Jahja
Encyclopedia
Sultan Jahja was born in 1585, and was the third son of Ottoman Sultan Mehmet III (who succeeded his father Sultan Murat III in 1595). His mother was a princess from the Byzantine Comnenus or Komnenus dynasty
of Trebizond, a branch of the Imperial Family of the same name from Constantinople. When his father, Mehmet, became Sultan, he followed the custom of executing all of his brothers (potential rival claimants to the Ottoman throne). Jahja's mother was concerned that this could also eventually happen to him, so he was smuggled out, first to Greece, and then to present day Bulgaria. He supposedly was baptized at an Orthodox Christian monastery, where he lived for the next eight years of his life.
(the fourth-born) became Ottoman sultan. Jahya believed that as the next oldest son, he was next in line to be Ottoman Sultan and felt cheated out of his rightful destiny, thus for the rest of his life Jahja dedicated himself to gaining the Ottoman Imperial Throne. However, the standard Ottoman practice at the time for determining the succession was not birth order of sons; instead the Ottoman laws of succession to the throne stated that "during their father's lifetime, all of the adult sons of the reigning sultan would hold provincial governorships. Accompanied and mentored by their mothers, they would gather supporters and after the death of their father, the sons would fight among themselves until one emerged triumphant."
From 1603 on, Jahja made frequent trips to northern and western Europe to gain support (visiting Florence, Madrid, Rome, Krakow, Antwerp, Prague, and other cities). Between 1614 and 1617 he schemed with Serbian
Orthodox Christian bishops in Kosovo
and Western-Roman Catholic bishops and leaders as part of his strategy to gain the Ottoman Imperial Throne. A few years later, with the assistance of Russian and Ukrainian cossacks, he led a fleet of 130 ships that attacked Istanbul. He finally died in 1649 on Montenegro's coast, where he was involved in a rebellion organized by the Western-Roman Catholic bishops of Skodra-and-Bar.
and Kosovo
recorded for that period instances of whole families and clans converting at least in name to Islam, and parallel reports of crypto-Christianity (mainly crypto-Catholicism), when some inhabitants would practice their old religion in secret. There were also instances where nominally Christian or Muslim inhabitants mixed elements of both religions. Many of Jahja's activities involved plotting with Christians in present-day Albania and Kosovo. Reports of Albanian
and Kosovar
crypto-Catholicism continued into the 21st century.
In contrast with the 16th century, present day Balkan cultural (as well as political) boundaries between Islam and Christianity are for the most part more well-defined and recognizable, and Sultan Jahja's activities in retrospect seem to be more remarkable. He repeatedly promised potential and actual sponsors and allies that if he succeeded, he would make Christianity the state religion of the Ottoman Empire. This promise was reportedly made to a succession of four popes, and was a constant part of all his proposals that were pitched to wealthy citizens and sovereigns across Europe. It is tantalizing to speculate what would have happened to Europe and to the Ottoman Empire had Yahja succeeded in his efforts.
Komnenos
Komnenós or Comnenus was the name of a ruling family of the Eastern Roman Empire , who halted the political decline of the Empire from c.1081 to c.1185.-Origins:...
of Trebizond, a branch of the Imperial Family of the same name from Constantinople. When his father, Mehmet, became Sultan, he followed the custom of executing all of his brothers (potential rival claimants to the Ottoman throne). Jahja's mother was concerned that this could also eventually happen to him, so he was smuggled out, first to Greece, and then to present day Bulgaria. He supposedly was baptized at an Orthodox Christian monastery, where he lived for the next eight years of his life.
Battle for Ottoman throne
Eventually, Jahja's two older brothers died, but in 1603, his younger brother Ahmed IAhmed I
Ahmed I or Ahmed Bakhti was the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1603 until his death in 1617.-Biography:...
(the fourth-born) became Ottoman sultan. Jahya believed that as the next oldest son, he was next in line to be Ottoman Sultan and felt cheated out of his rightful destiny, thus for the rest of his life Jahja dedicated himself to gaining the Ottoman Imperial Throne. However, the standard Ottoman practice at the time for determining the succession was not birth order of sons; instead the Ottoman laws of succession to the throne stated that "during their father's lifetime, all of the adult sons of the reigning sultan would hold provincial governorships. Accompanied and mentored by their mothers, they would gather supporters and after the death of their father, the sons would fight among themselves until one emerged triumphant."
From 1603 on, Jahja made frequent trips to northern and western Europe to gain support (visiting Florence, Madrid, Rome, Krakow, Antwerp, Prague, and other cities). Between 1614 and 1617 he schemed with Serbian
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
Orthodox Christian bishops in Kosovo
Kosovo
Kosovo is a region in southeastern Europe. Part of the Ottoman Empire for more than five centuries, later the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia...
and Western-Roman Catholic bishops and leaders as part of his strategy to gain the Ottoman Imperial Throne. A few years later, with the assistance of Russian and Ukrainian cossacks, he led a fleet of 130 ships that attacked Istanbul. He finally died in 1649 on Montenegro's coast, where he was involved in a rebellion organized by the Western-Roman Catholic bishops of Skodra-and-Bar.
Historical significance
Sultan Jahja's activities in the late 16th/early 17th century Balkans occurred in a context where religious boundaries between Islam and Christianity could be remarkably fluid and ambiguous. He had grown up influenced by his Orthodox Christian mother, and many of the other wives and concubines of his father had been Christian as well. The northern part of present day AlbaniaAlbania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
and Kosovo
Kosovo
Kosovo is a region in southeastern Europe. Part of the Ottoman Empire for more than five centuries, later the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia...
recorded for that period instances of whole families and clans converting at least in name to Islam, and parallel reports of crypto-Christianity (mainly crypto-Catholicism), when some inhabitants would practice their old religion in secret. There were also instances where nominally Christian or Muslim inhabitants mixed elements of both religions. Many of Jahja's activities involved plotting with Christians in present-day Albania and Kosovo. Reports of Albanian
Albanians
Albanians are a nation and ethnic group native to Albania and neighbouring countries. They speak the Albanian language. More than half of all Albanians live in Albania and Kosovo...
and Kosovar
Kosovar
Kosovar/Kosovan may refer to:* Something of, from, or related to Kosovo, a landlocked region in the Balkans, the majority of which is governed by the partially-recognised Republic of Kosovo....
crypto-Catholicism continued into the 21st century.
In contrast with the 16th century, present day Balkan cultural (as well as political) boundaries between Islam and Christianity are for the most part more well-defined and recognizable, and Sultan Jahja's activities in retrospect seem to be more remarkable. He repeatedly promised potential and actual sponsors and allies that if he succeeded, he would make Christianity the state religion of the Ottoman Empire. This promise was reportedly made to a succession of four popes, and was a constant part of all his proposals that were pitched to wealthy citizens and sovereigns across Europe. It is tantalizing to speculate what would have happened to Europe and to the Ottoman Empire had Yahja succeeded in his efforts.