Murad III

Sultan Murad III was born on 4 July 1546 on the Bozdağ plateau near Manisa. His father was Selim II, his mother Afife Nur Banu Sultan. He was a sultan of middle height with a rounded face, a light brown beard, hazel eyes and a fair complexion. He was very generous and greatly liked to help people.

A man of compassionate character, Murad III had learned Arabic and Persian to a high standard. When his father was moved in 1558 from the governorship of Manisa to that of Karaman, his grandfather Süleyman the Magnificent appointed him governor of Alaşehir. After his father Selim II became sultan he was again appointed to the governorship of Manisa.

During his years as prince at Manisa he took lessons from the most distinguished scholars of the age; he is among the most learned of Ottoman sultans. On the death of his father he came from Manisa to Istanbul and ascended the throne on 22 December 1574. Like his father, however, he did not involve himself greatly in affairs of state. The bureaucracy and the government were run chiefly by Sokollu Mehmed Pasha — a result both of Sokollu's experience and capacity and of Murad III's manner of ruling.

Murad III never left Istanbul during his reign and remained under the influence of the women of the palace. The "sultanate of women", which would shape an era of the Ottoman state in later years, began in his time. Having come to the throne at twenty-nine and reigned for twenty years, he suffered a stroke and died on 16 January 1595. He was buried in the courtyard of Hagia Sophia.

In the reign of Murad III, over which Sokollu Mehmed Pasha cast his weight, Ottoman territory reached its greatest extent. He raised the 15,162,151 km² he inherited from his father Selim II to 19,902,000 km². Friendly relations were also developed with the English.

The first permanent English ambassador was sent in his time. Relations with Protestant England were cultivated against any crusading alliance the Pope might build in Catholic Europe; the Netherlands was later brought into that alliance. Under Murad III, who left affairs of state to Sokollu, the women of the palace began to intervene a great deal in government — a situation that grew still stronger after Sokollu's death.

• Daughters: Ayşe Sultan, Fatma Sultan, Mihrimah Sultan, Fahriye Sultan

Source: Osmanlı Tarihi Interaktif CD-ROM (Türk Tarih Kurumu Yayınları XXXI. Dizi-Sa.2)