Analysis of the reasons for the execution of Prince Mustafa
The history of Prince Mustafa, heir of the Ottoman dynasty, being executed by the order of his father, Suleiman the Magnificent, remains a subject of deep analysis among historians. This was reported by Upl.uz.
This event, one of the most tragic incidents in the dynasty's history, raises fundamental questions about state power, loyalty, and state necessity. The boundaries between palace intrigue and treason against the state are very delicate and require detailed study.
By the mid-16th century, Prince Mustafa had gained unparalleled prestige. Governing his province—the sanjak—he earned strong loyalty not only among the common people but also within the army elite.
The Janissaries and sipahis regarded him as the worthy heir of the aging sultan. Their demands to appoint Mustafa as commander in the upcoming Persian campaign reached the central government as political pressure.
Amid rumors of Suleiman’s deteriorating health, Prince Mustafa’s popularity created a dangerous situation, yet no open calls for rebellion emerged. The tragedy began with an operation orchestrated by Grand Vizier Rustem Pasha.
As a loyal ally of the sultan’s son-in-law and wife, Hürrem Sultan, he prepared a forged letter from Mustafa to the Persian Shah Tahmasp. In this letter, Mustafa proposed an alliance against the sultan.
A forged reply letter was also presented. These two documents served to justify accusations of treason against Suleiman and led to the death sentence.
Mustafa’s own actions were not entirely positive either. Claims that he exchanged letters with the Austrian ambassador in 1541 were not confirmed by reliable archives.
However, his illegal acts such as growing a beard were recorded. According to Ottoman court protocol, a prince could not grow a beard until ascending the throne, as the beard symbolized the sultan’s sovereignty.
Mustafa’s beard growth was perceived as a political protest. Many historians consider this act not as personal arrogance but as a political demonstration against Hürrem Sultan and Rustem Pasha’s attempts to place their sons on the throne.
There was no way to lose in this situation. Despite the forged evidence prepared by Rustem Pasha, Mustafa’s influence within the army worried Suleiman.
The country was close to civil war. According to Ottoman laws, even without open rebellion, the highest punishment was applied if there was a threat to state stability.
In an absolute monarchy, such measures were necessary for the survival of the state. After Mustafa’s execution, as discontent within the army grew, the truth about the forged letters began to emerge, but Rustem Pasha was not punished.
He was temporarily removed from office and exiled, which demonstrates how strong his and Hürrem Sultan’s political control in the palace was. Later, they also succeeded in having another grand vizier, Kara Ahmed Pasha, executed.
Prince Mustafa was not directly a traitor; he did not take up arms against his father nor ally with the enemy. However, his popularity and political actions made him a threat to the sultan’s authority.
According to many historians, the main cause of instability during this period was not Mustafa but the intense efforts of Hürrem Sultan and her children to secure the throne. This struggle led not only to Mustafa’s death but also to the demise of many loyal state figures and ultimately contributed to the weakening of the empire in the long term.
