke out. A worker accidentally burned a shrub while caulking a ship. The fire spread in three branches across the city. It lasted for 30 hours and burned one-fifth of Constantinople. It destroyed many mosques and beautiful districts like Fener gate.

Once he took absolute power, Murad IV implemented very strict imperial policies. In 1632, he banned tobacco and opium. He also closed all coffee-houses. He believed these places were centers of sedition, which means they encouraged rebellion. In 1634, he changed his stance on alcohol. He previously legalized its sale for Muslims, but he later decided wine was dangerous. He banned both the sale and drinking of alcohol.

He ordered executions for anyone who broke these bans. He used very strict punishments to restore judicial regulations. He even executed a Grand Vizier for hitting his mother-in-law. He also executed the Şeyhül-Islam for criticizing his legal decisions.

Murad IV is most famous for the Ottoman–Safavid War. This conflict lasted from 1623 to 1639 against Persia, which is modern-day Iran. The war resulted in the partition of the Caucasus between the two empires. This partition lasted for about two centuries. It also helped form the modern borders of Turkey, Iran, and Iraq. Ottoman forces conquered Azerbaijan and occupied Tabriz and Hamadan. In 1638, Murad's forces captured Baghdad after a forty-day siege. Murad personally commanded the Ottoman Army during the final years of this war. The resulting Treaty of Zuhab reconfirmed many borders. It left Mesopotamia in Ottoman hands and kept parts of Georgia under Persian control.

During his military campaigns, Murad IV also engaged in international diplomacy. While he was in Baghdad, he met ambassadors from the Mughal Empire. These ambassadors represented Emperor Shah Jahan. They presented Murad with 1,000 pieces of embroidered cloth and armor. Murad responded by giving them fine weapons, saddles, and Kaftans. He even ordered his troops to escort the Mughals to the port of Basra. Beyond war, Murad was a man of culture. He was a composer and wrote poems under the penname "Muradi." He enjoyed testing people with riddles. He once rewarded a poet named Cihadi Bey for solving a poetic riddle.

Murad IV also left a legacy in architecture. He emphasized building many monuments during his reign. In Topkapı Palace, he built the Baghdad Kiosk in 1635 and the Revan Kiosk in 1638. These buildings were designed in local styles. Other projects included the Meydanı Mosque and the Şerafettin Mosque in Konya. Murad IV died in Constantinople in February 1640. He was 27 years old. The cause of his death was cirrhosis.

IV. Murat
IV. Murat

While he had many children, none of his fifteen sons survived infancy. His daughters, however, often lived into adulthood and married into important families.

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