Mustafa Çelebi
Encyclopedia
Mustafa Çelebi, also called Düzmece Mustafa (1393-1422) was an Ottoman
prince who struggled for throne in the early years of the fifteenth century (Çelebi is an honorific title meaning gentleman)
, the daughter of bey Germiyanids (Germiyan was the name of an independent Turkish principality in center-west portion of Anatolia. ) After the battle of Ankara
in which Ottoman sultan Bayazit was defeated by Temur
, Mustafa as well as Bayazit himself was taken as a prisoner of war. While his four brothers were fighting each other during the Interregnum
, he was held captive in Samarkand
(modern Uzbekistan
). After the death of Temur he returned to Anatolia in 1405 and secluded himself in the territories of Turkish beylik
s.
an portion of the empire) with the help of Byzantine Emperor Manuel II Palaiologos
. He also had the support of Mircea I of Wallachia
and Cüneyt Bey of Aydın
(ruler of the Aydinid principality). Mustafa asked Mehmet I, who had recently defeated other claimants, to partition the empire. But he was refused and was easily defeated by the forces of Mehmet . He took refuge in Byzantine city of Thessaloniki
in 1416. After reaching an agreement with Mehmet, Manuel sent him to the island of Lemnos
.
, the fort which controls the strait of Çanakkale (Dardanelles)
and after capturing Edirne
the European capital of the empire, he began ruling in Rumeli . He proved that he was indeed Beyazid's son and he gained the support of the governors in Rumeli. Although Murat sent a force on him over the strait of Bosphorous, even Murat's soldiers joined him. Over confident of himself, Mustafa decided to cross the Çanakkale strait and conquer Anatolia
, the Asia
tic side of the empire.
However in Anatolia, Mihaloğlu (a descendant of Köse Mihal
) a partisan of Murat who was very famous in Rumeli encouraged Mustafa partisans to change sides. On the other hand, some of Mustafa's allies notably Cüneyt abandoned him and Mustafa gave up hopes to conquer Anatolia. He escaped to Rumeli. Murat chased him . To cross the strait, Murat asked for the help of Genoa
vessels which he paid dearly. Murat's forces soon caught Mustafa.
, hanging was not a usual treatment for a dynasty member. Probably, Murat tried to emphasize that Mustafa was not his genuine uncle but an imposter. Thus contemporary Ottoman historians call him Düzmece (fake) Mustafa.
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
prince who struggled for throne in the early years of the fifteenth century (Çelebi is an honorific title meaning gentleman)
Background
Mustafa was one of the sons of Beyazıt I, the Ottoman sultan. His mother was probably Devlet HatunDevlet Hatun
Devlet Hatun was the wife of Ottoman Sultan Bayezid I, the daughter of Yakub Shah of Germiyanids, the descendant of Rumi through his son Sultan Walad’s daughter Mutahhara Hatun who was an ancestor of Yakub Shah. She was the mother of Ottoman Sultan Mehmed I, and İsa Çelebi, Governor of Anatolia...
, the daughter of bey Germiyanids (Germiyan was the name of an independent Turkish principality in center-west portion of Anatolia. ) After the battle of Ankara
Battle of Ankara
The Battle of Ankara or Battle of Angora, fought on July 20, 1402, took place at the field of Çubuk between the forces of the Ottoman sultan Bayezid I and the Turko-Mongol forces of Timur, ruler of the Timurid Empire. The battle was a major victory for Timur, and it led to a period of crisis for...
in which Ottoman sultan Bayazit was defeated by Temur
Temur
Temur or Timur refer to Iron in Mongolic languages.People:*Mongke Temur , khan of the Golden Horde.*Temur Khan , Khagan of the Mongol Empire and ruler of the Yuan Dynasty....
, Mustafa as well as Bayazit himself was taken as a prisoner of war. While his four brothers were fighting each other during the Interregnum
Ottoman Interregnum
The Ottoman Interregnum began in 20 July 1402, when chaos reigned in the Ottoman Empire following the defeat of Sultan Bayezid I by the Turco-Mongol warlord Timur...
, he was held captive in Samarkand
Samarkand
Although a Persian-speaking region, it was not united politically with Iran most of the times between the disintegration of the Seleucid Empire and the Arab conquest . In the 6th century it was within the domain of the Turkic kingdom of the Göktürks.At the start of the 8th century Samarkand came...
(modern Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan , officially the Republic of Uzbekistan is a doubly landlocked country in Central Asia and one of the six independent Turkic states. It shares borders with Kazakhstan to the west and to the north, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to the east, and Afghanistan and Turkmenistan to the south....
). After the death of Temur he returned to Anatolia in 1405 and secluded himself in the territories of Turkish beylik
Beylik
Beylik is a Turkish word, meaning:*The territory under the jurisdiction of a Bey*Beuluk, a member of the Ottoman Sultan's janissary bodyguard*Anatolian beyliks*Bəylik , places in Azerbaijan...
s.
First rebellion
After the interregnum, Mustafa appeared in Rumeli (EuropeEurope
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an portion of the empire) with the help of Byzantine Emperor Manuel II Palaiologos
Manuel II Palaiologos
Manuel II Palaiologos or Palaeologus was Byzantine Emperor from 1391 to 1425.-Life:...
. He also had the support of Mircea I of Wallachia
Mircea I of Wallachia
Mircea the Elder was ruler of Wallachia from 1386 until his death. The byname "elder" was given to him after his death in order to distinguish him from his grandson Mircea II...
and Cüneyt Bey of Aydın
Cüneyt Bey of Aydın
Cuneyd Bey , was the ruler of Aydinid principality in what is now modern Turkey in the early 15th century Cuneyd Bey , ( ?-1425) was the ruler of Aydinid principality in what is now modern Turkey in the early 15th century Cuneyd Bey , ( ?-1425) was the ruler of Aydinid principality in what is...
(ruler of the Aydinid principality). Mustafa asked Mehmet I, who had recently defeated other claimants, to partition the empire. But he was refused and was easily defeated by the forces of Mehmet . He took refuge in Byzantine city of Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki , historically also known as Thessalonica, Salonika or Salonica, is the second-largest city in Greece and the capital of the region of Central Macedonia as well as the capital of the Decentralized Administration of Macedonia and Thrace...
in 1416. After reaching an agreement with Mehmet, Manuel sent him to the island of Lemnos
Lemnos
Lemnos is an island of Greece in the northern part of the Aegean Sea. Administratively the island forms a separate municipality within the Lemnos peripheral unit, which is part of the North Aegean Periphery. The principal town of the island and seat of the municipality is Myrina...
.
Second rebellion
After the death of Mehmet I in 1421, Mustafa felt that he could easily defeat Murat II , Mehmet's son. With the help of Byzantines he captured GeliboluGelibolu
Gelibolu, also known as Gallipoli , is the name of a town and a district in Çanakkale Province of the Marmara region, located in Eastern Thrace in the European part of Turkey on the southern shore of the peninsula named after it on the Dardanelles strait, two miles away from Lapseki on the other...
, the fort which controls the strait of Çanakkale (Dardanelles)
Dardanelles
The Dardanelles , formerly known as the Hellespont, is a narrow strait in northwestern Turkey connecting the Aegean Sea to the Sea of Marmara. It is one of the Turkish Straits, along with its counterpart the Bosphorus. It is located at approximately...
and after capturing Edirne
Edirne
Edirne is a city in Eastern Thrace, the northwestern part of Turkey, close to the borders with Greece and Bulgaria. Edirne served as the capital city of the Ottoman Empire from 1365 to 1453, before Constantinople became the empire's new capital. At present, Edirne is the capital of the Edirne...
the European capital of the empire, he began ruling in Rumeli . He proved that he was indeed Beyazid's son and he gained the support of the governors in Rumeli. Although Murat sent a force on him over the strait of Bosphorous, even Murat's soldiers joined him. Over confident of himself, Mustafa decided to cross the Çanakkale strait and conquer Anatolia
Anatolia
Anatolia is a geographic and historical term denoting the westernmost protrusion of Asia, comprising the majority of the Republic of Turkey...
, the Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
tic side of the empire.
However in Anatolia, Mihaloğlu (a descendant of Köse Mihal
Köse Mihal
Köse Mihal accompanied Osman al-Ghazi in his ascent to power as an Emir and founder of the Ottoman Empire...
) a partisan of Murat who was very famous in Rumeli encouraged Mustafa partisans to change sides. On the other hand, some of Mustafa's allies notably Cüneyt abandoned him and Mustafa gave up hopes to conquer Anatolia. He escaped to Rumeli. Murat chased him . To cross the strait, Murat asked for the help of Genoa
Republic of Genoa
The Most Serene Republic of Genoa |Ligurian]]: Repúbrica de Zêna) was an independent state from 1005 to 1797 in Liguria on the northwestern Italian coast, as well as Corsica from 1347 to 1768, and numerous other territories throughout the Mediterranean....
vessels which he paid dearly. Murat's forces soon caught Mustafa.
Execution
Mustafa was hanged just like a common criminal. Although inter dynasty executions were common in Ottoman dynastyOttoman Dynasty
The Ottoman Dynasty ruled the Ottoman Empire from 1299 to 1922, beginning with Osman I , though the dynasty was not proclaimed until Orhan Bey declared himself sultan...
, hanging was not a usual treatment for a dynasty member. Probably, Murat tried to emphasize that Mustafa was not his genuine uncle but an imposter. Thus contemporary Ottoman historians call him Düzmece (fake) Mustafa.