WI : Sudden death of the Mehmed II and family in 1454.

So whilst there were civil wars during the Ottoman Empire, they were typically brothers duking it out for control. All in all, I can't recall a single instance of a genuine lack of a successor.

So what if that happened? Say in the new years celebrations in 1454, or some event, the Ottoman dynasty is obliterated (after executing Orhan Celebi). What would happen to the Ottoman Empire in that circumstance?
 
So whilst there were civil wars during the Ottoman Empire, they were typically brothers duking it out for control. All in all, I can't recall a single instance of a genuine lack of a successor.

So what if that happened? Say in the new years celebrations in 1454, or some event, the Ottoman dynasty is obliterated (after executing Orhan Celebi). What would happen to the Ottoman Empire in that circumstance?
As far as lack of successors are concerned, there was one instance where that was almost the case. During the latter part of Murad IV's reign it was rumored that while on his deathbed that he had ordered the execution of his brother Ibrahim. If the order had been followed then the house of Giray was next in line, IIRC. I believe that would be the case in this situation as well.
 
As far as lack of successors are concerned, there was one instance where that was almost the case. During the latter part of Murad IV's reign it was rumored that while on his deathbed that he had ordered the execution of his brother Ibrahim. If the order had been followed then the house of Giray was next in line, IIRC. I believe that would be the case in this situation as well.

Aren't the House of Giray unattached to the Ottomans at this point? After all, Menli Giray hasn't even been born.
 
I may have mixed up names and timeframes then due to not having my laptop or books with me.

I am curious as to how it is managed for the whole Ottoman dynasty to be eliminated during this time frame.
 
Given that the Girays had yet aligned themselves with the Ottoman Empire, the Ottoman throne would probably go to some of the prominent Turkish aristocratic families firmly established like the Turahanoglu. There were already converts amongst the old Palaiologos and Angeloi dynasties who'd be willing to crown themselves Sultan (and Roman Emperor) for that matter.
 
Given that the Girays had yet aligned themselves with the Ottoman Empire, the Ottoman throne would probably go to some of the prominent Turkish aristocratic families firmly established like the Turahanoglu. There were already converts amongst the old Palaiologos and Angeloi dynasties who'd be willing to crown themselves Sultan (and Roman Emperor) for that matter.
Wouldn't it just be a free for all between all the provincial governors?
 
Wouldn't it just be a free for all between all the provincial governors?

True but Mahmud Pasha Angelovic was married to one of Sultan Mehmed's daughters. The provincial governors would probably pay respect to someone with (by marriage) relations to both the suddenly deceased Ottoman dynasty and blood ties to the Angeloi dynasty of Byzantium. Another choice would be the Candarli family whose members held the position of Grand Vizier. In fact if Mehmed and his family dies suddenly, Candarli Halil Pasha would be in a good position to become the de jure head of the empire (he held significant influence over Mehmed in his younger days and even had the teenage sultan overthrown and replaced by his father).
 
So whilst there were civil wars during the Ottoman Empire, they were typically brothers duking it out for control. All in all, I can't recall a single instance of a genuine lack of a successor.

So what if that happened? Say in the new years celebrations in 1454, or some event, the Ottoman dynasty is obliterated (after executing Orhan Celebi). What would happen to the Ottoman Empire in that circumstance?

Somehow they all caught the plague, the end.

Some other Turkmen dynasty, possibly the Dulkadiroglu, will take over the empire.
 
The Plague idea is terrifying. Although, it creates an interesting set of circumstances for anyone living on islands *cough* knights *cough* venice *cough* genoa *cough*

A plague like that, so soon after the capture of Constantinople could be sign as a sign from God - 1/4 of the people who conquered the city of the worlds desire? Dead? I could see a Catholic power trying to step in and take advantage of the chaos. I doubt the Greeks could, unless it doesn't hit them as hard.

Hungarian-Italian Crusade for Constantinople anyone? :D

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A serious question though, why would the Dulkadiroglu take over? Is this just "Someone wins the power struggle" or "During the infighting, other dynasties took a cut of the pie"? In which case, the Empire may well end - functionally, with the Turks infighting for a few decades or longer to establish control over Anatolia.
 
Goodness, there goes about 25% of the population of Turkey.

So basically the Dulkadir take over Turkey and the Balkans, right? Would they prove any more/less successful than the Ottomans, down the line?

The Dulkadir family gets the throne of the Ottomans. This means the Ottoman lands will be ruled by Dulkadiroglu dynasty, possibly from Constantinople. And to assert control over the empire the new ruler will have to adapt to the Ottoman military and politics if it doesn't want to lose to pretenders. Example: it will be the same empire as we know it but with a different dynasty.
 
The Plague idea is terrifying. Although, it creates an interesting set of circumstances for anyone living on islands *cough* knights *cough* venice *cough* genoa *cough*

A plague like that, so soon after the capture of Constantinople could be sign as a sign from God - 1/4 of the people who conquered the city of the worlds desire? Dead? I could see a Catholic power trying to step in and take advantage of the chaos. I doubt the Greeks could, unless it doesn't hit them as hard.

Hungarian-Italian Crusade for Constantinople anyone? :D

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A serious question though, why would the Dulkadiroglu take over? Is this just "Someone wins the power struggle" or "During the infighting, other dynasties took a cut of the pie"? In which case, the Empire may well end - functionally, with the Turks infighting for a few decades or longer to establish control over Anatolia.

Crusade nr. 12371343

Goddamn... Even a 15th century Pope can't come up with this XP
 
Ohhh yes. But which parts of Italy do you have in mind?

The one that actually can field 'big' armies. Naples for one has also Aragon to support...

But as far as I know it the Pan-European crusader mentality is by then gone. It is mostly regional alliances (Poland-Hungary-Walachia or Venice, Knights, Papal States, Naples)
 

Deleted member 97083

The Plague idea is terrifying. Although, it creates an interesting set of circumstances for anyone living on islands *cough* knights *cough* venice *cough* genoa *cough*

A plague like that, so soon after the capture of Constantinople could be sign as a sign from God - 1/4 of the people who conquered the city of the worlds desire? Dead? I could see a Catholic power trying to step in and take advantage of the chaos. I doubt the Greeks could, unless it doesn't hit them as hard.

Hungarian-Italian Crusade for Constantinople anyone? :D

---

A serious question though, why would the Dulkadiroglu take over? Is this just "Someone wins the power struggle" or "During the infighting, other dynasties took a cut of the pie"? In which case, the Empire may well end - functionally, with the Turks infighting for a few decades or longer to establish control over Anatolia.
Since there was still a decent pastoralist population in Anatolia, Ottomans settled tribal Turks in Bulgaria, and in general the Ottoman empire had a relatively low population density, then a plague would probably make the Ottomans stronger compared to the Greeks and Venetians.

At least in this early period. Later on, constant plague weakened the Ottoman Balkans, but in this early era everyone's medicine and urban planning is equivalent in that region.
 
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