Ottoman Empire

The Ottoman Empire (sometimes referred to in diplomatic circles as the "Sublime Port" or simply as "the Porte") comprised a state established by the Turkish tribe of Söğüt in western Anatolia in the early 14th century. The founder was Osman I (in Arabic ʿUthmān, hence the name Ottoman Empire). As sultan Mehmed II conquered Constantinople (Istanbul) in 1453, and the state grew into a mighty empire. The Empire reached its apex under Suleiman the Magnificent in the 16th century when it stretched from the Persian Gulf in the east to Hungary in the northwest; and from Egypt in the south to the Caucasus in the north.

In the 17th century the Ottoman Empire began a long decline, which ended four years after the defeat of the empire by the Allies in World War I.

The following were the sultans of the Ottoman Empire:

• Osman I (1299-1326)
• Orhan I (1326-1359)
• Murad I (1359-1389)
• Beyazid I (1389-1402)
• Mehmed I (1403-1421)
• Murad II (1421-1451)
• Mehmed II (the Conqueror) (1451-1481)
• Beyazid II (1481-1512)
• Selim I (1512-1520)
• Suleiman I (the Magnificient) (1520-1566)
• Selim II (1566-1574)
• Murat III (1574-1595)
• Mehmed III (1595-1603)
• Ahmed I (1603-1617)
• Mustafa I (1617-1618)
• Osman II (1618-1622)
• Mustafa I (1622-1623)
• Murat IV (1623-1640)
• Ibrahim I (1640-1648)
• Mehmed IV (1648-1687)
• Suleiman II (1687-1691)
• Ahmed II (1691-1695)
• Mustafa II (1695-1703)
• Ahmed III (1703-1730)
• Mahmud I (1730-1754)
• Osman III (1754-1757)
• Mustafa III (1757-1774)
• Abd-ul-Hamid I (1774-1789)
• Selim III (1789-1807)
• Mustafa IV (1807-1808)
• Mahmud II (1808-1839)
• Abd-ul-Mejid (1839-1861)
• Abd-ul-Aziz (1861-1876)
• Murat V (1876)
• Abd-ul-Hamid II (1876-1909)
• Mehmed V (Resad) (1909-1918)
• Mehmed VI (Vahdettin) (1918-1922)

See also: Evliya Celebi, Osmanli, Janissary