Mehmed I

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Mehmed I Çelebi (nicknamed Kirisci, "the Executioner") (1389 – May 26, 1421) (Arabic: محمد الأول) was a sultan of the Ottoman Empire. He was one of the sons of Beyazid I.

After the Ottoman Interregnum, when Mehmed stood as victor in 1413, he crowned himself sultan in Adrianople (Edirne). He restored the empire, moved the capitol from Bursa to Adrianople, and conquered parts of Albania, the Turkish emirate Candaroglu, and the Christian Kingdom of Cilicia. However, as part of the alliance, Mehmed recognized the Byzantine Emperor as his "father and overlord" and remained uncharacteristically loyal—which must count as the last diplomatic triumph of the Byzantine Empire. Mehmed died in 1421.

Green Mosque

Mehmet I was forty-seven years of age at the time of his death; and his reign, as Sultan of the re-united empire, had lasted only eight years. But he had been an independent prince for nearly the whole preceding period of eleven years that passed between his father’s captivity at Angora and his own final victory over his brother Musa at Chamurli. For nineteen years, therefore was a ruler over his people; and his memory is still deservedly cherished and honoured among them. He was buried in Bursa, in a mausoleum erected by himself near the celebrated mosque which he built there, and which, from its decorations of green porcelain, is called the Green Mosque. This edifice is said to be the most beautiful specimen of Saracenie architecture and carving that is in existence. Mahomet I. also completed the vast and magnificent mosque at Bursa, which his grandfather Murat I. had commenced, but which had been neglected during in reign of Beyazit. It is deserving of mention that Mehmet founded in the vicinity of his own mosque and mausoleum two characteristic institutions, one a school, and one a refectory for the poor both of which he endowed with royal munificence. The reign of this Sultan is cited by Von Hammer as the period total taste for literature and fondness for poetry first prevailed among the Ottomans. He was a liberal patron of intellectual merit; and the name of an early literary Turkish politician, Mehiri, is preserved in hononrable reputation for having, while Mehmet was Governor of Amasya, and Sehiri his Defterdar or Chancelor of the Exchequer, inspired the young prince with an enduring zeal for the advancement of literature and art, and for the generous patronage of their professors.

Reference

• Incorporates text from "History of Ottoman Turks" (1878)

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