SULTAN I. MAHMUD HAN

Father : Sultan II. Mustafa
Mother : Saliha Sultan
Date of Birth : August 2, 1696
Accession to the Throne : October 2, 1730
Death : December 13, 1754

He was enthroned in October 1730 as the twentyfourth sovereign of the Ottoman Dynasty.

Sultan Mahmud was raised in his mother’s loving arms and received a good education from the most renown educationalists of the period. His keen intelligence and will to learn made him a well informed person in a very short time. He liked being involved with literature, and writing poetry. He wrote his poetry under the pseudonym of “Sebkati” and composed some beautiful music. He was interested in the art of calligraphy also, producing some nice pieces of work. He ensured the realization of significant activities for the intellectual development of the country. He was closely interested with the newly installed printing press and accelerated its operation. He established various libraries. The biggest one being at St. Sophie; and opened schools for extending education.

He had a cute, beautiful face; a small build; dense, black beard and drooping shoulders. He was kind hearted and sensitive. In the 1750 İstanbul fire, numerous historical buildings and market places were damaged. He had sent word to the tradesmen of the market place and paid their losses and damages out of his private budget.