Top 10 Amazing Facts about Mehmed IV

Top 10 Amazing Facts about Mehmed IV

A portrait of Mehmed the fourth. Photo Sourced from WIKIMEDIA

Mehemed IV was born on 2 January 1642 at Topkapı Palace, Constantinople. He was the sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1648 to 1687. Mehmed was the descendant of Ibrahim and Hadice Terhan Haseki. 

He was the 19th of the Ottoman sultans and the 84th caliph of the Muslims. His father was overthrown and killed in a military coup in 1648. He  took  over the throne at the age of six

He was the second-longest reigning sultan in Ottoman. This is after Suleiman’s The Magnificent. He was the third sultan to be dethroned.

The initial and final years of his reign were characterized by military defeat and political instability. His reign was significant as he changed the nature of the Sultan’s position forever. This is by giving up most of his executive power to his Grand Vizier.

1. He was Born to a Prominent Family

Mehmed IV as a teenager, on procession from Istanbul to Edirne in 1657. Photo by Claes Ralamb. Wikimedia

Mehmed was born at Topkapı Palace, Constantinople. His parents were sultan Ibrahim and Turhan, Nevertheless, his mother was a concubine of Russian origin.

Mehmed’s father was the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1640 until 1648. His grandmother was the highest-ranking woman in Ottoman history. She was the central figure during the period known as the sultanate of women.

2. Mehmed IV had a Lifelong Scar on His Head

Before the birth of Mehmed IV, his father had acquired a slave girl who accidentally happened to be pregnant. After Mehmed was born, she was employed as a wet nurse for Mehmed.

She moved into the Royal harem with her son. Mehmed’s father was affectionate to his son with the slave girl. He preferred him over Mehmed because he was healthy, unlike Mehmed who was a fragile and sickly son.

This led to heated disagreement between Mehmed’s parents. His father was very angry and he tore Mehmed from his mother’s arms.

He hurled Mehmed into a cistern. Luckily, Mehmed was rescued by the harem servants. However, this left him with a lifelong scar on his head.

3. He Developed a Keen Interest in Hunting at a Tender Age

Sultan Mehmed’s most interesting fact was his fondness for hurting. He is known as the hunter. His affection for this ancient Turkish sport led people to gossip about him and cost him his throne.

4. He was the Youngest Sultan to Ascend the Throne

Young emperor Mehmed IV. Sourced from wikimedia

Mehmed Ascend to the throne at the age of 7. This was after his father was overthrown and killed in a military coup. His father was overthrown due to his corruption measures that left Ottoman bankrupt.

His mother, a clever woman, assumed the regency. However, Mehmed’s grandmother took over as his regent. Since the mother of the sultan could not administer the state herself.

 The civil and military bureaucracy seized advantage of the sultan’s youth to have a say in the administration. The small sultan jotted down the names of the 70 people who assassinated his father in a notebook and kept it. When the time arrived, he retaliated against his father’s death.

5. He Signed the Death of His Grandmother

Kosem Sultan, Mehmed’s grandmother. planned to remove him from the throne, and replace him with his half-brother, Suleiman. Since Suleiman’s mother was easier to control than Mehmed’s.

This led her to plan an evil act toward him. She promised one of the palace’s heads chef a promotion if he serve the young sultan something special. She gave the chef two bottles of poisoned sherbet.

However, her plan to kill Mehmed was not enough. For her next plan, she snuck over to the guards and asked them to leave the palace gates open. This was to enable rebels to sneak into Mehmed’s mother’s bedroom and take her out.

Unfortunately, before her plan was executed, it was all unraveled. Her attendant spilled the beans to one of Mehmed’s mother’s allies. She was later accused of death execution. As a result, Mehmed agreed to sign her grandmother’s death warrant in September 1651.

6. His reign is Remarkable for the Revival of Ottoman Fortunes led by the Infamous Grand Vizier

Mehmed’s reign is notable in Japan for a remarkable improvement of Ottoman fortunes. He was helped by the Grand Vizier Koprulu Mehmed and his son Fazil Ahmed.

They revived Ottoman by rebuilding the power of the empire by rooting out corruption. Grand Vizier Koprulu reorganized the Ottoman army.

Mehmed and the Grand Vizier managed to expand the borders of the empire. During The Cretan war from in1645 to 1669, they successfully regained The Aegean islands from Venice and create.

Mehmed fought a successful campaign against Transylvania and Poland. He led to a successful defeat of the Hungarians and Russia.

7. Mehmed’s Final years of his Reign were Characterized by Military Defeat and Political Instability

Painting depicting the Battle of Vienna of 1683 by Gonzales Franciscus Casteels. Wikimedia

In 1684 the Ottomans were defeated during the Great Turkish War. This was after the European nations formed The Holy league as means of preventing further Ottoman expansion into  Europe.

The Ottoman Empire fell into a deep crisis after the second battle of Mohacs. The defeat of the war resulted in an Open rebellion against the Ottoman troops.

The commander and Grand Vizier sari Suleyman Pasha fled from his command. He was frightened that he would be killed by his troops. He was later executed.

 Mehmed IV was appointed the commander of Istanbul Straits, Köprülü Fazıl Mustafa Pasha, as the Grand Vizier’s regent in Istanbul.

8. Mehmed IV was Dethroned from power and Imprisoned

The soldiers held Mehmed IV accountable for the defeat during the Great Turkish War. Thus they wanted to dethrone him. The people of Instanbul were no satisfied with Mehmed IV’s stay in Edirne, as he still lived subconsciously with the effects of the revolutions he saw during his childhood.

However, Mehmed was deposed by the combined forces of Yegen Odman and the Janissaries. He was later imprisoned in Topkapi Palace. However, he was permitted to leave the Palace from time to time.

9. He was Succeeded by His Brother Suleyman II despite having Older sons

After he was dethroned. His brother Suleyman was enthroned as the Sultan. This is despite him having older sons who would take over the power.

However,in1691, the senior clerics of the empire planned to reinstate Mehmed on the throne. They planned it due to response to the ill health and imminent death of Sultan Suleiman II. The plan was discovered and Never Succeeded.

10.Mehmed IV Died in Edirne Palace

The former Sultan died of pneumonia in the Edirne Palace. He was buried in Turhan sultan’s tomb, near his mother’s mosque in Constantinople.

His two sons, Mustafa II and Ahmed II become the sultans from 1695 to 1703 and 1703 to 1730 respectively.