A Coup in Ottoman Empire And Its Analysis: Genç Osman Example

The New Order (Nizam-ı Cedit) movements started in period of Selim The third (III.Selim) of Otttoman sultans, is an important step taken toward westernization. Some sultans in last period of Ottoman Empire have also strived to take similar steps. There are records of initiation for reform movements even during period of Mustafa The Third (III.Mustafa), father of Selim The Third (III. Selim). When we went back to more in time, The Lale Devri (The Tulip Period) emerges. The Tulip Period (Lale Devri) despite the term being at the forefront of pleasure and deligth, some steps have been taken at this time in the direction of the westernization/renewal. The period of Sultan Osman The Second (II Osman) forms the first steps taken toward renewal. Unfortunately, an uprising movement has ended the mentioned period above. Both this first Ottoman innovation movement and the first Ottoman insurrection that terminated the innovation are of importance in terms of being sample for the next ones. After these events, most of the reform movements, which emerged in the Ottoman Empire, have shared the same fate as Genç Osman reform movement. Upon his uncle Mustafa The First (I. Mustafa) being jailed, Genç Osman (Young Othman) became the Ottoman Sultan, but Othman has soon attracted the wrath of Janissaries and the Ulema due to his tough attitude . This hatred increased in time when Sultan Othman personally assumed the supreme commander in chief of army and decided to go to Mecca for pilgimage and eventually turned into a rebellion. The coup that was started under the leadership of Janissary and Sipahi units, and the rebels, strengthened the next day with the participation of scholars, relied on the Palace’s door to inform their demands. Genç Osman (Young Othman) initially rejected the demands of the rebels, but he but was unable to sustain his attitude over the time. The rebels, at the end, entered the Palace, and have taken the Sultan’s uncle Mustafa The first (I. Mustafa) out of his seclusion and declared him as new Ottoman Sultan. Meantime, Genç Osman (Young Othman) was lock up into Yedikule Dungeons and killed there. Genç Osman is the first Ottoman sultan killed as a result of a revolution.

Keywords

Genç Osman, Innovation, Reform Movements, Modernization, Revolution.