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Mehmed IV (Ottoman Turkish: محمد رابع Meḥmed-i rābi‘; also known as Avcı Mehmed, Mehmed the Hunter; January 2, 1642 – January 6, 1693) was the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1648 to 1687. Taking the throne at age six, his reign was significant as he changed the nature of the Sultan's position forever by giving up most of his executive power to his Grand Vizier. While his early reign brought a short-lived revival of the Empire's fortunes, which included the recapture of the Aegean islands and successful campaigns against Poland and Transylvania, things changed dramatically under his vizier, Kara Mustafa Pasha, who as less capable than his predecessors. Kara Mustafa's siege of Vienna ultimately led to a route at the hands of Poland and its allies, leading to a years long Ottoman withdrawal back to the Balkans.
In 1658, Mehmed met with English Quaker Mary Fisher. Fisher believed God wanted her to make the visit. While her impression of the meeting was positive, the sultan's thoughts were not recorded. Mehmed IV also met with religious leader and self-proclaimed Jewish Messiah Sabbatai Tzevi, a meeting which ended with Tzevi's conversion to Islam in 1666.
Mehmed was deposed and imprisoned in 1687. He received good treatment during his imprisonment. A plot to reinstate him was discovered and thwarted in 1691. Mehmed died in 1693 without regaining the sultanate.
Mehmed IV in "The More it Changes"[]
In September, 1666, Sabbatai Tzevi was brought before Sultan Mehmed IV. The sultan expected Sabbatai to convert to Islam and renounce his claim to be the Messiah. Instead, once the meeting was completed, Mehmed IV announced that he was changing his name to Sabbatai I and converting to Sabbateanism.
This incident gave Sabbatai and his followers the support they needed to keep Sabbateanism a viable movement for the next century.
| Royal offices (OTL) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Ibrahim |
Sultan of the Ottoman Empire Aug 12, 1648 – Nov 8, 1687 |
Succeeded by Suleiman II |
| Religious titles (OTL) | ||
| Preceded by Ibrahim |
Caliph of Islam Aug 12, 1648 – Nov 8, 1687 |
Succeeded by Suleiman II |
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