SULTAN MAHMUD I (1730-1754)

Sultan Mahmud I was born on 2nd August 1696, in Istanbul. His father was Sultan Mustafa II and his mother was Saliha Mother Sultana. He raised up with the love and interest of his grand mother Gulnus Sultana. Although he had lived behind the lattice; with the help of his intelligence, good-will and strong character he saved himself being spoiled. He had lessons from different teachers. He was interested in history, literature and poems. He especially studied music.

Sultan Mahmud I came to the throne, when he was 35 years old, on 1st November 1730. He choose valuable people of his age and appointed them. He was a man of good character, determination, tender, mercy, patience and forbearance. He lived for the welfare of his people not for his own pleasure. By this way, he did not repeat his father’s and uncle’s failures. Sultan Mahmud I, spent his last two years being ill. At the age of 59, in 13th December 1754 he had passed away. He was buried in the tomb of Mustafa II in Yeni Mosque (The New Mosque).

The revolts agitation

Sultan Mahmud I had to fulfil the wills of rebels that enthroned himself. Most of the seaside houses or small palaces built in Ahmed III’s sultanate were burned or damaged by the wills of the rebels.

Civil servants were appointed by the influence of the rebels. But, most of them left their duties after they had acquired fetva (command) from the seyhulislam, that they would not be killed.

Patrona Halil who was the leader of the rebels had accepted the authority of Sultan Mahmud I. But, he wanted to interfere in the state affairs. He wanted the sultan to appoint him as the commander of the Yeniceri Corps and to declare war against Russia. Patrona Halil and his friends were caught and executed on 15th November 1730.

The friends of Patrona Halil had revolted again with the fear of being killed. Sultan Mahmud I wanted help from people to stop the revolt. His people helped sultan as they were tired of the revolts and the revolt was pressed in a short time.

Reforms

The reforms held by Sultan Mahmud I were accumulated mostly in the military issues. Kont Do Bonnevale, a French nobleman, converted to Islam and took the name Humbaraci Ahmed Pasha made many reforms. Ahmed Pasha reorganised the artillery and bombardier corps. He established the Engineer Troops and trained modern educated officers for the Ottoman Army. By these reforms of Ahmed Pasha the Ottomans defeated Russia. Moreover, Sultan Mahmud continued the cultural reforms started in the Tulip Period.

Relations with Iran

Patrona Halil revolt begun, meanwhile, the Ottoman-Iran war was going on. The last attack of Iran was not defended as the army was busy with internal conflicts. The opposing attack that was started in 1731, lasted for a year. Kermensah was recaptured, on 30th July 1731, Karican victory was attained, on 16th September 1731, Umriye castle was captured on 11th October 1731, and Tabriz was recaptured on 4th December 1731. With the Ahmed Pasha Treaty (10th January 1732) Caucus was left to the Ottomans and the western Iran and Azerbaycan was left to Iran. The Kasr-i Sirin Territory remained the same; the Aras River was accepted as the border line between two countries.

The Ahmed Pasha Treaty, satisfied neither the Ottomans nor the Iranians and the wars lasted until 1746. The Ottomans had a victory fore Baghdad, on 19th July 1733. Shah Nadir attacked the Iraq territory (29th May 1743), and besieged Musul (27th September 1743). Nadir Shah who also besieged Kars retreated on 9th October 1744. A new peace treaty was signed on 4th September 1746, but the territories were not changed.

The Ottoman-Russian-Austrian wars

Russia interfered the internal affairs of Poland. During the Iran campaign they hindered the Crimean Army passing through the Caucus and occupied the Azak Castle, moreover Russia allied with Austria and Sultan Mahmud I decided to campaign against Russia on 16th June 1736.

Banyaluka Victory was won on 4th August 1737. The Russian forces attacked the Balkans and Crimea but they were defeated and retreated. Belgrade Castle was recaptured on 1st September 1739. As the Ottoman Empire defeated the Russian Army on the Austrian front; Russia requested peace. The Ottoman Empire signed the Belgrade Treaty on 18th September 1739 with Austria and Russia. According to the Belgrade Treaty; the Azak Castle would be left to Russians, the lands that Russia captured during the war would be given back to the Ottoman Empire and the Russians would not keep fleet of trade ships in the Black Sea. France supported this agreement and the privileges given to France were augmented.

The last years of Mahmud I passed in peace. But, the fires in Istanbul damaged the city. 800 houses in Bolat and Fener were burned in the great Istanbul fire on 28th December 1745. In another fire, occurred five years later, some quarters and historic palaces of Istanbul were completely burnt (4th February 1750). The great Istanbul earthquake occurred on 3rd September 1754. During this earthquake, Istanbul was shaken for 14 times in 5-6 days. The cupolas of Ayasofya, Bayezid and Fatih Mosque were also damaged.