Edirne event
Encyclopedia
The Edirne event was a chain of events in 1703 in the Ottoman Empire
, which resulted in dethroning of Sultan Mustafa II
.
(1699), Ottoman Empire had to cede vast territories to Holy League
countries. It was clear that both the army and the civil institutions had to be reformed. Sultan Mustafa II, who had earlier proved himself to be a competent leader, however had lost interest in government. He was living in Edirne
and the de facto ruler of the empire was
Sheikh ul-Islam
Feyzullah Efendi, who had also been his tutor. A very ambitious man, Feyzullah Efendi gained much power through nepotism
. But by this policy, he also made many enemies. On the other hand, Mustafa’s insistence to live in Edirne rather than in the capital aroused suspicion that Mustafa might plan to form a new army and abolish the existing military units, so called Jannisary.
n civil war. The porte decided to send an army to be effective in the area. However, the salaries of the army members had been delayed, and the subunit of the Janissaries responsible for logistics, named Cebeci, revolted on 19 July 1703 demanding full payment before the operation. With the support of other army units as well as some Istanbul
citizens and most ulema
(religious leaders), the rebels plundered the houses of the senior government officers and began controlling the capital for several weeks. Although they sent a group of representatives to Edirne, Feyzullah Efendi jailed them. This provoked the rebels, and they began to march to Edirne. The sultan announced that he had deposed Feyzullah Efendi. But it was too late and the rebels decided to dethrone Mustafa II. The sultan tried to form a defend line at the outskirts of Edirne. But even the sultan’s soldiers joined the rebels. On 23 August 1703, Mustafa II was deposed, and his brother Ahmet III became the new sultan. Feyzullah Efendi was killed by the rebels.
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
, which resulted in dethroning of Sultan Mustafa II
Mustafa II
Mustafa II Ghazi was the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1695 to 1703.-Life:...
.
Background
By the Treaty of KarlowitzTreaty of Karlowitz
The Treaty of Karlowitz was signed on 26 January 1699 in Sremski Karlovci , concluding the Austro-Ottoman War of 1683–1697 in which the Ottoman side had been defeated at the Battle of Zenta...
(1699), Ottoman Empire had to cede vast territories to Holy League
Holy League (1684)
Holy League of 1684 was initiated in by Pope Innocent XI, and composed of the Holy Roman Empire, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and the Venetian Republic. Tsardom of Russia joined the League in 1686. This alliance opposed the Ottoman Empire in the Great Turkish War and lasted until the Treaty...
countries. It was clear that both the army and the civil institutions had to be reformed. Sultan Mustafa II, who had earlier proved himself to be a competent leader, however had lost interest in government. He was living in Edirne
Edirne
Edirne is a city in Eastern Thrace, the northwestern part of Turkey, close to the borders with Greece and Bulgaria. Edirne served as the capital city of the Ottoman Empire from 1365 to 1453, before Constantinople became the empire's new capital. At present, Edirne is the capital of the Edirne...
and the de facto ruler of the empire was
Sheikh ul-Islam
Sheikh ul-Islam
Shaykh al-Islām is a title of superior authority in the issues of Islam....
Feyzullah Efendi, who had also been his tutor. A very ambitious man, Feyzullah Efendi gained much power through nepotism
Nepotism
Nepotism is favoritism granted to relatives regardless of merit. The word nepotism is from the Latin word nepos, nepotis , from which modern Romanian nepot and Italian nipote, "nephew" or "grandchild" are also descended....
. But by this policy, he also made many enemies. On the other hand, Mustafa’s insistence to live in Edirne rather than in the capital aroused suspicion that Mustafa might plan to form a new army and abolish the existing military units, so called Jannisary.
Rebellion
The Ottoman Empire was backing a candidate to throne during the GeorgiaGeorgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
n civil war. The porte decided to send an army to be effective in the area. However, the salaries of the army members had been delayed, and the subunit of the Janissaries responsible for logistics, named Cebeci, revolted on 19 July 1703 demanding full payment before the operation. With the support of other army units as well as some Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
citizens and most ulema
Ulema
Ulama , also spelt ulema, refers to the educated class of Muslim legal scholars engaged in the several fields of Islamic studies. They are best known as the arbiters of shari‘a law...
(religious leaders), the rebels plundered the houses of the senior government officers and began controlling the capital for several weeks. Although they sent a group of representatives to Edirne, Feyzullah Efendi jailed them. This provoked the rebels, and they began to march to Edirne. The sultan announced that he had deposed Feyzullah Efendi. But it was too late and the rebels decided to dethrone Mustafa II. The sultan tried to form a defend line at the outskirts of Edirne. But even the sultan’s soldiers joined the rebels. On 23 August 1703, Mustafa II was deposed, and his brother Ahmet III became the new sultan. Feyzullah Efendi was killed by the rebels.