Ottoman Empire

Ottoman (Ottoman) empire, whose history began from the 14th century (from the time of Byzantium decline), was formed in Anatolia by the tribes of the Turks. The state existed until 1922, when the Turkish Republic was formed. The Ottoman Empire is named after the first sultan, the founder of the Osman dynasty.

At the beginning of the reign, the Sultan expanded his lot by adding territories from the Marmara and Black Sea, a significant part of the land to the west of the Sakarya River.

After the death of Osman, Orhan ascended to the throne. During the years of his reign, the capital of the state, Bursa (the former Byzantine city), was approved.

After Orhan, his eldest son Murad 1 became the ruler. This great statesman managed to strengthen the presence of troops of his state in Europe. Murad 1 in 1389 defeated the Serbian prince on Kosovo Field. As a result of this battle, the Ottoman Empire acquired much of the southern territory of the Danube.

The system of state government in the country was built on a combination of Byzantine, Seljuk and Arab traditions and customs. On the lands that the Ottomans conquered, they tried to preserve as far as possible local traditions, not to destroy the historically established relations.

The territory of the Ottoman Empire expanded during the reign of Murad's son 1, Bayazid 1. The most significant victory was the battle of Nikopol in 1396 (on the Danube). However, despite external prosperity, the Ottoman Empire was experiencing quite serious difficulties, both external and internal. Mainly, the manner of the governor's behavior, his huge harem, and the exquisite ceremonies in the palace caused irritation among many gazis. In addition, Bayazid's campaigns against Muslims and other gazi in Asia Minor also provoked concern . As a result, most of the local Beys went over to Tamerlane and were persuaded to start a war against the Ottoman ruler.

As a result of the battle in 1402, the army of Bayazid was defeated, and the ruler himself was captured. The Ottoman Empire was fragmented due to the subsequent campaigns of Tamerlane. However, the sultans retained power over certain territories of the country.

During the 15th century, the Ottoman state pursued a policy of internal reorganization and external expansion and strengthening of borders.

The "golden" for the empire was the 16th century. During this period Suleiman 1 ruled the country, which attached great importance to strengthening the sea power of the state. The middle of the 16th century became the blossoming of architecture and literature.

In the Ottoman Empire at that time feudal relations dominated, and the military organization and administrative system were structured by the legislation.

It should be noted that after this time (after the reign of Suleiman 1), most of the sultans turned out to be rather weak rulers. At the beginning of the 17th century, the government reform was carried out. Earlier in the empire there was a rather cruel tradition - the Sultan who came to the throne killed all his brothers. Since 1603, the brothers of the rulers and their relatives were imprisoned in a special, remote part of the palace, where they spent their entire lives, until the death of the ruler. When the Sultan died, the oldest of the prisoners came to his place. As a result, virtually all the sultans who reigned in the 17th and 18th centuries were not intellectually developed and, of course, had no political experience. Due to the fact that there was no worthy ruler, the huge country began to lose its unity, and the government itself began to weaken very quickly.

As a result, the Ottoman Empire in the 18th century lost most of its power in the Mediterranean Sea. The conclusion of the Seven Years' War provoked new attacks on the state. Thus, the empire acquired, in addition to the old enemy of Austria, a new enemy - Russia.