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This is a timeline which I was busy with since early November but I guess this is the time to post it. It is also my first timeline so no hurting of my feelings :p
This timeline is about Sehzade Mahmud, son of Mehmed III. It was said that he was a strong, skilled prince who should have succeed Mehmed III. But his mothers ambition and Safiye Sultans intriges got him Killed. Mehmed died the same year, leaving the throne for Ahmed I. In this case, Mehmed III still dies in 1603 but before the execution of Mahmud. Because I want to change the situation in 1603 a bit I start in 1566 with Selim II to have a less worse situation as Ahmed I faced.


When the first messenger arrived at Manisa from Suleimans Army, Selim rushed over to Konstantiniyye and ascend the throne. Suleiman I, the great Turk, has died during the siege of Szigetvar. Without staying in the capital to await the army Selim also set for Belgrad fortress where he is suppose to meet grandvizier Sokollu Mehmed Pasha and also let the military know that a new sultan has taken over, the start of a new era. The reign of Selim II. In 13 days, with only small rests Selim finally reached Belgrad fortress. At the time Selim arrived the Army crossed from Zemun to Belgrad. Sokollu Mehmed Pasha let the other Pasha control the cross of the Army over the Danube. Sokollu Mehmed Pasha has crossed as one of the first as grandvizier to talk with the new Sultan.

1566
By the time Selim arrived with the Army to Konstantiniyye, the people both mourned for the dead Sultan Suleiman as his funeral procession moved trough the city and celebrated the victory in Szigetvar with prayers. A great leader has died and the people expect much from the new sultan. After arriving, Selim let Mehmed Pasha continue as grandvizier of the state. Much to annoyance of Lala Kara Mustafa Pasha, the former tutor of Selims brother Bayezid whom he betrayed in favor of Selim. Piyale Pasha was to continue as the commander of the Naval forces as well. Grandvizier Mehmed Pasha adviced the Sultan against a new campaign against the Austrians. Selim, even though enthousiast of his fathers plan to sack Vienna an place it under his Hungarian vassals he decided to not continue the war. Selim is not the biggest fan of going to sieges but letting the Pasha's go alone will cause more unrest among the soldiers. By order of Sultan Selim he gave authority to Sokollu Mehmed Pasha to negiotiate with the Habsburg envoy. The Sultan will decide whether the terms will be agreed. The suggestion of Piyale Pasha was to secure the Medditeranean from the Christian fleets. One of the targets Piyale suggested was Tunis. The city in North Africa is under Spanish occupation and the conquest of the city will crush the morale of the Christian Navy. Selim agreed to such plans. Influenced by his sister Mihrimah Sultan to go for Naval campaigns. The Siege of Malta was suggested by Mihrimah to her Father Suleiman and she even financed a part of the campaign. Piyale Pasha was to prepare a campaign to take Tunis. He was allowed to appoint commanders to go. Within a few months Piyale Pasha has to present his plans to the Divan*
The first problem Selim faced in his reign was the Army. The Janissaries are not happy with the culus** they got from the new Sultan. The Janissary aga*** has complained to the grandvizier Mehmed Pasha. The Army is unhappy and Selim fears for riots in the city which he cannot face in the beginning of his reign. Listening to his grandvizier, Selim decided to give some rights to the Janissary Corps in order to halt the unhappiness. By the Sultans firman the Janissary Corps salary was slightly raised but were also allowed to marry. The latter decision was not seen as a good one by many Pasha's because the loyalty of the Corps might get lowered. Before this, the only family the Janissaries had were each other and the Sultan as their father figure. Without hesitating Selim gave firmans to for the new rights of the Corps.
Before the end of the year, Selim talked with Mehmed Pasha. With the Sultans order, Sokollu Mehmed Pasha got more rights as grandvizier. He has the authority to talk to envos and can enforce demands or allow treaties he thinks it is right to do. With Selim II reign, Sokollu Mehmed Pasha's era begun. The era of powerful grandvizier. The second after Pargali Ibrahim. But the first who has no strong Sultan to deal with.

*The Sultans council
**The salary the soldiers get after a new Sultan ascends the throne.

***Highest officer in the Janissary Corps.



The situation in the Kingdom of Hungary after the siege of Szigetvar (1566)
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