Eccentric Facts About Mustafa I, The Mad Saint
Nothing But A Puppet
The Ottoman Empire of the 17th century was a chaotic place, where its people could witness the swift highs and brutal lows of those in power. One of the prime examples of this political disorder was the life of Sultan Mustafa I. Throughout his reign, Mustafa was constantly shadowed by those who would take advantage of his deteriorated mental state—that is, if he truly was mad.
1. His Father Was Especially Ruthless
Born around 1600—to Sultan Mehmed III and his consort, Halime Hatun, Mustafa I’s turbulent life seemed foreshadowed by his father’s merciless nature. According to Ottoman tradition at the time, Sultans who ascended the throne would execute their brothers, a custom that Mehmed III fulfilled wholeheartedly when he executed his 19 half-brothers.
Luckily for him, Mustafa was able to avoid this.
2. He Escaped Execution
Mustafa’s story might have been much shorter if his brother had stayed true to Ottoman customs. When Ahmed I became Sultan in 1603, the expectation was that he would execute his male siblings, including his younger half-brother, Mustafa.
Luckily, Ahmed made the groundbreaking choice against this, allowing Mustafa to live.
There were several factors in this decision.
3. She Stepped In
Many influences contributed to Ahmed’s mercy, some of which came from those closest to him. Kösem Sultan was his favorite consort, but their son was not first in line since the true heir was Osman, Ahmed’s eldest son with another consort.
Since Osman would execute her son if he ascended, Kösem influenced Ahmed to keep Mustafa alive as a potential heir instead.
Mustafa’s execution would have posed another problem as well.
4. He Risked Destroying Everything
Beyond acting out of his consort’s influence, Ahmed would have threatened the future of his dynasty had he executed Mustafa. Ahmed didn’t start having sons until a year into his reign, so there were no other potential successors when he became sultan. If Mustafa perished and Ahmed never had any children, it would be the end of their royal line.
There were some sentimental reasons too.
