Mehmed IV Giray
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| Mehmed IV Giray | |
|---|---|
| Khan of the Tatar Crimean Khanate (1st reign) | |
| Reign | 1641–1644 |
| Predecessor | Bahadır I Giray |
| Successor | İslâm III Giray |
| Khan of the Tatar Crimean Khanate (2nd reign) | |
| Reign | 1654–1666 |
| Predecessor | İslâm III Giray |
| Successor | Adil Giray |
| Born | 1610 |
| Died | 14 September 1683 (aged 73) |
| Dynasty | Giray dynasty |
| Religion | Islam |
Mehmed IV Giray the Sufi[n 1] (1610–13 September 1683), was khan of the Crimean Khanate in 1641–1644 and 1654–1666. His two reigns were interrupted by that of his brother İslâm III Giray. His first reign was uneventful, except for the recapture of Azov from the Cossacks. His second reign was spent fighting Russians and Cossacks in alliance with Poland. He had some reputation as a poet.
Previous khans were 1608–10: his father Selâmet I Giray, 1610: his cousin Canibek Giray, 1623: his cousin's son Mehmed III Giray, 1628: Canibek again, 1635: his cousin İnayet Giray and 1637: his brother Bahadır I Giray. For his many brothers and nephews see Selâmet I Giray#His sons. None of Mehmed's sons or grandsons became khans.
In 1632–35 he was nureddin or kalga during the second reign of Canibek Giray. He then went to Ottoman territory, probably accompanying the deposed Canibek. What he did during the reigns of Inayet and Bahadir does not seem to be recorded.
First reign (1641–1644)
He came to the throne in 1641 on the death of his brother khan Bahadır I Giray (1637–1641). His kalga was Fetih, the brother of future khan Adil Giray. His nureddin was Gazi, the son of his brother Mubarak.
Bahadir's reign had been taken up by unsuccessful attempts to drive the Don Cossacks out of Azov. In 1642 Crimean and Turkish troops forced them out, aided by pressure from the czar who did not want a Turkish war. The campaign was led by the Egyptian Pasha and accompanied by the famous traveler Evliya Çelebi. In 1645 nureddin Gazi raided the area around Kursk.
Mehmed's brother Islyam complained to the Sultan that he had a better claim because he was older and had been kalga under Bahadir, but nothing was done. When the Kalmyks attacked the Kabardians Mehmed sent Salanash Mirza to their aid, but he was killed. When Mehmed came to the throne, the Kabardian chieftainship was contested by two brothers, Hakashmat beg and Antonak beg. Mehmed supported Antonak. Hakashmat fled to Azov and then to Istanbul, where the sultan declared him Prince of Circassia. (The next khan put Antonak on the throne and Hakashmak was killed. [1]) The Turkish governor of Kaffa complained that Mehmed had ravaged Circassia without proper authorization, so he was deposed and replaced by his brother Islyam.
Exile under Islyam (1644–1654)
Much of Islyam's reign was taken up by the Cossack rebellion against Poland, which began in 1648 and which Crimea supported. When Islyam died of natural causes Mehmed was living at Rhodes.
