Murad IV of Turkey (1612-1640) was both strong-willed and physically strong.

His dominant mother had tried to make him abhor women, and all his life they
induced both lust and hate in Murad. His cruelty became legendary, and, in
his later years, he killed people, especially females, just because off ill humour
or a whim.

Murad, born on July 27, 1612, was 5 years old, when his father, Sultan
Ahmed I (1590-1617), died. Six years later, he ascended the throne after the
second dethronement of his insane uncle, Mad Mustafa I (1591-1639). Over
the next years his mother, Sultana Kösem, ruled with ability from the harem,
but much power was also held by the civil aristocracy and the military, who
where mainly interested in their own advancement. In 1623, the Persians
invaded Iraq. Revolts broke out in Anatolia, and in November 1631 the
Janissaries, the Sultan's standing infantry corps, rioted and broke into the
Palace, killing the Grand Vezir, the Grand Mufti, Murad's favourite page and
13 other high officials. Fearing the fate of his half-brother Osman II, Young
Murad was forced to appoint a Grand Vezir of their choice, but within half a
year he took command of the government, and had the unwanted Grand Vezir
executed. He took revenge on the military that had humiliated him by ordering
the strangulation of more than 500 of their leaders. He had spies scouring
Istanbul, tracking down the leaders of the revolt and other traitors, executing
them on the spot. In Anatolia Murad had 20.000 men executed. In 1635
Murad intended to execute the Armanian immigrants of Constantinople too,
but his Grand Vezir managed to talk this idea out of his mind.

Murad was an uncultivated, strong-willed, dark-eyed giant and he was

immensely cruel. Boastful of his muscular strength, he excelled in wrestling
and javelin throwing. His popular brother Bayezid was highly skilled in jousting
and in 1635 he threw Murad off in a joust. Shortly thereafter, Bayezid was
killed by Murad's order. Murad had another brother killed in 1638. Kösem
prevented him from murdering his only surviving brother, Mad Ibrahim (1615-
1648), by arguing that Ibrahim was too mad to be a threat.
Murad attempted to re-establish Royal authority and is known as one of
the more able Sultans of Turkey. He showed ability as a military commander
in the Caucasus and Mesopotamia and gained respect by sharing the
hardships with his men. Nevertheless, after the siege of Bagdad in 1638 he
slaughtered some 30,000 soldiers and another 30,000 civilians. After this
conquest he proceeded in triumph through Istanbul, followed by captive
Persian chiefs in chains.

Sometimes Murad disguised himself and, accompanied

by his executioner, he wandered the streets incognito,
personally carrying out inspections. When he came
across some "troublemaker", Murad would turn to the
executioner and select the tool he thought most suited to
the job. Thus Murad had many people mercilessly
executed and corpses hung at every street corner. In the
early years of his reign, his executions had been justified
by unquestionable guilt, but later he was killing out off ill
humour or a whim. Once, he forced one of his doctors to
swallow an overdose of his own opium. He impaled a courier for informing him
mistakenly that he had become father of a boy, whereas in fact it was a
daughter. Murad's cruelty became legendary and his approach created a
terrified silence everywhere. He cut off the head of every man who came
under the slightest suspicion; in 5 years time he executed some 25,000
subjects. His musician, for example, was beheaded for playing
a Persian melody. In 1633, coffee houses, wine shops and taverns were
closed, because they were meeting places where people could spend their
time criticising the government. Murad passed a law prohibiting smoking and
the consumption of alcohol or coffee throughout the Ottoman Empire on pain
of death. When he caught anyone with a pipe or a cup of coffee, Murad had
the offender executed on the spot, although he himself indulged in both habits
- often in the company of some favoured Persians.

Knowing the strife among the harem women, Sultana Kösem had tried to
encourage her son to homosexual love, showing him only beautiful boys and
keeping him away from girls. During the rest of his life Murad was to show
both feelings of lust and hate for women. Once Murad encountered a group of
women singing in a meadow and ordered all of them to be drowned for
disturbing his peace. When a boat with ladies came too close to the harem
walls, Murad ordered his gunners to open fire, sinking the boat and drowning
them all. At other times, he forced his harem women to jump naked into a
pool. He liked to fire harmless pellets at their bodies or fill the pool with so
much water that they had to jump up and down to take a breath. Murad was
also intensely jealous. A man who added a room to the top of his house was
hanged, because Murad thought he had done it to peer over the palace walls
 into his harem.

During the last years of his life Murad became addicted to alcohol. It turned
him into a homicidal maniac. Dimitrie Cantemir of Moldavia (1678-1723)
wrote: "Very often at midnight he stole out of the women's quarters through
the private gate of the palace with his drawn sword, and running through the
streets barefooted with only a loose gown around him, like a madman, killed
whoever came his way." He took particular pleasure in beheading men with fat
necks. Murad practised his powers with the arquebus from the palace walls on
passers by - in case they were intending to look into the harem. While riding
out, armed with his bow, he used to practise his aim on any passing woman.

On February 9, 1640, this Sultan, who had prohibited drinking, died from
cirrhosis of the liver at the age of 27. Since Murad's sons had all died young,
his insane brother Ibrahim became the new Sultan.

Murad IV
OTTOMAN SULTAN
WRITTEN BY:
 The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
See Article History
Alternative Titles: Amurath IV, Murad Oglu Ahmed I

Murad IV, in full Murad Oglu Ahmed I, (born July 27,

1612, Constantinople, Ottoman Empire [now Istanbul, Turkey]—died February
8, 1640, Constantinople), Ottoman sultan from 1623 to 1640 whose heavy-
handed rule put an end to prevailing lawlessness and rebelliousness and who
is renowned as the conqueror of Baghdad.
Murad, who came to the throne at age 11, ruled for several years through the
regency of his mother, Kösem, and a series of grand viziers. Effective rule,
however, remained in the hands of the turbulent spahis (from
Turkish sipahiyan, quasi-feudal cavalries) and the Janissaries, who more than
once forced the execution of high officials. Corruption of government officials
and rebellion in the Asiatic provinces, coupled with an empty treasury,
perpetuated the discontent against the central government.
Embittered by the excesses of the troops, Murad was determined to restore
order both in Constantinople and in the provinces. In 1632 the spahis had
invaded the palace and demanded (and got) the heads of the grand vizier and
16 other high officials. Soon thereafter Murad gained full control and acted
swiftly and ruthlessly. He suppressed the mutineers with a bloody ferocity. He
banned the use of tobacco and closed the coffeehouses and the wineshops
(no doubt as nests of sedition); violators or mere suspects were executed.

In his foreign policy Murad took personal command in the continuing war
against Iran and set out to win back territories lost to Iran earlier in his reign.
Baghdad was reconquered in 1638 after a siege that ended in a massacre of
garrison and citizens alike. In the following year peace was concluded.
A man of courage, determination, and violent temperament, Murad did not
follow closely the precepts of the Sharīʿah (Islamic law) and was the first
Ottoman sultan to execute a shaykh al-islām(the highest Muslim dignitary in
the empire). He was able to restore order, however, and to straighten out
state finances. Murad’s untimely death was caused by his addiction to alcohol.

Murad IV
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Murad IV
‫رابع مراد‬

Sultan of the Ottoman Empire

Kayser-i Rûm

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques

Caliph of Islam
 17th Ottoman Sultan (Emperor)

Reign 10 September 1623 – 8 February 1640

Predecessor Mustafa I

Successor Ibrahim

Regent Kösem Sultan

(1623–1632)

Born 27 July 1612

Constantinople, Ottoman Empire

Died 8 February 1640 (aged 27)

Constantinople, Ottoman Empire

Burial Türbe of Ahmed I, Sultan Ahmed Mosque, Istanbul

 Spouse Ayşe Sultan

Sanavber Sultan

another wife (possibly)

Issue see below

Full name

Murad bin Ahmed

Dynasty Ottoman

Father Ahmed I

Mother Kösem Sultan

Religion Sunni Islam

Tughra

Murad IV (Ottoman Turkish: ‫مراد رابع‬, Murād-ı Rābiʿ; 26/27 July 1612 – 8 February 1640) was
the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1623 to 1640, known both for restoring the authority of the
state and for the brutality of his methods. Murad IV was born in Istanbul, the son of Sultan Ahmed
I (r. 1603–17) and the ethnic Greek Kösem Sultan.[1] Brought to power by a palace conspiracy in
1623, he succeeded his uncle Mustafa I (r. 1617–18, 1622–23). He was only 11 when he took the
throne. His reign is most notable for the Ottoman–Safavid War (1623–39), of which
the outcome would permanently part the Caucasus between the two Imperial powers for around two
centuries, while it also roughly laid the foundation for the current Turkey–Iran–Iraq borders.

Contents
[hide]

 1Biography
o 1.1Early reign (1623–32)
o 1.2Absolute rule and imperial policies (1632–40)
o 1.3War against Safavid Iran
o 1.4Relations with the Mughal Empire
 2Architecture
 3Family
 4Death
 5In popular culture
 6See also
 7References
 8Sources
 9External links

Biography[edit]

Ottoman miniature painting depicting Murad IV during dinner

Early reign (1623–32)[edit]

Murad IV was for a long time under the control of his relatives and during his early years as Sultan,
his mother, Kösem Sultan, essentially ruled through him. The Empire fell into anarchy; the Safavid
Empire invaded Iraq almost immediately, Northern Anatolia erupted in revolts, and in 1631
the Janissaries stormed the palace and killed the Grand Vizier, among others. Murad IV feared
suffering the fate of his elder brother, Osman II (1618–22), and decided to assert his power.
At the age of 16 in 1628, he had his brother-in-law (his sister Fatma Sultan's husband, who was also
the former governor of Egypt), Kara Mustafa Pasha, executed for a claimed action "against the law
of God".[2]
Absolute rule and imperial policies (1632–40)[edit]
Murad IV tried to quell the corruption that had grown during the reigns of previous Sultans, and that
had not been checked while his mother was ruling through proxy.
Murad IV also banned alcohol, tobacco, and coffee in Istanbul.[3] He ordered execution for breaking
this ban.[4] He would reportedly patrol the streets and the lowest taverns of Istanbul in civilian clothes
at night, policing the enforcement of his command by casting off his disguise on the spot and
beheading the offender with his own hands.[5] Rivaling the exploits of Selim the Grim, he would sit in
a kiosk by the water near his Seraglio Palace[5] and shoot arrows at any passerby or boatman who
rowed too close to his imperial compound, seemingly for sport.[6] He restored the judicial regulations
by very strict punishments, including execution, he once strangled a grand vizier for the reason that
the official had beaten his mother-in-law.[5].[7][8]
War against Safavid Iran[edit]
Murad IV's reign is most notable for the Ottoman–Safavid War (1623–39) against Persia (today Iran)
in which Ottoman forces managed to conquer Azerbaijan, occupying Tabriz, Hamadan, and
capturing Baghdad in 1638. The Treaty of Zuhab that followed the war generally reconfirmed the
borders as agreed by the Peace of Amasya, with Eastern Armenia, Eastern Georgia, Azerbaijan,
and Dagestan staying Persian, while Western Armenia, and Western Georgia stayed
Ottoman.[9] Mesopotamia was irrevocably lost for the Persians.[10] The borders fixed as a result of the
war, are more or less the same as the present border line between Turkey, Iraq and Iran.
During the siege of Baghdad in 1638, the city held out for forty days but was compelled to surrender.
Murad IV himself commanded the Ottoman army in the last years of the war.
Relations with the Mughal Empire[edit]
While he was encamped in Baghdad, Murad IV is known to have met ambassadors of the Mughal
Emperor Shah Jahan, Mir Zafar and Mir Baraka, who presented 1000 pieces of finely embroidered
cloth and even armor. Murad IV gave them the finest weapons, saddles and Kaftans and ordered his
forces to accompany the Mughals to the port of Basra, where they set sail to Thatta and
finally Surat.[11]

Architecture[edit]
Murad IV put emphasis on architecture and in his period many monuments were erected. The
Baghdad Kiosk, built in 1635, and the Revan Kiosk, built in 1638 in Yerevan, were both built in the
local styles.[12] Some of the others include the Kavak Sarayı pavilion;[13] the Meydanı Mosque; the
Bayram Pasha Dervish Lodge, Tomb, Fountain, and Primary School; and the Şerafettin Mosque
in Konya.

Family[edit]
Consorts
Very little is known about the concubines of Murad IV, principally because he did not leave sons who
survived his death to reach the throne but, privy purse registers record the presence of a single
haseki, Ayşe Sultan until the very end of Murad's seventeen-year reign.[14] It is possible that Murad
had only a single concubine until the advent of the second, or that he had a number of concubines
but singled out only one as haseki.[14] A vakf (meaning charitable foundation) inscription dating from
1628 reveals the existence of a concubine of Murad named Sanavber Hatun, who likely was of
haseki rank.[15] If Ayșe was initially his only concubine, it is probably his lack of male issue that
prompted him to take another, for his sons all died in infancy.[14]
Sons

 Şehzade Ahmed (21 December 1628 – 1639);

 Şehzade Numan (1628 – 1629);
 Şehzade Orhan (1629 – 1629);
 Şehzade Hasan (March 1631 – 1632);
 Şehzade Suleiman (2 February 1632 – 1635);
 Şehzade Mehmed (8 August 1633 – 1640);
 Şehzade Osman (9 February 1634 – February 1634);
 Şehzade Alaeddin (26 August 1635 – 1637);
 Şehzade Selim (1637 – 1640);
 Şehzade Abdul Hamid (15 May 1638 – 1638);
Daughters
Murad had three daughters:

 Kaya Sultan alias Ismihan (1633 – 1659, buried in Mustafa I Mausoleum, Hagia Sophia Mosque,
Istanbul),[16] married August 1644, Damat Abaza Melek Ahmed Pasha, Vizier 1638 and 1650–
1651;[17][18][16][19][20]
 Safiye Sultan (buried in Ahmed I Mausoleum, Blue Mosque, Istanbul),[16] married 1659, Damat
Abaza Husein Pasha, Vizier 1674–1675, son of Abaza Siyavuş Pasha;[17]
 Rukiye Sultan (died 1696, buried in Ahmed I Mausoleum, Blue Mosque, Istanbul),[16] married
firstly 1663, Şeytan Divrikli Ibrahim Pasha, Vizier, married secondly 1693 Damat Gürcü Mehmed
Pasha.[17]

Death[edit]
Murad IV died from cirrhosis in Istanbul at the age of 27 in 1640.[21]
Rumours had circulated that on his deathbed, Murad IV ordered the execution of his mentally
disabled brother, Ibrahim (reigned 1640–48), which would have meant the end of the Ottoman line.
However, the order was not carried out.[22]

Murat IV.

Sultan Murad IV was born in June 26, 1612 in Istanbul. His father is Sultan Ahmet I and his mother is Mahpeyker Kosem
Sultana. His mother is Greek originated. Murad was a tall, huge man with a round face. He is one of the most powerful sultans of
the Ottoman history. He was very good at archery. He was so intelligent, strong, courageous and energetic. He proved his
strength in the wars he had taken place. Murad was a very religious man and he called the Seyhulislam Yahya Efendi (Minister of
Religious Affairs) as "father". He had forbidden tobacco and alcohol. In his period to go out at nights was forbidden too. He had
spoken Arabic and European languages. He was very fond of science and he encouraged the scientists for new inventions. For
example; he supported Hazerfen Ahmet Celebi, who made first flight in the history by affixing wings. Ahmet Celebi flew from
the Tower of Galata to Uskudar. Sultan Murad followed closely the circumstances around and he interfered if necessary. During
his first years he reigned under the guardianship of his mother, afterwards he ended the sovereignty of women in the palace and
he punished the disloyal and deceitful viziers. He tried to solve the problems of the empire. He reigned for 17 years but he died at
the age of 28 because of an illness. His sovereign can be considered in two parts. He was ascended at the age of 11 and his
mother Kosem Sultan ruled the country. Kosem Sultan and the viziers on her side had lynched Hafız Ahmet Pasha to the soldiers,
in front of child sultan. This period was attended with great disasters. On the date he was enthroned the state administration was
in a situation of corruption. Graft, bribing and favouritism prevailed in the country and it was almost impossible to execute state
affairs. Wars continued with Persia in the East and Austria in the West. His first action was to take unnecessarily severe
precautions in order to eliminate the violence and bribing within the state. He succeeded to annihilate perturbation in Istanbul and
the provinces. He recovered the military discipline and ensured compliance with laws, ordinances and directives. He
implemented the measures for the regular collection of taxes in order to increase the state's revenues and for avoiding fund
shortage in the treasury arising out of unne- cessary expenditure. He used to go around in disguise when necessary and observed
perturbations, undisciplined actions and irregularities; and personally punished the offenders. He has participated in wars and
raised the morale of commanders and the soldiers in the trenches. He would never tolerate unfairness and disorder. The first
Sovereign in our history. who has murdered a sheikhulislam was Sultan Murad iV Alcoholic drinks and tobacco ban was
implemented during this period also. The peace and harmony in the Ottoman lands were completely lost and tyrants became the
rulers of the cities. Murad took the authority in his adolescent and repressed all the tyrants, and he re-established the supremacy
of Sultan. By prohibiting tobacco he assimilated the idles gathering in the taverns. He restored the judicial regulations by very
strict punishments and even by many executions.