Who was Suleiman The Magnificent? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Also Known As: Suleiman I, Suleiman the Lawgiver, Süleyman Şah bin Selim Şah Han

Died At Age: 71

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Hürrem Sultan (also known as Roxelana), Mahidevran

mother: Hafsa Sultan

children: killed by his brother Selim with the support of his father in 1561), killed in 1553 on the Sultan's orders), Mihrimah Sultan (1522-1578), Raziye Sultan, Şehzade Abdullah (born 1523 - 1525), Şehzade Bayezid (born 1525, Şehzade Cihangir (1531-1553), Şehzade Mehmed (1521-1543), Şehzade Mustafa (born 1515, Sultan Selim II (1524-1574)

Born Country: Turkey

Emperors & Kings Turkish Men

Died on: September 6, 1566

place of death: Szigetvár, Hungary

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1

What were the major military accomplishments of Suleiman The Magnificent?

Suleiman The Magnificent's major military accomplishments include the conquest of Belgrade, the Siege of Rhodes, the Battle of Mohács, and the successful campaigns against the Safavids and the Mamluks.
2

What was the significance of the Siege of Vienna during Suleiman The Magnificent's reign?

The Siege of Vienna in 1529, marked an unsuccessful attempt by Suleiman The Magnificent to capture the city, which ultimately halted the Ottoman advance into Europe and solidified the Habsburgs' control in the region.
3

How did Suleiman The Magnificent contribute to the cultural and architectural development of the Ottoman Empire?

Suleiman The Magnificent was known for his patronage of the arts and architecture, commissioning several iconic structures such as the Süleymaniye Mosque in Istanbul, which became symbols of Ottoman architectural prowess.
4

What were some of the key reforms implemented by Suleiman The Magnificent during his rule?

Suleiman The Magnificent introduced several administrative and legal reforms known as the Kanun-i Osmani, which aimed to streamline the Ottoman bureaucracy, enhance the legal system, and improve governance within the empire.
5

How did Suleiman The Magnificent's rule impact the Ottoman Empire's expansion and territorial acquisitions?

Under Suleiman The Magnificent's rule, the Ottoman Empire expanded its territories significantly, reaching its greatest extent in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East through successful military campaigns and strategic alliances.

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Childhood & Early Life

Suleiman I was presumably born on November 6, 1494, in Trabzon, Ottoman Empire to Şehzade Selim, who later became Sultan Selim I, and his wife, Hafsa Sultan, a converted Muslim, as their only son.

When he was seven years old he was sent to the regal schools of the ‘Topkapı Palace’ in Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul) where he studied literature, history, science, military tactics and theology.

In his youth he became friend with a slave Pargalı Ibrahim. Ibrahim later emerged as one of the most trustworthy advisors of Suleiman I who inducted him as the first Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire during the latter’s reign.

During the rule of Bayezid II, Suleiman I’s grandfather, he was made the sancak beyi (governor) of Kaffa in Crimea at the age of seventeen. He also became the governor of Manisa during his father’s reign.

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Accession

After his father’s death on September 21/22, 1520, he became the tenth Sultan of the Ottoman Empire on September 30, 1520.

According to the Venetian envoy Bartolomeo Contarini, 'Suleiman was friendly, good humoured, enjoyed reading, knowledgeable and made good judgments'.

According to some sources, he was an admirer of Alexander the Great and was inspired by the latter’s vision of developing a world empire comprising the West and the East.

Campaigns & Conquests

His early crusades saw him personally leading the Ottoman army to vanquish the Christian strongholds in the Mediterranean and central Europe. These included invasion of Belgrade in 1521 and Rhodes in 1522.

He also conquered most of Hungary in the Battle of Mohács, one of the most significant battles in the history of Central Europe that took place on August 29, 1526.

He defeated the Hungarian King, Louis II, in the Battle of Mohács and after childless Louis II was killed in the battle, his brother-in-law, Archduke Ferdinand I of Austria, claimed the vacant throne of Hungary and succeeded in winning recognition from western Hungary.

On the other hand, a noble, John Zápolya, who also claimed the throne, was recognized as a vassal king of Hungary by Suleiman I. Thus, by 1529, Hungary was divided into Habsburg Hungary and the Eastern-Kingdom of Hungary.

Suleiman I’s first attempt to conquer the Austrian city of Vienna in what is famous as the ‘Siege of Vienna’ that occurred from September 27 to October 15, 1529, was an indication of supreme helm of the Ottoman Empire as well as the extent of its expansion in central Europe.

Christian Coalition victory concluded the siege with Suleiman I failing to conquer Vienna in the face of resistance from the Christians complimented with bad weather, inadequacy of supplies and bogged down war equipments.

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He met with same fate while making his second attempt in overtaking Vienna in the Siege of Güns that occurred from August 5 to August 30, 1532.

Meanwhile, he focussed on the ongoing threat inflicted by the Persian Shi'a Safavid dynasty. Two incidents triggered conflicts between the two empires - assassination of Baghdad governor, who was loyal to Suleiman I, on the order of Shah Tahmasp, and change of loyalty of governor of Bitlis towards Safavids.

The first campaign between the two Iraqs saw Suleiman I ordering Grand Vizier Pargalı Ibrahim Pasha in 1533, to attack Safavid Iraq resulting in recapture of Bitlis and capture of Tabriz. Pasha was then joined by Suleiman I in 1534, that resulted into the capture of Baghdad by the Ottomans.

His reign saw dominance of Ottoman navy in the Persian Gulf, Red Sea and the Mediterranean. In 1538, Khayr al-Dīn, famous as Barbarossa in the West, was made admiral or kapudan of the Ottoman fleet, succeeded in winning the Battle of Preveza against the Spanish navy. This helped them in securing eastern Mediterranean for the next three decades till 1571, when they faced defeat at the Battle of Lepanto.

The far-reaching strength of the Ottoman navy was palpable from the fleet it sent from Egypt to India to capture the town of Diu from the Portuguese in September 1538, during the Siege of Diu for re-establishing trade with India. However, their attempt remained unsuccessful.

Admirals of his empire like Kurtoğlu Hızır Reis, Seydi Ali Reis and Hadim Suleiman Pasha travelled to the regal ports of the Mughal Empire, such as Janjira, Surat and Thatta. Suleiman I was also known to have exchanged six documents with Mughal Emperor Akbar the Great.

Following John’s demise in 1540, the Austrian forces made attempts to advance into central Hungary in 1541, to lay siege to Buda. In retaliation, two successive campaigns were laid by Suleiman I in 1541 and 1544. This led to the division of Hungary into Habsburg Royal Hungary, Ottoman Hungary and the semi-independent Principality of Transylvania, a division that remained till 1700.

Subdued by the power of Suleiman I, Charles V and Ferdinand were compelled to sign a humiliating 5 year treaty with him.

A second campaign was undertaken by Suleiman I against Shah Tahmasp during 1548-1549 that resulted in Suleiman I making temporary gains in Persian ruled Armenia and Tabriz; making an enduring presence in the Van Province; and dominating over some forts in Georgia and the western part of Azerbaijan.

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While such campaigns were on, Shah Tahmasp remained elusive and resorted to scorched earth strategy.

In 1551, he conquered Tripoli in North Africa and succeeded in retaining it from a strong Spanish campaign in 1560.

Suleiman I embarked on his third and last campaign against Tahmasp in 1553, that saw him losing and then regaining Erzurum. His campaign concluded after he signed the ‘Peace of Amasya’ treaty with Tahmasp on May 29, 1555.

The treaty saw him returning Tabriz but retaining Baghdad, a portion of the Persian Gulf coast, the mouths of the Tigris and Euphrates, western Georgia, western Armenia and lower Mesopotamia. The Shah, on the other hand, made a promise to stop raids in the Ottoman territory.

Reforms

A true warrior, Suleiman I was also famous as the Kanuni Suleiman or "The Lawgiver" to his own people. He introduced significant reforms in legislation covering areas like taxation, land tenure and criminal law in a way that these harmonise the association between the Islamic law or Sharia and the regal law or Kanun of the Ottomans.

He was a promoter of education and built several mektebs or primary schools during his rule. The Ottoman civilisation under the patronage of Suleiman I, who was a distinguished poet himself, reached its pinnacle in the realms of art, literature, architecture, theology, philosophy, education and law.

Personal Life & Legacy

He married one of his Harem women, Hürrem Sultan, going against the established traditions, in 1531.

He had six sons and two daughters of whom his only living son at the time of his demise on September 6, 1566, Selim II, succeeded him to the throne. Among his other sons, Mehmed died of small pox, while Mustafa and Bayezid were killed on his order.

Facts About Suleiman The Magnificent

Suleiman the Magnificent was an accomplished poet and wrote under the pen name "Muhibbi," meaning "Lover" in Arabic.

He had a great love for animals and maintained a royal menagerie that included exotic creatures such as lions, tigers, and bears.

Suleiman was known for his exquisite taste in clothing and jewelry, often wearing lavish garments adorned with precious gemstones.

He was a skilled calligrapher and had a deep appreciation for the art form, commissioning many beautiful manuscripts during his reign.

Suleiman had a keen interest in architecture and oversaw the construction of many notable buildings, including mosques, palaces, and bridges, leaving a lasting legacy in the Ottoman Empire.

Suleiman The Magnificent Biography

You wanted to know

What were the major military accomplishments of Suleiman The Magnificent?

What was the significance of the Siege of Vienna during Suleiman The Magnificent's reign?

How did Suleiman The Magnificent contribute to the cultural and architectural development of the Ottoman Empire?

What were some of the key reforms implemented by Suleiman The Magnificent during his rule?

How did Suleiman The Magnificent's rule impact the Ottoman Empire's expansion and territorial acquisitions?