Mustafa IV

Mustafa IV (; ; 8 September 1779 – 16 November 1808) was the sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1807 to 1808.

Early life Mustafa IV was born on 8 September 1779 in Constantinople. He was the son of Sultan Abdul Hamid I (1774–1789) and Sineperver Sultan.

Both he and his half-brother, Mahmud II, were the last remaining male members of the House of Osman after their cousin, the reformist Sultan Selim III (1789–1807). They alone were therefore eligible to inherit the throne from Selim, by whom they were treated favorably. Since Mustafa was the elder, he took precedence over his brother to the throne. During his short reign, Mustafa would save his cousin's life and order him murdered. Mustafa was Sultan Selim III's favourite crown prince, but he deceived his cousin and cooperated with the rebels to take his throne.

Reign

Mustafa ascended to the throne after the deposition of his cousin, Selim, on 29 May 1807. He came to the throne in the wake of the turbulent events that led to the fatwa against Selim for "introducing among the Muslims the manners of infidels and showing an intention to suppress the Janissaries". Selim fled to the palace, where he swore fealty to his cousin as the new sultan, and attempted to commit suicide. Mustafa spared his life by smashing the cup of poison that his cousin tried to drink. More threatening, however, was a truce signed with the Russians, which freed Mustafa Pasha, a pro-reformist commander stationed on the Danube, to march his army back to Constantinople to restore Selim. With the aid of the Grand Vizier of Adrianople, the army marched on the capital and seized the palace. Şevkinür Kadın. BaşKadin (first consort). She died in 1812 and was buried in Abdülhamid I's mausoleum. Peykidil Kadın. She was executed in August 1808 by Mahmud II, accused of plotting against him with Mustafa IV and Alemdar Mustafa Pasha. According to sources, she was tied to a weight and thrown into the sea from the Maiden's Tower. Along with her, several concubines accused of being her accomplices were also executed. Dilpezir Kadın. She died in 1809 and was buried in Abdülhamid I's mausoleum. Seyare Kadın. She died in 1817 and was buried in Abdülhamid I's mausoleum.

Sons Mustafa IV had only one son: Şehzade Ahmed (1809–1809). Born posthumously. In the decades following Mustafa's death, a certain Ahmed Nedir, a Georgian man, claimed to be Mustafa IV's secret son, born after his mother, a Russian woman, was forced to flee Constantinople while she was pregnant following Mustafa IV's death. According to another version, Ahmed Nedir was the Şehzade Ahmed himself, whose death was faked in order to hide the child abroad, for fear that Mahmud II execute him. His claims were never proven or taken into consideration.

Daughters Mustafa IV had only one daughter: Emine Sultan (6 May 1809 – October 1809). Born posthumously, she is buried with her father in the Hamidiye mausoleum. Her wet nurse was Muhtaviye Hatun, wife of Said Bey (died 16 November 1812, buried in Karacaahmet Cemetery).