Mahmud II succeeds Mustafa IV as Ottoman sultan (1808)

Mahmud II became Ottoman sultan in 1808 following the deposition of his half-brother Mustafa IV. Mustafa had ordered the execution of Mahmud and their cousin Selim III to prevent rebellion, but Mahmud was hidden by his mother. Alemdar Mustafa Pasha, leader of the rebellion that deposed Mustafa, proclaimed Mahmud as padishah. Mustafa was subsequently killed on Mahmud's orders in November 1808.

Episodes

Background and detail

Background. Mustafa IV ascended to the throne in 1807 after the deposition of his cousin Selim III. Both Mustafa and his half-brother Mahmud II were the last remaining male members of the House of Osman. In 1808, Mustafa ordered the execution of Mahmud and Selim III to defuse any rebellion. Selim III was killed, but Mahmud was safely kept hidden by his mother.

Accession. Mahmud ascended the throne following an 1808 coup that deposed Mustafa IV. The leader of this rebellion, Alemdar Mustafa Pasha, arrived with armed men and proclaimed Mahmud the padishah upon seeing the dead body of Selim III. Alemdar Mustafa Pasha later became Mahmud II's vizier.

Aftermath. Mustafa IV was killed on Mahmud's orders on 16 November 1808 and buried in his father's mausoleum. Alemdar Mustafa Pasha took the initiative in resuming reforms terminated by the 1807 coup, but he was killed during a rebellion in 1808, causing Mahmud II to temporarily abandon the reforms.

People involved

Sources

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