OTTOMAN EMPIRE

SULEYMAN  I

In the 16th century Europe expanded dramatically. Through improved sailing ships and voyages made by explorers, the west trying to establish colonies and overseas empires. The only power which was strong enough to stand up to this was the Ottoman Turkey.

In 1526, Hungary surrendered to the Ottoman Turkish ruler Suleman I and the Christian Kingdoms of Europe were shocked.

The Ottomans had originated from Anatolia (the Asian part of Turkey). The name Ottoman came from their earlier leader Uthman and they were Muslim people. Their main rule was holy war against all Christians' nations. During the following two centuries they established an empire. The empire included north-east Europe, most of the Middle East and North Africa.

The reason for their success was the Ottoman army which was headed by the sultan's elite troops -- the janissaries.  The word comes from the Turkish Yeri Ceri which means 'New Force'. This elite troop was founded in 14th century.  They were Christian slaves who were captured as young boys and brought up in the Muslim faith. They lived all their lives in barracks. They were not allowed to marry because it was feared that the wife would distract them from their duty to fight for the sultan.

SULEYMAN I

SULEYMAN'S COFFIN 
IN HIS MAUSELEUM 
ATTACHED TO HIS MOSQUE

After Suleyman capturing Hungary, he and his army went towards Austria.  His 100,000 men laid siege on Vienna.  The people had survived the siege of 17 days.  Bad weather prevented Suleyman to bring in his heavy guns and also the bad roads. The Turks had to fold up their camps and retreat.

Suleyman's army now marched towards Persia (Iran).  He invaded and conquered great territories in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Mesopotamia (Iraq).  In the south, his navy conquered Algiers, Tunis and played havoc in the coastal regions of Italy and Spain.

Suleyman, built an enormous network of roads, bridges, aqueducts and fortresses to be able to rule his huge empire. The great Christian city Constantinople was renamed Istanbul and became the capital of his empire.  Suleyman built many fine building there, include the huge Suleymaniye Mosque. This splendid mosque completed in 1557, was designed by his imperial architect, Sinan.  He, too, was a captured Christian and he designed many fine buildings. There are 80 still standing.

Even his enemies were overwhelmed by the splendour of his reign. The Europeans named him Suleyman the Magnificent.  His own people knew as the Lawgiver. Suleyman made far-reaching reforms of the Empire's legal system..

SULEYMANIYE 
MOSQUE 1557

SULEMANIYE MOSQUE INTERIOR

In 1538, the Turkish navy seized the Red Sea port of Aden and defeated the Christian armada at Battle of Preveza which is off the west coast of Greece.

Suleyman marched to battles 12 times. He led his army 12 times out of Istanbul and every time he returned victoriously. He fell ill and died in 1566 during another campaign against the Hungarians.

The first act of a new Sultan was to kill all his male relatives. The barbaric custom was introduced in the late 14th century.  The reason was for the purpose to prevent any claims to the throne.

Mehmed III recorded this in 1595 when he had all his 19 brothers strangled. He also killed the 15 slave women, who were pregnant by his father.

When Suleyman died in 1566 the Ottoman Empire nearly died with him. Although it survived till the First World War but it lost its strength. The rulers, who followed, were weak and incompetent. Even the once great army lost the strength it once had.

In 1683, the Turkish troops attacked Vienna once more. They were badly defeated by Austria and Polish forces led by the King Jan Sbienski of Poland.

In 1571, was the last great battle fought. The Christian armada destroyed the Turkish fleet at Lepanto off the west coast of Greece.

After that, every new sultan had to fight rivalry and bloodshed. The powerful clergy and janissaries became corrupt. The decline of the empire continued during the 17th century and even more in the 18th century. Increased unrest and widespread famine were the result.

1832 they lost Greece because of Greece War of Independence.

The Russo-Turkish War of 1877-1878 resulted to loose Romania, Serbia, Montenegro, Bulgari and Cyprus.

1909 the parliament deposed the sultan and pit Mehmed V on the throne. 1913 the Young Turk lead Enver Pasha seized control.

After the Balkan war the empire almost lost all its territory in Europe. In the First World War they join Germany and at the end of the war the empire collapsed. 1922 the last sultan, Mehmed VI, was overthrown and a Republic of Turkey was proclaimed by Mustafa Kemal AtaTuerk.

The Last of the Ottoman dynasty -- Ertugrul Osman -- lived in New York after the First World War when Turkey declared it a Republic and he died there in 2009.

ERTUGUL OSMAN