Murad III

Murad III was the sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1574 to 1595. He was the eldest son of Sultan Selim II and Nurbanu Sultan, a Venetian-born concubine. He inherited the throne after his father's death and ordered the execution of his five younger brothers to eliminate any rivals. He never left Istanbul during his entire reign and spent most of his time in the palace, surrounded by his mother and his harem. He was influenced by his favorite wife, Safiye Sultan, who often interfered in the affairs of the state. He also faced opposition from the powerful Grand Vizier Sokollu Mehmed Pasha, who was assassinated in 1579. Murad III continued the military expansion of his predecessors and fought wars against the Safavid Empire in Iran and the Habsburg Empire in Europe. He also annexed Fez from the Portuguese in 1578 and made Morocco a vassal state for a brief period. He tried to form an alliance with England against Spain, and established diplomatic relations with Queen Elizabeth I. He also extended the Ottoman influence on the eastern coast of Africa and supported the Barbary pirates against the Christian powers. Murad III was a patron of the arts and culture, and commissioned many works of literature, architecture, and painting. He supported the Society of Miniaturists and ordered the creation of the Siyer-i-Nebi, a biography of the Prophet Muhammad with 814 miniatures. He also contributed to the Kitabü'l-Menamat, a book of dreams and interpretations. He was fond of reading and writing, and had a large library in his palace. He was also interested in astrology and alchemy, and collected many manuscripts and instruments on these subjects. Murad III died of apoplexy at the age of 48 in the Topkapı Palace and was buried in a tomb next to the Hagia Sophia. He was succeeded by his son Mehmed III, who also killed his 19 brothers to secure his throne. Murad III left behind a large and diverse legacy, but also a weakened and corrupted empire that faced many challenges in the following centuries.