Sultan Ahmed I was a very determined person, he showed independence from the first days of his reign. So, during the ceremony at which the nobility took an oath of allegiance to him, he did not wait for the viziers to seat him on the throne, but sat on it without any hesitation.
At another ceremony, which is analogous to the coronation, he independently girded himself with the sword of Sultan Osman I, while according to the rules this was supposed to be done by a high-ranking clergyman. Another example of decisiveness is the removal from power of Safiye Sultan, his grandmother, whom he eventually sent into exile in the Old Palace in Edirne. Next, consider the story of Sultan Ahmed in more detail.
Family of the future Sultan
Ahmed was born in 1590, his father was the future Sultan Mehmed III, who ruled at the beginning of the 17th century, and his mother was Handan Sultan, a concubine from the ruler's harem. According to historians, Mehmed showed particular intolerance towards adherents of the Christian religion. He was passionate about art and loved poetry.
Ahmed's mother is supposed to have beenGreek or Bosnian, and her name was Elena (Helen). She was given to Mehmed by his aunt. With the assistance of his mother, she managed to become the favorite of the heir to the throne. The boy's paternal grandmother, Sophia Sultan, was a very strong-willed woman and was directly involved in politics.
Start of reign
Mehmed III died at the end of 1603, and his son ascended the throne at a very young age. At the same time, his mother was Valide Sultan, that is, regent, for two years. She stood at the head of the harem and participated in political affairs. However, due to his strong character, Ahmed listened little to her advice and acted as he saw fit. He went into conflict with his mother in connection with the fate of Mustafa, his younger brother.
However, Valide Sultan died soon after. This happened in 1606 and greatly influenced Ahmed I, knocking him down. They were given a magnificent funeral and a large alms were distributed in the form of food and money for the repose of the mother's soul. After that, he left his residence for a while and went to Bursa.
Sultan Ahmed's Empire
It was called Ottoman and he got it from his ancestors, who in the process of wars of conquest in Asia Minor for three centuries significantly increased its territory. They, among other things, began to own the lands that previously belonged to Byzantium, and its capital, Constantinople, was renamed Istanbul.
The founder of the dynasty was Osman I Ghazi. He ruled in the 13th century in what is today Turkey. The empire he foundedexisted until the 20th century.
The sword of Osman I passed from one ruler to another from generation to generation, serving as one of the attributes of the Sultan's power. The ardor and audacity of the young ruler were a match for the history of his family. From the first years of his reign, Ahmed I continued military campaigns against Austria and Persia. In addition, he took part in the fight against the rebels in Anatolia, which began during the reign of his father.
Failures in the war
In military operations, Ahmed I was often unsuccessful. His troops, having been defeated, left the territory of present-day Azerbaijan and Georgia to the enemy. Subsequently, the Sultan repeatedly tried to return these lands, but always unsuccessfully.
On the territory of modern Hungary, Sultan Ahmed fought against the Austrian Empire. At first, luck seemed to accompany the Ottomans. They captured and held the fortress of Esztergom. However, after several political mistakes made by the Sultan, he signed a peace treaty with the Habsburg dynasty, which recognized their rights to the disputed territories.
Domestic policy
Ahmed enjoyed great sympathy among the population of the country, as he did a lot for its citizens. He played a big role in ennobling the appearance of Istanbul. Under him, the Blue Mosque was built - the main one in the capital. In addition, a library, two baths, and other buildings were added to the Topkapi palace complex at his direction. In 1606, Ahmed I managed to show his bravery in times of peace. Then the capital ragedstrong fires, and he personally took part in their elimination, while receiving burns. This further increased his popularity with his subjects.
Private life and death
The children of Sultan Ahmed were born from two concubines. In total he had 12 sons and 9 daughters. From the first of them, whose name was Mahfiruz Khadije Sultan, who bore the title of wives and concubines of the Turkish sultans - Haseki, the future Sultan Osman II was born.
Another concubine, also bearing the title of Haseki, Kesem-Sultan, became the mother of two Ottoman rulers - Murad IV and Ibrahim I. When her sons ruled, she bore the title "Mother of the Sultan" (Valide-Sultan) and was in the Ottoman Empire. empire of one of the most influential figures.
And also she was the grandmother of Sultan Mehmed IV, and at the beginning of his reign she owned the honorary title of "grandmother of the Sultan" (Buyuk Valide). In total, she held power for almost 30 years. According to historians, she influenced Ahmed I in terms of saving the life of his brother and heir, Mustafa I. Thus, the order of succession in the Ottoman Empire was changed. She was killed by supporters of her daughter-in-law, Turhan Sultan.
Sultan Ahmed, who had previously had smallpox, contracted typhus and died in 1617. He was buried in a mausoleum near the Blue Mosque.
