 After his ceremonial circumcision in 1557, Murad's grandfather, the Sultan Suleiman I, appointed him "sancakbeyi" (governor) of Akşehir in 1558.At the age of 18 he was appointed "sancakbeyi" of Saruhan.Suleiman died (1566) when Murad was 20, and his father became the new sultan, Selim II.