Osman II, known as Young Osman, is the only sultan in the history of the state who was dethroned and murdered by the people he ruled. Young Osman, who came to the throne at a very young age, was dethroned in a short time and executed. Young Osman was brought up by receiving a high-level education in the palace. He learned Arabic, Persian, Italian and Greek languages. He is known as the most cultured and knowledgeable prince of the Ottoman Empire.
Young Osman had to take the throne at the age of 14 due to the death of his father Ahmet I. After his father’s death, his uncle Mustafa I took the throne first. However, since the first Mustafa was not mentally stable, he was dethroned and replaced by Young Osman. At that time, when a sultan came to the throne, he would distribute culus tips to the soldiers. When there was a change of sultan every three months, two tips were distributed in this short period of time. This had a negative impact on the state treasury.
Reasons Leading Young Osman to Death Step by Step:
When Young Osman ascended the throne, he dismissed the people assigned by his uncle and appointed others instead. This situation caused Young Osman to gain enemies in the palace. Just at this time, the Kazakhs invaded the Black Sea coasts and flocked to the Polish lands.
Young Osman started preparations for an expedition to Poland. While the preparations for the expedition were continuing, Young Osman had his brother, Prince Mehmet, whom he saw as his rival, strangled and killed. This execution event had a great impact in the society, and the people cursed Young Osman.
At the same time, there was a very severe snowstorm and an unbelievable cold. So much so that the sea is completely frozen, people can cross between Üsküdar and Beşiktaş on foot. Since no ship could enter the strait under these conditions, famine arose. People II. He began to believe that Osman was unlucky.
Despite all the negativities experienced, Young Osman did not give up on the expedition and waged a great struggle in Poland. The Ottoman army could not defeat the Polish soldiers definitively and ended the war by signing the Peace Treaty. After this time, Young Osman started to think that the janissaries were no longer useful and decided to change the military system. He even planned to abolish the Janissary Corps.
Young Osman, an innovative sultan, changed the custom of marrying concubines after the expedition; He married the daughter of Şeyhülislam Esad Efendi. In the same period, the sultan stated that he wanted to go on pilgrimage. This was the last straw. As a matter of fact, it was not considered appropriate for the sultans to leave their duties and go on pilgrimage at that time. It took about a few years for the Sultan to go to Hajj. This means that the state may be in danger. In addition, rumors spread among the people that the sultan would set up a new army in Anatolia, using the pretext of going on pilgrimage.
After all these experiences, Young Osman was declared as irreligious and dangerous. Janissary revolts, including the Ulema class, emerged. The rebels demanded the killing of several state officials, but the Sultan did not give it to the rebels. He also tore up the fatwa prepared by the ulema class.
Thereupon, the rebels who wanted to put Mustafa I on the throne raided the palace. On 20 May 1622, I. Mustafa was declared sultan by the rebels. Young Osman, who was detained, was dragged and brought before the public. Young Osman, who was subjected to various persecution and humiliation, was later taken to the Yedikule dungeons. He ended his life by being strangled in the dungeon. Young Osman, who was dethroned and ended his life at a young age, was buried next to the grave of his father Ahmet I.
