Åžehzade
''Åžehzade'' () is the Ottoman form of the Persian title ''Shah#Shahzadeh, Shahzadeh'', and refers to the male OsmanoÄŸlu family, descendants of an Ottoman sovereign in the male line. This title is equivalent to "prince du sang, prince of the bloo ...
(prince) of the
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman Empire (), also called the Turkish Empire, was an empire, imperial realm that controlled much of Southeast Europe, West Asia, and North Africa from the 14th to early 20th centuries; it also controlled parts of southeastern Centr ...
, the eldest surviving son of
Sultan
Sultan (; ', ) is a position with several historical meanings. Originally, it was an Arabic abstract noun meaning "strength", "authority", "rulership", derived from the verbal noun ', meaning "authority" or "power". Later, it came to be use ...
Bayezid II
Bayezid II (; ; 3 December 1447 – 26 May 1512) was the sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1481 to 1512. During his reign, Bayezid consolidated the Ottoman Empire, thwarted a pro-Safavid dynasty, Safavid rebellion and finally abdicated his throne ...
. He fought against his younger brother,
Selim
Salim, Saleem or Selim may refer to:
People
*Salim (name), or Saleem or Salem or Selim, a name of Arabic origin
**Salim (poet) (1800–1866), Kurdish poet
**Saleem (playwright), Palestinian-American gay Muslim playwright, actor, DJ, and dancer
* ...
, in the Ottoman Civil War of 1509–1513 to succeed their father, and was a central figure in the
Åžahkulu rebellion
The Åžahkulu rebellion was a widespread pro-Shia and pro-Safavid uprising in Anatolia, directed against the Ottoman Empire, in 1511. It began among the Turkmens, Turkmen tribes of the Taurus mountains, before spreading to a wide variety of disgrun ...
. Ahmed ultimately lost the war against his brother, and was executed by Selim's order after the latter usurped the throne.
Background
Ahmed was the oldest living son of
Bayezid II
Bayezid II (; ; 3 December 1447 – 26 May 1512) was the sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1481 to 1512. During his reign, Bayezid consolidated the Ottoman Empire, thwarted a pro-Safavid dynasty, Safavid rebellion and finally abdicated his throne ...
, the 8th sultan of the Ottoman Empire. His mother was Bülbül Hatun. In Ottoman tradition, all princes () were required to serve as provincial (
sanjak
A sanjak or sancak (, , "flag, banner") was an administrative division of the Ottoman Empire. The Ottomans also sometimes called the sanjak a liva (, ) from the name's calque in Arabic and Persian.
Banners were a common organization of nomad ...
) governors in
Anatolia
Anatolia (), also known as Asia Minor, is a peninsula in West Asia that makes up the majority of the land area of Turkey. It is the westernmost protrusion of Asia and is geographically bounded by the Mediterranean Sea to the south, the Aegean ...
(Asiatic part of modern Turkey) as a part of their training. Ahmed was the governor of
Amasya
Amasya () is a city in northern Turkey, in the Black Sea Region. It was called Amaseia or Amasia in antiquity."Amasya" in ''Encyclopædia Britannica, The New Encyclopædia Britannica''. Chicago: Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 15th edn., 1992, Vol ...
, an important Anatolian city. Although the status was not official, he was usually considered as the
crown prince
A crown prince or hereditary prince is the heir apparent to the throne in a royal or imperial monarchy. The female form of the title, crown princess, is held by a woman who is heir apparent or is married to the heir apparent.
''Crown prince ...
during the last years of his father's reign, in part because of the support of the
grand vizier
Grand vizier (; ; ) was the title of the effective head of government of many sovereign states in the Islamic world. It was first held by officials in the later Abbasid Caliphate. It was then held in the Ottoman Empire, the Mughal Empire, the Soko ...
, Hadim Ali Pasha.
He became known as a poet and scholar, as well as a patron of the arts: his circle included, among others, the poet Mihri Hatun.
Siblings
Ahmed had two living half-brothers. Of the two, Korkut was governing in
Antalya
Antalya is the fifth-most populous city in Turkey and the capital of Antalya Province. Recognized as the "capital of tourism" in Turkey and a pivotal part of the Turkish Riviera, Antalya sits on Anatolia's southwest coast, flanked by the Tau ...
and
Selim
Salim, Saleem or Selim may refer to:
People
*Salim (name), or Saleem or Salem or Selim, a name of Arabic origin
**Salim (poet) (1800–1866), Kurdish poet
**Saleem (playwright), Palestinian-American gay Muslim playwright, actor, DJ, and dancer
* ...
(future sultan Selim I, known as ''Yavuz'') in
Trabzon
Trabzon, historically known as Trebizond, is a city on the Black Sea coast of northeastern Turkey and the capital of Trabzon Province. The city was founded in 756 BC as "Trapezous" by colonists from Miletus. It was added into the Achaemenid E ...
. Custom dictated that whoever first reached
Istanbul
Istanbul is the List of largest cities and towns in Turkey, largest city in Turkey, constituting the country's economic, cultural, and historical heart. With Demographics of Istanbul, a population over , it is home to 18% of the Demographics ...
after the death of the previous sultan had the right to ascend to throne (although disagreements over who had arrived first very often led to civil wars between the brothers, most prominently displayed in the
Ottoman Interregnum
The Ottoman Interregnum, or Ottoman Civil War, (, ) was a civil war in the Ottoman realm between the sons of the Ottoman sultan Bayezid I following their father's defeat and capture by Timur in the Battle of Ankara on 28 July 1402. Although Ti ...
), so the distances from the sanjaks to Istanbul more or less determined the succession and usually whoever the previous sultan favored the most as his successor. In this respect, Ahmed was the most fortunate because his sanjak was the closest to Istanbul.
Although Selim's son Süleyman (future Suleiman the Magnificent) had been assigned to
Bolu
Bolu is a city in northern Turkey, and administrative center of the Bolu Province and of Bolu District,Kaffa in
Crimea
Crimea ( ) is a peninsula in Eastern Europe, on the northern coast of the Black Sea, almost entirely surrounded by the Black Sea and the smaller Sea of Azov. The Isthmus of Perekop connects the peninsula to Kherson Oblast in mainland Ukrain ...
. Selim saw this as an unofficial display of support for his elder brother and asked for a sanjak in
Rumeli
Rumelia (; ; ) was a historical region in Southeastern Europe that was administered by the Ottoman Empire, roughly corresponding to the Balkans. In its wider sense, it was used to refer to all Ottoman possessions and vassals in Europe. These ...
(the European portion of the empire). Although he was initially refused on the ground that Rumeli sanjaks were not offered to princes, with the support of the vassal Crimean khan
Meñli I Giray
Meñli I GirayCrimean Tatar language, Crimean Tatar, Ottoman Turkish and (1445–1515) was thrice the List of Crimean khans, khan of the Crimean Khanate (1466, 1469–1475, 1478–1515) and the sixth son of Hacı I Giray.
Biography
Stru ...
, he was able to receive the sanjak of Semendire (modern
Smederevo
Smederevo ( sr-Cyrl, Смедерево, ) is a list of cities in Serbia, city and the administrative center of the Podunavlje District in eastern Serbia. It is situated on the right bank of the Danube, about downstream of the Serbian capital, ...
in
Serbia
, image_flag = Flag of Serbia.svg
, national_motto =
, image_coat = Coat of arms of Serbia.svg
, national_anthem = ()
, image_map =
, map_caption = Location of Serbia (gree ...
), which, although it was technically in Rumeli, was quite far from Istanbul. Consequently, Selim chose to stay close to Istanbul instead of going to his new sanjak. His father Beyazıt thought this disobedience insurrectionist; he defeated Selim's forces in battle in August 1511, and Selim escaped to Crimea.
Åžahkulu Rebellion
While Beyazıt was fighting against Selim, Ahmed was tasked with suppressing the
Åžahkulu Rebellion
The Åžahkulu rebellion was a widespread pro-Shia and pro-Safavid uprising in Anatolia, directed against the Ottoman Empire, in 1511. It began among the Turkmens, Turkmen tribes of the Taurus mountains, before spreading to a wide variety of disgrun ...
in Anatolia. However, instead of fighting, Ahmed tried to win over the soldiers to his cause for winning the Ottoman throne and left the battlefield. His attitude caused unease among the soldiers; more importantly, his main supporter, Hadim Ali Pasha, lost his life during the rebellion.
Capturing Konya
Hearing about Selim's defeat by their father, Ahmed declared himself as the sultan of Anatolia and began fighting against one of his nephews (whose father had already died). He captured
Konya
Konya is a major city in central Turkey, on the southwestern edge of the Central Anatolian Plateau, and is the capital of Konya Province. During antiquity and into Seljuk times it was known as Iconium. In 19th-century accounts of the city in En ...
, and although his father Beyazıt asked him to return to his sanjak, he insisted on ruling in Konya. He also attempted to capture the capital; but he failed because the soldiers blocked his way, declaring their preference for a more able sultan. Selim then returned from Crimea, forced Bayazit to abdicate the throne in favor of himself, and was crowned as
Selim I
Selim I (; ; 10 October 1470 – 22 September 1520), known as Selim the Grim or Selim the Resolute (), was the List of sultans of the Ottoman Empire, sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1512 to 1520. Despite lasting only eight years, his reign is ...
.
Defeat and death
Ahmed continued to control a part of Anatolia in the first few months of Selim's reign. Finally, the forces of Selim and Ahmed fought a battle near YeniÅŸehir,
Bursa
Bursa () is a city in northwestern Turkey and the administrative center of Bursa Province. The fourth-most populous city in Turkey and second-most populous in the Marmara Region, Bursa is one of the industrial centers of the country. Most of ...
, on 24 April 1513. Ahmed's forces were defeated; he was arrested and executed shortly after.
Family
Consorts
Ahmed had at least seven consorts. Three of them are know:
*SittiÅŸah Hatun, mother of Åžehzade Osman;
*Gülçiçek Hatun (buried in Amasya)
*Bülbül Hatun
Sons
Ahmed had at least seven sons:
*Şehzade Süleyman (died of Plague, 24 April 1513,
Cairo
Cairo ( ; , ) is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Egypt and the Cairo Governorate, being home to more than 10 million people. It is also part of the List of urban agglomerations in Africa, largest urban agglomeration in Africa, L ...
, buried in Havşi Sultan Mosque), governor of Koca, and Çorum 1509 – 1513, he had two daughters; one of them was:
**Hundihan Sultan;
*Åžehzade Alaeddin (died of Plague, 14 May 1513,
Cairo
Cairo ( ; , ) is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Egypt and the Cairo Governorate, being home to more than 10 million people. It is also part of the List of urban agglomerations in Africa, largest urban agglomeration in Africa, L ...
, buried in Havşi Sultan Mosque), governor of Bolu 1509 – 1513, married his cousin Neslişah Hanımsultan, the daughter of his aunt Aynışah Sultan, and Ahmed Beg, and they had one daughter:
**Hvandi Sultan, married to Sunullah Bey, governor of Kastamonu;
*Şehzade Osman (killed by Selim I, 14 April 1513, Amasya, buried in Sultan Bayezid Mosque, Amasya) - with Sittişah Hatun, governor of Osmancık 1509 – 1513;
* Åžehzade Murad (1495 - 1519, died of natural causes,
Ardabil
Ardabil (, ) is a city in northwestern Iran. It is in the Central District (Ardabil County), Central District of Ardabil County, Ardabil province, Ardabil province, Iran, serving as capital of the province, the county, and the district.
The ...
, buried near Shaykh Safi al-Din Ardabili), governor of Bolu. He had two sons and one daughter:
**Åžehzade Mustafa (killed by Selim I, 14 May 1513,
Amasya
Amasya () is a city in northern Turkey, in the Black Sea Region. It was called Amaseia or Amasia in antiquity."Amasya" in ''Encyclopædia Britannica, The New Encyclopædia Britannica''. Chicago: Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 15th edn., 1992, Vol ...
);
**Şehzade Mehmed (killed by Selim I, September–October 1512,
Amasya
Amasya () is a city in northern Turkey, in the Black Sea Region. It was called Amaseia or Amasia in antiquity."Amasya" in ''Encyclopædia Britannica, The New Encyclopædia Britannica''. Chicago: Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 15th edn., 1992, Vol ...
);
**AsitanÅŸah Sultan;
*Åžehzade Ali (1499 - 1513, killed by Selim I)
*Åžehzade Mehmed (1500 - 1513, killed by Selim I)
*Şehzade Kasım ( 1501 – killed by Selim I, 30 January 1518,
Cairo
Cairo ( ; , ) is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Egypt and the Cairo Governorate, being home to more than 10 million people. It is also part of the List of urban agglomerations in Africa, largest urban agglomeration in Africa, L ...
, buried in HavÅŸi Sultan Mosque)
Daughters
Ahmed had at least four daughters:
*KamerÅŸah Sultan, known also as Kamer Sultan. She married in 1508 to Damad Mustafa Bey, governor of Midilli, and son of Iskender Pasha. Buried with her father;
*Fatma Sultan, married, in 1508 to Sultanzade Mehmed Bey, ''Ser-ulufeciyan'' (head of the Janissary Cavalry Corps), son of Damad Koca Davud Pasha and of an unnamed Ahmed's half-sister;
*Fahrihan Sultan, married, in 1508 to Damad Suleiman Bey, ''Silahdar'' (keeper of the sword);
*Hanzade Sultan, married to Damad Ahmed Bey;
Åžahkulu rebellion
The Åžahkulu rebellion was a widespread pro-Shia and pro-Safavid uprising in Anatolia, directed against the Ottoman Empire, in 1511. It began among the Turkmens, Turkmen tribes of the Taurus mountains, before spreading to a wide variety of disgrun ...
, portrays Ahmed as a calm and calculated strategist, unlike his more violent brother Selim, with whom he clashes because Ahmed was named the
heir apparent
An heir apparent is a person who is first in the order of succession and cannot be displaced from inheriting by the birth of another person. A person who is first in the current order of succession but could be displaced by the birth of a more e ...
to the Ottoman throne. He is also shown being close to his nephew
Suleiman
Suleiman (; or dictionary.reference.comsuleiman/ref>) is the Arabic name of the Jewish and Quranic king and Islam, Islamic prophet Solomon (name), Solomon.
Suleiman the Magnificent (1494–1566) was the longest-reigning sultan of the Ottoman E ...
, Selim's son, who supports Ahmed in his efforts to become Sultan and disapproves of his father's methods. Near the end of the game, Ahmed is revealed to be the Grand Master of the
Byzantine
The Byzantine Empire, also known as the Eastern Roman Empire, was the continuation of the Roman Empire centred on Constantinople during late antiquity and the Middle Ages. Having survived the events that caused the fall of the Western Roman E ...
rite of the Templar Order, who sought to see the Ottoman Empire collapsed and replaced with the old Byzantine Empire, which is why he supported Manuel Palaiologos and
Åžahkulu
Şahkulu (; 1500–1511), also known as Şahkulu Baba, or Karabıyıkoğlu ( 'son of black moustache' in Turkish), was the leader of the pro-Shia and pro-Safavid uprising in Anatolia – the Şahkulu Rebellion – directed against the Ottoman ...
in their respective plans. He also oversaw the excavation of an old library built by the
Assassin
Assassination is the willful killing, by a sudden, secret, or planned attack, of a personespecially if prominent or important. It may be prompted by political, ideological, religious, financial, or military motives.
Assassinations are orde ...
Altaïr Ibn-LaʼAhad in Masyaf, which the Templars believed to contain the power to end all conflict and enslave humanity. In the final confrontation of the game, Ahmed is defeated by the protagonist Ezio Auditore da Firenze, and then killed by Selim by being pushed off a cliff. In the game, Ahmed's death occurs in 1512 rather than 1513.