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Ottoman History
Ottoman History

What if Pargali Ibrahim and Sehzade Mustafa were not executed(Ottoman Empire)

Suleiman the Magnificent

Hurrem Sultan (Roxelane)

Pargalı Ibrahim Pasha
On the diplomatic front Ibrahim's work with Western Christendom was a complete success. Portraying himself as "the real power behind the Ottoman Empire", Ibrahim used a variety of tactics to negotiate favorable deals with the leaders of the Catholic powers. The Venetian diplomats even referred to him as "Ibrahim the Magnificent", a play on Suleyman's usual sobriquet. In 1533, he convinced Charles V to turn Hungary into an Ottoman vassal state. In 1535, he completed a monumental agreement with Francis I that gave France favorable trade rights within the Ottoman empire in exchange for joint action against the Habsburgs. This agreement would set the stage for joint Franco-Ottoman naval maneuvers, including the basing of the entire Ottoman fleet in southern France (in Nice) during the winter of 1543.

A skilled commander of Suleyman's army, he eventually fell from grace after an imprudence committed during a campaign against the Persian Safavid Empire, when he awarded himself a title including the word Sultan. This incident launched a series of events which culminated in his execution in 1536, thirteen years after having been promoted as Grand Vizier. It has also been suggested by a number of sources that Ibrahim Pasha had been a victim of Hurrem Sultan's (Roxelana, the sultan's wife) rising influence on the sovereign, especially in view of his past support for the cause of Sehzade Mustafa, Suleyman I's first son and heir to the throne, who had been strangled to death by his father on 6 October 1533, through a series of plots put in motion by Roxelana.

Since Suleyman had sworn not to take Ibrahim's life during his reign, he acquired a fetva, which permitted him to take back the oath by building a mosque in Istanbul. He announced the fetva one week before Ibrahim's execution and dined alone with him seven times before the final move, so to give his life-long friend a chance to flee the country or to take the sultan's own life. It was later discovered in Ibrahim's letters that he was perfectly aware of the situation but nevertheless decided to stay true to Suleyman.

Suleyman later greatly regretted Ibrahim's execution and his character changed dramatically, to the point where he became completely secluded from the daily work of governing. His regrets are reflected in his poems, in which even after twenty years he continually stresses topics of friendship and of love and trust between friends and often hints on character traits similar to Ibrahim's.

Şehzade Mustafa



I see connection. Both Ibrahim and Mustafa were killed by Suleiman because he heard news that Ibrahim and Mustafa betrayed Suleiman. Both times he was wrong. I think Hurrem Sultan just brainwashed Suleiman.

Anyway, what would happened, if Pargali Ibrahim Pasha was never executed? He was very good at his job but "ego" killed him. After Ibrahim execution, Ottoman empire weakened. If Ibrahim had lived, then he would have even maybe more power but also had made more right decisions than Rüstem Pasha.

Would then Mustafa live as well because Ibrahim knew Mustafa and always tried to solve his problems. I wonder what would happened then if Ibrahim had killed Roxelana? Then Suleiman would had clear view and not brainwashed by Hurrem Sultan.


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