How Did Fratricide Appear in the Ottoman Empire?

in Turks There was an understanding that the state was the common property of the members of the dynasty. In accordance with this tradition, which they called the Ülüş system, every male member of the dynasty had a say in the state. As can be predicted, this situation could cause many problems. Learning from his past, the ruler introduced the practice of “fratricide”.

Why did the sultan allow this situation, which seemed like a very murderous practice to many people? For the sake of the survival of the state, some How did murdering 19 children in arson fire change the course of history?

Conflicts between brothers since the founding of the Ottoman Empire have a very old history.

Osman Gazi killed his uncle Dündar Bey during the founding period; It is considered an early example of such events. Osman Gazi, Accusing Dündar Bey of collaborating with the Byzantine rulers, he kills him by shooting him with a bow or arrow.. However, it would take some time for the murders between brothers to gain a legal basis and become official with the famous article included in the Code of Law of Mehmet the Conqueror in the following years.

Defeat of Yıldırım Bayezid by Timur in the Battle of Ankara in 1402It caused a great disaster for the Ottoman Empire. During this period, throne fights began between the five sons of Yıldırım Bayezid, and therefore the Anatolian lands were thrown into great chaos.

Thousands of people died until Çelebi Mehmet defeated his other brothers and ascended to the throne as the sole ruler. in conflicts between siblings he lost his life.

Fatih had an article on this subject included in the Bâb-ı Sani chapter of the Kanun-nâme-i Âl-i Osman, which he had prepared:

“And it is appropriate for everyone to be granted the sultanate from their children, for the sake of the order of the brothers and sisters of the world. Even the majority of scholars do not tolerate it. May they be effective with your memory.”

An important detail that makes this article noteworthy The use of the word “appropriate”. In other words, Fatih did not impose a strict obligation on killing a brother who ascended to the throne, but gave him the right to choose whether it should be implemented or not.

For example Yavuz Sultan Selim, After ascending to the throne, he used this right of choice and gave him the governorship of Manisa and Lesbos instead of killing his brother Korkut. In addition, Fatih’s “Even the majority of scholars have approved“ With this expression, it can be understood that some scholars do not give fatwas on this issue, refrain from giving fatwas, or give a negative fatwa.

The Conqueror’s Code included a regulation in which members of the dynasty with claims to the throne could be eliminated.

It could be considered an important change in Turkish customs, aiming to prevent possible internal unrest. Because in Turkish statesThere was a tradition of not touching dynasty members who did not rebel.

Sometimes, even the lives of rebellious dynasty members were spared. With the Fatih Code, it no longer mattered whether to rebel or not. In Ottoman political life with the period of Fatih The principle of indivisibility of sovereignty in Islamic law was established.

At the same time, being the sultan’s son began to mean carrying the risk of death at any moment. The biggest threat to the throne holders was the concern that the princes could potentially cause discord. This concern was so great that Even princes who were still babies were seen as a potential danger.

The bloodiest fratricide in Ottoman history was committed by the man whom everyone knows as Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror (Mehmet II), but in fact he was a man known as Fatih Sultan Mehmet (Mehmet II). III. It took place in 1595, the day the sultan Mehmet ascended to the throne.. III. Mehmet killed 19 of his brothers, the oldest of whom was 13 years old.

When the bodies of the princes were placed in front of the Hırka-i Saadet office, their mothers’ desperate screams echoed on the walls of Topkapı Palace.

Fratricide based on the Fatih Code continued for approximately 150 years. During this period, 22 of the 61 princes were killed because they rebelled against the state, while the others ended their lives in accordance with the Kanunname. Ahmet I, who ascended to the Ottoman throne in 1603, did not kill his brother Mustafa and started the system of ascending to the throne the most sane member of the dynasty, called the Ekber and Erşed system.

Although he had sons when Ahmed I died in 1617, the oldest member of the dynasty ascended to the throne on 22 November 1617. He was succeeded by his brother Mustafa I. In this way, for the first time, the sultan’s brother, rather than a sultan’s son, ascended to the Ottoman throne. Fratricide was replaced by the practice of keeping princes who were likely to ascend to the throne under surveillance after this period. He bought a cage system.

As a result, fratricide, It was organized to protect the unity of the Ottoman Empire. It is considered an application. It is important to evaluate historical events according to the conditions of that period, but when we think about it, it is difficult for people to accept the killing of innocent children, even though there was no basis for it.