The Life and Reign of Ahmed I

Ahmed I was likely born on April 18, 1590, in the Manisa Palace in Manisa, when his father, Ehzade Mehmed, was serving as a prince and the governor of the Sanjak of Manisa. His mother was Handan Sultan. Following the death of his grandfather Murad III in 1595, his father ascended to the throne as Sultan Mehmed III. Mehmed ordered the execution of his 19 half brothers, and just before his own death on December 22, 1603, he also executed Ahmed’s older brother, Sehzade Mahmud, on June 7, 1603. Mahmud and his mother were buried in a separate tomb that Ahmed constructed in the Sehzade Mosque in Constantinople.

Ahmed I: A Sultan of Many Talents

Ahmed I was a man of many talents. He was proficient in several languages, was skilled in fencing, and was an avid horse rider. He also wrote numerous political and poetical works under the pen name Bahti. Ahmed had a deep appreciation for religious leaders, calligraphers, and scholars. As a result, he commissioned calligraphers to work on a book titled The Quintessence of Histories. He also made significant efforts to enforce Islamic customs and laws by reinstating the prohibition on alcohol and advocating for Friday prayer attendance and proper almsgiving.

The Death of Ahmed I

Ahmed I died on November 22, 1617, at Topkap Palace in Istanbul due to typhus and stomach haemorrhage. He was buried at the Ahmed I Mausoleum located in the Sultan Ahmed Mosque. Following his death, his younger brother, Sehzade Mustafa, took over the throne as Sultan Mustafa I. Later, three of Ahmed’s sons – Osman II, Murad IV, and Ibrahim, also ascended to the throne.

The Legacy of Ahmed I

Ahmed I is remembered for his active role in breaking the tradition of royal fratricide in the Ottoman Empire. His reign marked a significant change in the practices of succession, which was a major shift in the political culture of the time. Moreover, his contribution to Turkish architecture, particularly the construction of the Blue Mosque, stands as a testament to his patronage of the arts and his keen interest in enhancing the aesthetic appeal of his empire.