Ottoman Sultan-Caliph Murad Han IV (reign 1632-1640) took the throne at the most chaotic time in Ottoman history when corruption & anarchy peaked. The Sultanic authority was nill.
In just 8 years of absolute rule, Murad was able to quash the corruption, defeat 25,000 Jesuit backed rebels, and reconquer Baghdad from Safavids in a stunning 39 day campaign led by himself. This is a proof of his military genius.
Another astonishing fact is that-unlike other Ottoman Sultans-Murad IV had no prior experience of ruling a Sanjak (province) and was aged around 20 when he assumed for control of the state.
Caliph Murad IV outlawed immunity. He punished scores of corrupt judges and scholars alike by breaking the status quo. During his rule, Shaykh ul Islam Ahizade Effendi broke his oath by conspiring with rebels. He was sentenced to death by Caliph Murad IV!
He passed away at the age of 27. Nonetheless, Murad IV was surely a great spiritual and political reformer of the Ottoman state whose legacy cannot be exagerrated. His reforms stabilised Ottoman state and halted the collapse for few centuries.
Sources: Research paper “Intelligence and Security in Ottoman state under Murad IV” by Panteleimon Roberts. Taken from Academia
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