History of Suleiman the Magnificent

Gokce Nacar

Dec 16 2227 read

History of Suleiman the Magnificent

Suleiman, also known as Suleiman the Magnificent, was the tenth Sultan of the Ottoman Empire. His reign started in 1520, until his death. His reign was the longest in the history of the Ottoman Empire. During his reign, the Empire ruled over around 25 million people.

Early Life

Suleiman, I was born in Trabzon on 6 November 1494. He was the son of Sultan Selim I and Hafsa Sultan who died in 1534. When he was 7, Suleiman began his studies on science, history, literature, theology, and military tactics in the school of Topkapı Palace. He was also fluent in languages such as Arabic, Ottoman Turkish, Serbian, Farsi, Urdu, and more. He admired Alexander the Great in his youth, and later on, his actions were inspired by him.

Accession

When he was 26 years old, in 1520, his father Selim I died and he ascended to the throne as the tenth Sultan of the Ottoman Empire. His mother, Hafsa Sultan served as a coregent. He started his plan of military conquest. During his reign, his army conquered parts of Hungary and Romania.

Conquests

Suleiman started preparations for the Conquest of Belgrade from the Kingdom of Hungary, which fell in August 1521, and Rhodes in 1522, forcing the Knights of St. John to leave Malta. His conquests continued swiftly with Buda (Budin) in 1529, and Vienna in the same year, Transylvania in 1562. His domain extended to the eastward and into Egypt and Persia.

Personal Life

Suleiman the Magnificent had 2 known consorts, which are Mahidevran and Hurrem Sultan who was known as Suleiman’s favorite. Mahidevran Sultan was the mother of Şehzade Mustafa. And Hurrem Sultan also called Roxelana, was the main consort and wife of the Suleiman I. He had several children, Şehzade Mahmud, Şehzade Mustafa, Şehzade Murad, Şehzade Mehmed, Şehzade Abdullah, Sultan Selim II, Şehzade Bayezid and Şehzade Cihangir; and the daughters, Mihrimah Sultan, Ayşe Hümaşah Sultan, Raziye Sultan, and the one unknown daughter who died in her childhood.

Death

In 1576, Suleiman I, being 71 years old, led his army against Hungary, as a final expedition. The Ottomans won the battle on September 8, 1566, but Suleiman the Magnificent died because of a heart attack on the previous day. His death was kept as a secret for a month. His body was prepared to transport Constantinople. To protect it from corruption, his heart and the other organs were removed and also buried in Hungary. He was a loved Sultan by his people.