Şehzade Mehmed (son of Ahmed I)

Şehzade Mehmed was born on 11 March 1605 in Istanbul. He was the second son of his father Sultan Ahmed I and the first of his mother Kösem Sultan, Ahmed's Haseki sultan.^[1][2][3] In January 1609, Mehmed began his education under the guardianship of Hoca Ömer Efendi, together with his elder half brother, Şehzade Osman (future Sultan Osman II).^[4]

After his father's death in 1617, when Mehmed was twelve years old,^[1] his uncle Sultan Mustafa I ascended the throne. However, he was soon deposed and replaced by Osman in 1618.^[5]

Osman had asked the Şeyhülislam Hocazade Esad Efendi for an affirmative legal opinion to execute his brother. However, Esad Efendi refused to issue legal opinion. The Chief Judge of Rumeli Kemaleddin Efendi instead affirmed the execution of the prince.^[6] And so on 12 January 1621,^[7][8] Mehmed was executed. When the executioners were stretching rope on his neck he spoke:

"Osman! I wish from Allah your reign get ruined, I hope you could not reign as much as what you have deprived me of my life!"^[9]

Twelve days following his death, a harsh snow fall in Istanbul which was considered as Allah’s message to Osman that he killed his brother.^[9] Osman ordered Mehmed's execution before leaving the capital for the Polish campaign.^[10][11]

He was buried beside his father in his mausoleum^[12] located in Blue Mosque, Istanbul.^[13]

In 2015 Turkish historical fiction TV series Muhteşem Yüzyıl: Kösem, Şehzade Mehmed is portrayed by Turkish actor Burak Dakak.