Murat IV.

Sultan Murad IV was born in June 26, 1612 in Istanbul. His father is Sultan Ahmet I and his mother is Mahpeyker Kosem Sultana. His mother is Greek originated. Murad was a tall, huge man with a round face. He is one of the most powerful sultans of the Ottoman history. He was very good at archery. He was so intelligent, strong, courageous and energetic. He proved his strength in the wars he had taken place. Murad was a very religious man and he called the Seyhulislam Yahya Efendi (Minister of Religious Affairs) as "father". He had forbidden tobacco and alcohol. In his period to go out at nights was forbidden too. He had spoken Arabic and European languages. He was very fond of science and he encouraged the scientists for new inventions. For example; he supported Hazerfen Ahmet Celebi, who made first flight in the history by affixing wings. Ahmet Celebi flew from the Tower of Galata to Uskudar. Sultan Murad followed closely the circumstances around and he interfered if necessary. During his first years he reigned under the guardianship of his mother, afterwards he ended the sovereignty of women in the palace and he punished the disloyal and deceitful viziers. He tried to solve the problems of the empire. He reigned for 17 years but he died at the age of 28 because of an illness. His sovereign can be considered in two parts. He was ascended at the age of 11 and his mother Kosem Sultan ruled the country. Kosem Sultan and the viziers on her side had lynched Hafız Ahmet Pasha to the soldiers, in front of child sultan. This period was attended with great disasters. On the date he was enthroned the state administration was in a situation of corruption. Graft, bribing and favouritism prevailed in the country and it was almost impossible to execute state affairs. Wars continued with Persia in the East and Austria in the West. His first action was to take unnecessarily severe precautions in order to eliminate the violence and bribing within the state. He succeeded to annihilate perturbation in Istanbul and the provinces. He recovered the military discipline and ensured compliance with laws, ordinances and directives. He implemented the measures for the regular collection of taxes in order to increase the state's revenues and for avoiding fund shortage in the treasury arising out of unne- cessary expenditure. He used to go around in disguise when necessary and observed perturbations, undisciplined actions and irregularities; and personally punished the offenders. He has participated in wars and raised the morale of commanders and the soldiers in the trenches. He would never tolerate unfairness and disorder. The first Sovereign in our history. who has murdered a sheikhulislam was Sultan Murad iV Alcoholic drinks and tobacco ban was implemented during this period also. The peace and harmony in the Ottoman lands were completely lost and tyrants became the rulers of the cities. Murad took the authority in his adolescent and repressed all the tyrants, and he re-established the supremacy of Sultan. By prohibiting tobacco he assimilated the idles gathering in the taverns. He restored the judicial regulations by very strict punishments and even by many executions.