An everlasting empire finally crumbles.
Alas, all things that begin will eventually end.
But with every ending, there is scope for a new beginning.
Murad was born in 1404 to Mehmed. Mehmed was the son of Bayezid, the Ottoman Sultan who was captured by Timur in 1402. This led to a period of anarchy in the Sultanate. By 1413, Mehmed had managed to defeat his brothers and take over as Sultan of the entire Sultanate. 1/10

The Ottoman had Sultanate emerged in late 13th century after the Seljuk Sultanate of Rûm was defeated by the Mongols. Many beyliks rose up in the Anatolian peninsula, one among which was ruled by the ancestors of Bayezid, Mehmed and Murad. 2/10
In the 14th century, the Ottomans were able to take advantage of civil war in Constantinople to develop a base in Europe, eventually making Edirne in Europe their capital. Bayezid expanded into Europe defeating the Bulgars and enforced vassalage on Slavic principalities. 3/10

Sultan Bayezid also expanded into the Anatolian peninsula annexing other beyliks. Though his capture and death in captivity led to a brief reversal of fortunes, it began to stabilize once Mehmed overcame his brothers. However, Mehmed died in 1421. 4/10

Murad succeeded his father as Sultan, but it was not an easy succession. The Emperor of Constantinople, Manuel Palaiologos, intervened in Ottoman affairs by backing competitors to the throne. However, by 1425, Murad had overcome them and reimposed tribute on Constantinople. 5/10

Next, Sultan Murad beseiged Thessalonica. The Greek city had fallen to the Ottomans earlier but had been retaken by Constantinople after the disaster of 1402. By 1430, Thessalonica was back in Ottoman hands. However, the Ottomans now had other threats to face. 6/10

The Karamanids of Anatolia allied with the Serbs and the Hungarians in Europe against the Ottomans. The Ottomans were initially successful, but after the Holy Roman Empire and Poland came to back their fellow Europeans, Sultan Murad had to deal with defeats. 7/10

By 1443, Niš and Sofia had been retaken by the Europeans. After another defeat at Jalowaz in 1444, Sultan Murad made peace with his opponents and abdicated from the throne, leaving his 12 year old son, Mehmed, in charge. 8/10

Christendom amassed at Varna to push the Ottomans out of Europe. Led by the young Polish king Władisław and the Hungarian general János Hunyadi, the Christians got the initial advantage. But a rash assault by the king eventually led to a comprehensive victory for Murad. 9/10

Murad returned as Sultan in 1446. He led the Ottomans to victory against the Hungarians at Kosovo in 1448 and overcame the Timurids and the Karamanids in the east. He died in 1451 and was succeeded by his son, Mehmed, who went on to conquer Constantinople in 1453. 10/10

Originally tweeted by Ranjith Kollannur (@Arby_K) on December 30, 2022.
Murad, Ottoman Sultan (1421-1444, 1446-1451) – A period of consolidation for Ottoman presence in Europe and the setup of its eventual conquest of Constantinople, its capital for over 450 years.