Şehzade Ahmet
Encyclopedia
Şehzade Ahmet was an Ottoman
prince who fought for throne in 1512-3.
) governors in Anatolia
(Asiatic side of modern Turkey
) as a part of their training. Ahmet was the governor of Amasya
an important Anatolian city . Although unanounced, during the last years of his fathers reign, he was usually considered as the crown prince. Besides, the grand vizier
Hadim Ali Pasha
was supporting him.
was governing in Antalya
and Selim (future Selim I
) in Trabzon
. According to custom, whoever reaches in İstanbul
, the capital, after the death of the former sultan, had the right to ascend to throne. So the distances from the sanjaks to İstanbul more or less determined the future sultan. In this respect, Ahmet was the most fortunate, because his sanjak was the closest to İstanbul.
Although Selim's son Süleyman (future Süleyman I) was assigned to Bolu
, a small sanjak closer to İstanbul, upon Ahmet's objection he was relocated to Caffe
(in Crimea
, modern Ukraina). Selim saw this relocation as a support to his older brother and asked for a sanjak in Rumeli (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
who was his father in law, he was able to receive the sanjak of Semendire (modern Smederevo
in Serbia
) which is in Rumeli but quite far from İstanbul. Thus, he chose to stay close to İstanbul instead of going to his new sanjak. Bayazit saw this disobedience as a revolt and defeated Selim's forces in August 1511.
, the sanjak of one of his nephews and declared himself sultan in Konya. Although, Beyazit asked him to return to his sanjak he insisted to rule in Konya. Beyazit saw that both of his sons were out of his control. (The third son had no supporters.) He abdicated and Selim was declared Sultan in 1512.
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...
prince who fought for throne in 1512-3.
Background
Ahmet was the oldest living son of Beyazit II. His mother was Bülbül Hatun. In Ottoman tradition all princes were required to work as provencial (sanjakSanjak
Sanjaks were administrative divisions of the Ottoman Empire. Sanjak, and the variant spellings sandjak, sanjaq, and sinjaq, are English transliterations of the Turkish word sancak, meaning district, banner, or flag...
) governors in Anatolia
Anatolia
Anatolia is a geographic and historical term denoting the westernmost protrusion of Asia, comprising the majority of the Republic of Turkey...
(Asiatic side of modern Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
) as a part of their training. Ahmet was the governor of Amasya
Amasya
- History :Its location in this steep valley makes the city a mountain stronghold, easy to defend, and thus Amasya has had a long and prominent history.-Antiquity:...
an important Anatolian city . Although unanounced, during the last years of his fathers reign, he was usually considered as the crown prince. Besides, the grand vizier
Grand Vizier
Grand Vizier, in Turkish Vezir-i Azam or Sadr-ı Azam , deriving from the Arabic word vizier , was the greatest minister of the Sultan, with absolute power of attorney and, in principle, dismissable only by the Sultan himself...
Hadim Ali Pasha
Hadim Ali Pasha
Hadim Ali Pasha was an Ottoman statesman . He served as governor of Rumeli, and led the Ottoman army in the Ottoman–Mamluk War of 1485–1491, but was defeated at Adana in 1488. He was then named Grand Vizier in 1501-1503, and again in 1509-1511...
was supporting him.
His brothers
Ahmet had two living brothers. Of the two, KorkutŞehzade Korkut
Şehzade Korkut was an Ottoman prince who was a short time regent for the Ottoman throne.- Early years :He was born in Amasya in 1467. His father was Beyazıt II. There is no consensus on the name of his mother. She was either a certain Nigar Khatun or Gülbahar Sultan. If the later is true, he was...
was governing in Antalya
Antalya
Antalya is a city on the Mediterranean coast of southwestern Turkey. With a population 1,001,318 as of 2010. It is the eighth most populous city in Turkey and country's biggest international sea resort.- History :...
and Selim (future Selim I
Selim I
Selim I, Yavuz Sultân Selim Khan, Hâdim-ül Haramain-ish Sharifain , nicknamed Yavuz "the Stern" or "the Steadfast", but often rendered in English as "the Grim" , was the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1512 to...
) in Trabzon
Trabzon
Trabzon is a city on the Black Sea coast of north-eastern Turkey and the capital of Trabzon Province. Trabzon, located on the historical Silk Road, became a melting pot of religions, languages and culture for centuries and a trade gateway to Iran in the southeast and the Caucasus to the northeast...
. According to custom, whoever reaches in İstanbul
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...
, the capital, after the death of the former sultan, had the right to ascend to throne. So the distances from the sanjaks to İstanbul more or less determined the future sultan. In this respect, Ahmet was the most fortunate, because his sanjak was the closest to İstanbul.
Although Selim's son Süleyman (future Süleyman I) was assigned to Bolu
Bolu
- Places of interest :The countryside around Bolu offers excellent walking and other outdoor pursuits. There are hotels in the town for visitors. Sights near the town include:* The 14th century mosque, Ulu Camii...
, a small sanjak closer to İstanbul, upon Ahmet's objection he was relocated to Caffe
Caffè
Caffè is the Italian word for coffee, and may indicate either the Italian way of preparing this beverage at home or espresso, which is prepared instead with electrical steam machines...
(in Crimea
Crimea
Crimea , or the Autonomous Republic of Crimea , is a sub-national unit, an autonomous republic, of Ukraine. It is located on the northern coast of the Black Sea, occupying a peninsula of the same name...
, modern Ukraina). Selim saw this relocation as a support to his older brother and asked for a sanjak in Rumeli (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
Crimean Khanate
Crimean Khanate, or Khanate of Crimea , was a state ruled by Crimean Tatars from 1441 to 1783. Its native name was . Its khans were the patrilineal descendants of Toqa Temür, the thirteenth son of Jochi and grandson of Genghis Khan...
Meñli I Giray
Meñli I Giray
Meñli I Giray , also spelled as Mengli I Giray, was a khan of the Crimean Khanate and the sixth son of the khanate founder Haci I Giray....
who was his father in law, he was able to receive the sanjak of Semendire (modern Smederevo
Smederevo
Smederevo is a city and municipality in Serbia, on the right bank of the Danube, about 40 km downstream of the capital Belgrade. According to official results of the 2011 census, the city has a population of 107,528...
in Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
) which is in Rumeli but quite far from İstanbul. Thus, he chose to stay close to İstanbul instead of going to his new sanjak. Bayazit saw this disobedience as a revolt and defeated Selim's forces in August 1511.
Şahkulu Rebellion
While Beyazit was fighting against Selim, Ahmet was tasked with suppressing the Şahkulu Rebellion in Anatolia. But instead of fighting, Ahmet tried to win over the soldiers for his cause and he left the battle field. His attitude caused reaction among the soldiers. More important than that, Hadim Ali Pasha, his main supporter lost his life during the rebellion.Capturing Konya
Hearing about Selim's defeat, Ahmet tried to go to İstanbul to be declared Sultan. But the soldiers blocked his way, declaring their preference for a more able sultan. Ahmet returned to Anatolia. Unexpectedly he captured KonyaKonya
Konya is a city in the Central Anatolia Region of Turkey. The metropolitan area in the entire Konya Province had a population of 1,036,027 as of 2010, making the city seventh most populous in Turkey.-Etymology:...
, the sanjak of one of his nephews and declared himself sultan in Konya. Although, Beyazit asked him to return to his sanjak he insisted to rule in Konya. Beyazit saw that both of his sons were out of his control. (The third son had no supporters.) He abdicated and Selim was declared Sultan in 1512.