Selim II (
Ottoman Turkish
Ottoman Turkish ( ota, لِسانِ عُثمانى, Lisân-ı Osmânî, ; tr, Osmanlı Türkçesi) was the standardized register of the Turkish language used by the citizens of the Ottoman Empire (14th to 20th centuries CE). It borrowed extens ...
: سليم ثانى ''Selīm-i
sānī'', tr, II. Selim; 28 May 1524 – 15 December 1574), also known as Selim the Blond ( tr, Sarı Selim) or Selim the Drunk ( tr, Sarhoş Selim), was the
Sultan
Sultan (; ar, سلطان ', ) is a position with several historical meanings. Originally, it was an Arabic abstract noun meaning "strength", "authority", "rulership", derived from the verbal noun ', meaning "authority" or "power". Later, it c ...
of the
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman Empire, * ; is an archaic version. The definite article forms and were synonymous * and el, Оθωμανική Αυτοκρατορία, Othōmanikē Avtokratoria, label=none * info page on book at Martin Luther University ...
from 1566 until his death in 1574. He was a son of
Suleiman the Magnificent and his wife
Hurrem Sultan. Selim had been an unlikely candidate for the throne until his brother
Mehmed died of smallpox, his half-brother
Mustafa was strangled to death by the order of his father, his brother
Cihangir succumbed to chronic health issues, and his brother
Bayezid was killed on the order of his father after a rebellion against Selim. Selim died on 15 December 1574 and was buried in
Hagia Sophia
Hagia Sophia ( 'Holy Wisdom'; ; ; ), officially the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque ( tr, Ayasofya-i Kebir Cami-i Şerifi), is a mosque and major cultural and historical site in Istanbul, Turkey. The cathedral was originally built as a Greek Ortho ...
.
Early life
Selim was born in
Constantinople
la, Constantinopolis ota, قسطنطينيه
, alternate_name = Byzantion (earlier Greek name), Nova Roma ("New Rome"), Miklagard/Miklagarth (Old Norse), Tsargrad ( Slavic), Qustantiniya (Arabic), Basileuousa ("Queen of Cities"), Megalopolis (" ...
(Istanbul), on 28 May 1524,
during the reign of his father
Suleiman the Magnificent. His mother was
Hurrem Sultan, a slave and concubine who was born an Orthodox priest's daughter in contemporary
Ukraine
Ukraine ( uk, Україна, Ukraïna, ) is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the second-largest European country after Russia, which it borders to the east and northeast. Ukraine covers approximately . Prior to the ongoing Russian inva ...
, and later was freed and became Suleiman's legal wife.
In 1543, at
Manisa, Selim took as concubine
Nurbanu Sultan, whose background is disputed. She was the mother of
Murad III
Murad III ( ota, مراد ثالث, Murād-i sālis; tr, III. Murad; 4 July 1546 – 16 January 1595) was Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1574 until his death in 1595. His rule saw battles with the Habsburgs and exhausting wars with the Sa ...
, Selim's successor. Selim legally married Nurbanu, just like his father married his mother.
Reign
Selim II gained the throne after palace intrigue and fraternal dispute, succeeding as sultan on the 7th of September 1566. Selim's
Grand Vizier
Grand vizier ( fa, وزيرِ اعظم, vazîr-i aʾzam; ota, صدر اعظم, sadr-ı aʾzam; tr, sadrazam) was the title of the effective head of government of many sovereign states in the Islamic world. The office of Grand Vizier was first ...
,
Mehmed Sokollu and wife, Nurbanu Sultan, a native of what is now
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina ( sh, / , ), abbreviated BiH () or B&H, sometimes called Bosnia–Herzegovina and often known informally as Bosnia, is a country at the crossroads of south and southeast Europe, located in the Balkans. Bosnia and ...
, controlled much of state affairs, and two years after Selim's accession succeeded in concluding at Constantinople a
treaty
A treaty is a formal, legally binding written agreement between actors in international law. It is usually made by and between sovereign states, but can include international organizations, individuals, business entities, and other legal per ...
(17 February 1568) with the
Habsburg
The House of Habsburg (), alternatively spelled Hapsburg in Englishgerman: Haus Habsburg, ; es, Casa de Habsburgo; hu, Habsburg család, it, Casa di Asburgo, nl, Huis van Habsburg, pl, dom Habsburgów, pt, Casa de Habsburgo, la, Domus Hab ...
Holy Roman Emperor
The Holy Roman Emperor, originally and officially the Emperor of the Romans ( la, Imperator Romanorum, german: Kaiser der Römer) during the Middle Ages, and also known as the Roman-German Emperor since the early modern period ( la, Imperat ...
,
Maximilian II, whereby the Emperor agreed to pay an annual "present" of 30,000
ducat
The ducat () coin was used as a trade coin in Europe from the later Middle Ages from the 13th to 19th centuries. Its most familiar version, the gold ducat or sequin containing around of 98.6% fine gold, originated in Venice in 1284 and gained ...
s and granted the Ottomans authority in
Moldavia
Moldavia ( ro, Moldova, or , literally "The Country of Moldavia"; in Romanian Cyrillic: or ; chu, Землѧ Молдавскаѧ; el, Ἡγεμονία τῆς Μολδαβίας) is a historical region and former principality in Centr ...
and
Walachia. Gazanfer Agha (d. 1602), a friend to Selim and to the writer Mustafa Ali, was castrated so he could serve in Selim's harem. (Gazanfer's younger brother Cafer was also castrated, but did not survive.)
A plan had been prepared in Constantinople for uniting the
Volga
The Volga (; russian: Во́лга, a=Ru-Волга.ogg, p=ˈvoɫɡə) is the longest river in Europe. Situated in Russia, it flows through Central Russia to Southern Russia and into the Caspian Sea. The Volga has a length of , and a catch ...
and
Don by a canal in order to counter Russian expansion toward the Ottomans' northern frontier. In the summer of 1569 a large force of
Janissaries
A Janissary ( ota, یڭیچری, yeŋiçeri, , ) was a member of the elite infantry units that formed the Ottoman Sultan's household troops and the first modern standing army in Europe. The corps was most likely established under sultan Orhan ...
and cavalry were sent to lay siege to
Astrakhan and begin the canal works, while an Ottoman fleet besieged
Azov. However, a sortie from the Astrakhan garrison drove back the besiegers. A Russian relief army of 15,000 attacked and scattered the workmen and the
Tatar
The Tatars ()[Tatar]
in the Collins English Dictionary is an umbrella term for different force sent for their protection. The Ottoman fleet was then destroyed by a storm. Early in 1570 the ambassadors of
Ivan IV of Russia concluded at
Istanbul
)
, postal_code_type = Postal code
, postal_code = 34000 to 34990
, area_code = +90 212 (European side) +90 216 (Asian side)
, registration_plate = 34
, blank_name_sec2 = GeoTLD
, blank_i ...
a treaty that restored friendly relations between the Sultan and the
Tsar
Tsar ( or ), also spelled ''czar'', ''tzar'', or ''csar'', is a title used by East and South Slavic monarchs. The term is derived from the Latin word ''caesar'', which was intended to mean "emperor" in the European medieval sense of the ter ...
.
Expeditions in the
Hejaz
The Hejaz (, also ; ar, ٱلْحِجَاز, al-Ḥijāz, lit=the Barrier, ) is a region in the west of Saudi Arabia. It includes the cities of Mecca, Medina, Jeddah, Tabuk, Yanbu, Taif, and Baljurashi. It is also known as the "Western Prov ...
and
Yemen
Yemen (; ar, ٱلْيَمَن, al-Yaman), officially the Republic of Yemen,, ) is a country in Western Asia. It is situated on the southern end of the Arabian Peninsula, and borders Saudi Arabia to the north and Oman to the northeast and ...
were more successful, but the conquest of
Cyprus
Cyprus ; tr, Kıbrıs (), officially the Republic of Cyprus,, , lit: Republic of Cyprus is an island country located south of the Anatolian Peninsula in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Its continental position is disputed; while it is ...
in 1571, led to the naval defeat against
Spain
, image_flag = Bandera de España.svg
, image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg
, national_motto = '' Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond")
, national_anthem = (English: "Royal March")
, ...
and
Italian states in the
Battle of Lepanto in the same year.
At the historic Battle of Naupaktos or Battle of Lepanto, on 7 October 1571, the Holy League defeated the Ottoman navy decisively; the Holy League sank or destroyed 50 Ottoman ships and captured 117 galleys and 20 galliots, 30,000 Turks were lost in battle, 10,000 Turks were taken prisoners, and many thousands of Christian slaves were rescued. The Holy League lost about 7,500 men.
The Empire's shattered fleets were soon restored (in just six months, it consisted of about 150 galleys and eight
galleasses), and the Ottomans maintained control of the eastern Mediterranean (1573). In August 1574, months before Selim's death, the Ottomans regained control of
Tunis
''Tounsi'' french: Tunisois
, population_note =
, population_urban =
, population_metro = 2658816
, population_density_km2 =
, timezone1 = CET
, utc_offset1 ...
from Spain, which had captured it in 1572.
Selim is known for restoring
Mahidevran Hatun's status and her wealth. He also built the tomb of his eldest brother,
Şehzade Mustafa
Şehzade Mustafa (Ottoman Turkish: شهزاده مصطفى; 6 August 1515 – 6 October 1553) was an Ottoman prince and the son of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent and his consort Mahidevran Sultan. He was the prince-governor of Manisa from 15 ...
, who was executed in 1553.
During the reign of Selim, the Janissaries began to increase their power at the expense of the sultan. "Accession money" demanded by the Janissaries had increased; they used their power to gain more benefits for their personal lives instead of improving the state. Janissaries were now able to marry and were allowed to enrol their sons in the Corps.
In the famine of 1573, caused by severe cold, the farmers were unable to produce food for the people. Selim gave people food and vegetables in the food kitchen. In April 1574, a fire started in the printing house of Topkapi Palace, killing many cooks, servants and maids.
Character
Selim is introduced as a generous monarch who is fond of pleasure and entertainment in the sources of the period, who is fond of drink councils, enjoys the presence of scholars and poets around him, as well as musicians, wrestlers, and connoisseurs, . However, it is stated that he did not appear much in public, and that his father often went to Friday prayer and out among the public; Selim neglected this and spent his time in the palace.
Family
Selim's only wife,
Nurbanu Sultan, was the mother of his successor
Murad III
Murad III ( ota, مراد ثالث, Murād-i sālis; tr, III. Murad; 4 July 1546 – 16 January 1595) was Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1574 until his death in 1595. His rule saw battles with the Habsburgs and exhausting wars with the Sa ...
and most of his daughters. As a
Haseki Sultan she received 1.100 aspers (silver coins) a day, while lower-ranking concubines who were the mothers of princes received 40 aspers a day. When Selim married her legally, he bestowed upon Nurbanu 110,000 ducats as a dowry, surpassing the 100,000 ducats that his father bestowed upon his mother
Hürrem Sultan.
Consorts
*
Nurbanu Sultan,
Haseki, legal wife and mother and
Valide Sultan of Murad III;
* unknown concubines, mothers of the other sons.
Sons
Selim had at least seven sons:
*
Murad III
Murad III ( ota, مراد ثالث, Murād-i sālis; tr, III. Murad; 4 July 1546 – 16 January 1595) was Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1574 until his death in 1595. His rule saw battles with the Habsburgs and exhausting wars with the Sa ...
(
Manisa, 4 July 1546-
Constantinople
la, Constantinopolis ota, قسطنطينيه
, alternate_name = Byzantion (earlier Greek name), Nova Roma ("New Rome"), Miklagard/Miklagarth (Old Norse), Tsargrad ( Slavic), Qustantiniya (Arabic), Basileuousa ("Queen of Cities"), Megalopolis (" ...
, 15 January 1595. Buried in his mausoleum in the
Hagia Sophia Mosque
Hagia Sophia ( 'Holy Wisdom'; ; ; ), officially the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque ( tr, Ayasofya-i Kebir Cami-i Şerifi), is a mosque and major cultural and historical site in Istanbul, Turkey. The cathedral was originally built as a Greek Ortho ...
). Son of
Nurbanu Sultan, he succeeded his father as sultan.
* Şehzade Mehmed (Constantinople, 1571 - Constantinople, 1572. Buried in the Hürrem Sultan mausoleum). Infant died of natural causes.
* Şehzade Süleyman (Constantinople, 1571-Constantinople, 22 December 1574, buried with his father). Executed by Murad III on his accession to the throne. His mother later committed suicide.
* Şehzade Abdullah (Constantinople, 1571-Constantinople, 22 December 1574, buried with his father). Executed by Murad III on his accession to the throne.
* Şehzade Ali (Constantinople, 1572 - Constantinople, 1572, buried with his father). Died shortly after birth with his mother.
* Şehzade Osman (Constantinople, 1573-Constantinople, 22 December 1574, buried with his father). Executed by Murad III on his accession to the throne. His mother died shortly after his birth.
* Şehzade Cihangir (Constantinople, 1574-Constantinople, 22 December 1574, buried with his father). Executed by Murad III on his accession to the throne. His mother died shortly after his birth.
Daughters
Selim had at least four daughters:
*
Şah Sultan (Manisa, 1544 – Costantinople, 3 November 1580, buried in Zal Mahmud Paşa Mausoleum, Eyüp), daughter with Nurbanu Sultan, married firstly in 1562 to Çakırcıbaşı Hasan Pasha, married secondly in 1574 to Zal Mahmud Pasha;
*
Gevherhan Sultan (Manisa, 1544 or 1545 - Costantinople, after 1623, buried in Selim II Mausoleum, Hagia Sophia Mosque), daughter with Nurbanu Sultan, married firstly in 1562 to
Piyale Pasha, married secondly in 1579 to
Cerrah Mehmed Pasha
Cerrah Mehmed Pasha ( ota, جراح محمد پاشا; died January 1604, Istanbul) was an Ottoman statesman. He was grand vizier of the Ottoman Empire from 1598 to 1599.Uzunçarşılı, İsmail Hakkı, (1954) ''Osmanlı Tarihi III. Cilt, 2. Kı ...
;
*
Ismihan Sultan (Manisa, 1545 – Costantinople, 8 August 1585, buried in Selim II Mausoleum, Hagia Sophia Mosque), daughter with Nurbanu Sultan, married firstly in 1562 to
Sokollu Mehmed Pasha, married secondly in 1584 to Kalaylıkoz Ali Pasha;
*
Fatma Sultan (1559 – Costantinople, October 1580, buried in Selim II Mausoleum, Hagia Sophia Mosque), daughter with Nurbanu Sultan (disputed), married in 1573 to
Kanijeli Siyavuş Pasha
Kanijeli Siyavuş Pasha ( ota, کانیجلی سیاوش پاشا, sh, Sijavuš-paša Kanjižanin, died 1602, Istanbul) was an Ottoman statesman from the Sanjak of Bosnia. He was Grand Vizier between 24 December 1582 and 28 July 1584, 15 Apri ...
;
References
Sources
* Finkel, Caroline, ''Osman's Dream'', Basic Books, 2005.
*
*
*
Further reading
Ancestry of Sultana Nur-Banu (Cecilia Venier-Baffo)*
John Julius Norwich
John Julius Cooper, 2nd Viscount Norwich, (15 September 1929 – 1 June 2018), known as John Julius Norwich, was an English popular historian, travel writer, and television personality.
Background
Norwich was born at the Alfred House Nursing ...
, ''A History of Venice'' (1989),
External links
Selim II Tomb
ged 50
The General Educational Development (GED) tests are a group of four subject tests which, when passed, provide certification that the test taker has United States or Canadian high school-level academic skills. It is an alternative to the US high ...
{{Authority control
1524 births
1574 deaths
Royalty from Istanbul
16th-century Ottoman sultans
Suleiman the Magnificent
Ottoman people of the Ottoman–Persian Wars
Turks from the Ottoman Empire