From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Mahmud I
Ottoman Sultan
Caliph
Reign	September 20,1730–December 13,1754
Period	Stagnation of the Ottoman Empire
Full Name	Mahmud I
Predecessor	Ahmed III
Successor	Osman III
Royal House	House of Osman
Dynasty	Ottoman Dynasty
Religious beliefs	Sunni Islam

Mahmud I (Ottoman Turkish: محمود اول), called the Hunchback (August 2, 1696 – December 13, 1754) was the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1730 to 1754. He was born at Edirne Palace the son of Mustafa II (1695–1703) and his mother was Valide Sultan Saliha Sabkati. Mahmud I was the older brother of Osman III (1754–57).

On 28 September 1730, Patrona Halil with a small group of fellow Janissaries aroused some of the citizens of Istanbul who opposed the reforms of Ahmet III.^[1] Sweeping up more soldiers Halil led the riot to the Topkapı Palace and demanded the death of the grand vizer, Nevşehirli Damat İbrahim Pasha and the abdication of Ahmet III. Ahmet III acceded to the demands, had İbrahim Pasha strangled, and agreed to his nephew, Mahmud, becoming sultan.^[1]

Mahmud I was recognized as sultan by the mutineers as well as by court officials but for some weeks after his accession the empire was in the hands of the insurgents. Halil rode with the new sultan to the Mosque of Eyub where the ceremony of girding Mahmud I with the Sword of Osman was performed; many of the chief officers were deposed and successors to them appointed at the dictation of the bold rebel who had served in the ranks of the Janissaries and who appeared before the sultan bare-legged and in his old uniform of a common soldier. A Greek butcher, named Yanaki, had formerly given credit to Halil and had lent him money during the three days of the insurrection. Halil showed his gratitude by compelling the Divan to make Yanaki Hospodar of Moldavia. However, Yanaki never took charge of this office.

The insolence of the rebel chiefs became at length insupportable. The Khan of the Crimea, whom they threatened to depose, was in Istanbul and with his assistance the Grand Vizier, the Mufti and the Aga of the Janissaries succeeded in freeing the government from its ignominious servitude. On 24 November 1731, Halil was strangled by the sultan's order^[1] and in his presence after a Divan in which Halil had dictated that war be declared against Russia. His Greek friend, Yanaki, and 7,000 of those who had supported him were also put to death. The jealousy which the officers of the Janissaries felt towards Halil, and their readiness to aid in his destruction, facilitated greatly the exertions of Mahmud I's supporters in putting an end to the reign of rebellion after it had lasted over a year.

The rest of Mahmud I's reign was dominated by successful wars with Persia, Austria and Russia.

Mahmud I entrusted government to his viziers and spent much of his time composing poetry.

He died at Topkapi Palace, Istanbul.

He married Haja 'Ali-Janab, without issue.

Notes

1. ^ ^{a b c} Shaw, Stanford J. and Shaw, Ezel Kural (1976) History of the Ottoman Empire and Modern Turkey, volume 1: Empire of the Gazis: the rise and decline of the Ottoman Empire, 1280-1808 Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, England, p. 240, ISBN 0-521-21280-4

References

• Incorporates text from History of Ottoman Turks (1878)

From LoveToKnow 1911