Why Was There a Fratricide Law in the Ottoman Empire?
The Fratricide Law Codified by Fatih
The Ottoman Empire had certain rules that enabled it to become a world empire. These rules, applied for a long time, allowed the Ottoman Empire to endure for centuries. One of these laws was the fratricide law. The fratricide law was first codified during the reign of Fatih Sultan Mehmet in the Ottoman Empire. Before Fatih Sultan Mehmet, fratricide was carried out to prevent chaos and division in the state. However, Fatih Sultan Mehmet was the first to turn this practice into a law and legalize it. The Fatih Kanunnamesi (Fatih's Law Book), enacted by Fatih, was applied in the Empire for centuries. One of the controversial articles of this law book was the fratricide law. Fatih Sultan Mehmet was not a popular leader among his people during his time. One of the reasons for this was his legalization of the fratricide practice. Another reason was Fatih's constant campaigning and levying of additional taxes from the people. Many of the laws in the Fatih Kanunnamesi remained valid until the Tanzimat Edict. The fratricide article, however, remained in effect until the time of 1st Ahmet. For information on this matter and to ask your questions, you can look at relevant online firms on internet pages and examine them in detail.
1st Ahmet's Introduction of the Cage System
Ascending the throne in 1603, 1st Ahmet abolished the fratricide law and replaced it with the cage system. With the introduction of the cage system, the system of succession was established, and based on the principles of seniority and age, primogeniture and senority became the criteria. According to these principles, it was decided that the eldest prince of the dynasty would ascend the throne. To prevent any throne disputes, the cage system was introduced. According to the cage system, after the new Sultan ascended the throne, the Sultan's brothers would be imprisoned and would live the rest of their lives in confinement. This system is one of the biggest factors that led to the decline of the Ottoman Empire. This is because the throne was occupied not by successful princes, but by the eldest member of the dynasty, leading to inexperienced individuals governing the state. Furthermore, the confinement of princes who would later ascend the throne meant they had no experience in state administration. Sultans became ineffective after ascending the throne and fell under the influence of certain pashas. Princes were not sent to sanjaks and had no understanding of state and army administration. This system, over time, prepared the decline of the Ottoman Empire and caused the regression of the great empire that lasted for 6 centuries.
