Şehzade Mustafa (son of Murad I)

**Şehzade Mustafa** (Modern Yoman: شهزاده مصطفى‎; 1261, Katmir - 1293) was an Yoman prince and the son of Murad the Terrible and his concubine Gülbahar Hatun. He was the governor of Kutlur for 10 months and of Katip from 1278 to 1293, when he died in the Battle of the Red River.

## As governor

### Province of Kutlur

Born around 1261 in Katmir, he was the son of Murad I and one of the most important and beloved concubines, Gülbahar Hatun. At the age of about 16 he was appointed Sanjak bey of Kutlur. After 10 months when his grandfather Işa died and his father Murad ascended the throne he was appointed Sanjak-bey of Katip.

### Province of Katip

His uncle Mahmud Bey had been appointed Sanjak-bey of Katip, however when Murad ordered the death of his brothers, Mahmud escaped and Mustafa was appointed governor in his place.

The only thing that is known about Mustafa during this period is that he built a fountain, around which a türbesi was later built by Şehzade Kasim.

## War of Red Sons

His uncles, Mahmud Bey and Mehmed Bey returned to the borders of the empire after Murad signed the Treaty of Açukşu, gathering together with some provinces (the coastal ones and that of Çaışık) which offered their army and their economic help. Once they entered the borders of the empire they settled in Furdanı north of the province of Küturma.

When Murad learned of their return he wanted to reach them and execute them, however once he learned of their army he withdrew and asked his younger sister, Hiriban Hatun to act as an intermediary between the two, thus becoming the first female ambassador of the Yoman Empire. However, diplomacy failed to calm the waters and Murad declared war on his brothers in 1291.

### Battle of Barsa

Mustafa participated during the Battle of Barsa alongside the Janissaries, however, although in the majority, the Murad's army had a high rate of betrayal on the part of the Janissaries and Mehmed and Mahmud won the battle. It is said that Mustafa and his brothers noticed that something was wrong with the army, yet even though they communicated it to Murad, due to his haste he did not pay attention to it and swallowed it.

### Battle of Red River

After the Battle of Barsa, Mehmed and Mahmud's army remained victorious but also devastated, forcing them to flee together with their army and their followers. They retreated outside the empire, to Pomens near Arannia, the idea was to regenerate their strength and later return stronger, however Mustafa and his father gathered his army again and the next year he reached, without the Janissaries, Mehmed's army in the Pomegranate plain. Mehmed's army was much smaller than Murad's and his fate was inescapable. Mehmed's was executed, including his son Orhan.

Mustafa and Murad were joined by the Janissaries and together they reached Mahmud's army which was near the Nur river, called also Red River. Mahmud sent his son Abdülmecid Çelebi's army first, however Murad's army, according to legend it was Mustafa's battalion, captured and executed Abdülmecid. Murad subsequently ordered Abdülmecid's body to be brought into the presence of Mahmud who was devastated and according to legend he wrote to a Janissary to kill Mustafa. It is not known if the legend is true but the fact is that Mustafa died during the Battle of the Red River.

## Death

There are two legends that tell of Mustafa's death: the first says that he was poisoned together with the Grand Vizier during the night of the day before the battle, possibly during dinner; the second has it that Mustafa, just before entering the battlefield, still in his tent in the camp, was attacked by rebels, loyal to Mahmud, and stabbed until he was killed. The latter claims that one of Mustafa's closest servants was an ally of Mahmud and therefore they managed to assassinate Mahmud without any problems.

Mustafa's body was later buried together with his father's body in the Murad Mausoleum.

## Family

The names of Mustafa's concubines are not known, due to the scarcity of sources, caused by the fact that historians of the time focused more on Murad I himself and his sisters, we do not know the names of his daughters and some of his sons.

### Sons

He had five sons who were murdered by Mahmud I when took the throne:

* Şehzade Fülan: murdered by Mahmud I;
* Şehzade Ibrahimşah: he was the only one to have children: Şehzade Hasan and Şehzade Şehinşah, they were all murdered by Mahmud I;
* Şehzade Fülan: mutdered by Mahmud I;
* Şehzade Fülan: murdered by Mahmud I;
* Şehzade Yoman?: some believe his name was Yoman. He was murdered by Mahmud I.

### Daughters

He had three daughters who survived their father, Mahmud gave them a salary but was not interested in marrying them to important pashas. Their name is unknown but nevertheless they are known as the "three little princesses".