14. Codifying the Tradition of Ottoman Fratricide
Sultan Bayezid I’s execution of his younger brother upon ascending the throne kicked off an Ottoman tradition that lasted for centuries. In what came to be known as Ottoman Fratricide, each new sultan started off his reign by ordering the execution of all his brothers, as well as other male relatives who might claim the throne. Sultan Mehmed II the Conqueror (1432 – 1481) is credited with formalizing that tradition by codifying the practice of royal fratricide into Ottoman legislation.
He enacted a Law of Governance that stated in relevant part: “Any of my sons who ascends the throne, it is acceptable for him to kill his brothers for the common benefit of the people. The majority of the ulema [Muslim scholars] approve this; let action be taken accordingly“. Mehmed II’s successors heeded his advice to maintain the realm’s stability by preemptively executing their brothers upon ascending the throne. It was extreme and cruel, but it worked: for two centuries, the Ottoman Empire was remarkably stable and free of infighting and civil wars when compared to its contemporaries.