In the early period, the Ottomans practiced open succession. 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 while ostensibly following a Ghazw ethos. Upon the death of their father, the sons would fight among themselves until one emerged triumphant. How remote a province the son governorned was of great significance. The closer the region that a particular son was in charge of the better the chances were of that son succeeded, simply because he would be told of the news of his father's death and be able to get to Constantinople first and declare himself Sultan. Thus a father could hint at who he preferred by giving his favourite son a closer governorship. Bayezid II, for instance had to fight his brother Cem in the 1480s for the right to rule. Occasionally, the half-brothers would even begin the struggle before the death of their father. During the reign of Suleiman the Magnificent (1520-1566), strife among his sons Selim and Bayezid caused enough internal turmoil that Suleiman ordered the death of Bayezid, leaving Selim II the sole heir. Ghazw (plural ghazawāt) (Arabic: غزو) is an Arabic word meaning an armed incursion for the purposes of conquest, plunder, or the capture of slaves and is cognate with the terms ghāziya and maghāzÄ«. In pre-Islamic times it signified the plundering raids organized by nomadic Bedouin warriors against... Sultan Beyazid II Bayezid II (1447/48 – May 26, 1512) (Arabic: بايزيد الثاني) was the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1481 to 1512. ... Cems portrait. ... Suleyman I (Ottoman Turkish: Sulaymān, Turkish: ; formally Kanuni Sultan Süleyman in Turkish) (November 6, 1494 – September 5/6, 1566), was the tenth and longest-serving Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, reigning from 1520 to 1566. ... Selim II Selim II (May 28, 1524 – December 12, 1574) was the sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1566 until his death. ...

With Suleiman and Selim, the favourite concubine (haseki) of the Sultan achieved new prominence. Gaining power within the harem, the favourite was able to manoeuvre to ensure the succession for one of her sons. This led to a short period of effective primogeniture. However, unlike the earlier period, when the sultan had already defeated his brothers (and potential rivals for the throne) in battle, these sultans had the problem of many half-brothers who could act as the focus for factions that could threaten the sultan. Thus, to prevent attempts upon his throne, the sultan practiced fratricide upon ascending the throne. Both Murad III and his son Mehmed III had their half brothers murdered. This does not cite its references or sources. ... Fratricide (from the Latin word frater, meaning: brother and cide meaning to kill) is the act of a person killing his or her brother. ... Murad III Murad III (July 4, 1546 – January 15, 1595) was the sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1574 until his death. ... Mehmed III Mehmed III (May 26, 1566 – December 22, 1603) was the sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1595 until his death. ...

Mehmet, however, was the last sultan to have previously held a provincial governorship. Sons now remained within the imperial harem until the death of their father. This denied them not only the ability to form powerful factions capable of usurping their father, but also denied them the opportunity to have children while their father remained alive. Thus when Mehmet's son came to the throne as Ahmed I, he had no children of his own. Moreover, as a minor, there was no evidence he could have children. This had the potential to create a crisis of succession and led to a gradual end to fratricide. Ahmed had some of his brothers killed, but not Mustafa (later Mustafa I). Similarly, Osman II allowed his half-brothers Murad and Ibrahim to live. This led to a shift in the 17th century from a system of primogeniture to one of seniority, in which the eldest male within the dynasty succeeded. Thus, Mustafa succeeded his brother Ahmed; Suleiman II and Ahmed II succeeded their brother Mehmed IV before being succeeded in turn by Mehmed's son Mustafa II. Although occasionally a son did succeed his father, just as often, the new sultan was a brother. This continued until the end of the Ottoman Empire in the early 20th century.^[1] Ahmed I (Ottoman Turkish: احمد اول Aḥmed-i evvel) (April 18, 1590 – November 22, 1617) was the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1603 until his death. ... Mustafa I (1592 – January 20, 1639) (Arabic: مصطفى الأول) was the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1617 to 1618 and from 1622 to 1623. ... Osman II (also known as Genç Osman – meaning Young Osman – in Turkish) (in Arabic عثمان الثاني) (November 3, 1604 – May 20, 1622) was the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1618 until his death on 20 May 1622. ... Suleiman II (April 15, 1642 – 1691) was the sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1687 to 1691. ... Ahmed II (in Arabic أحمد الثانى) (February 25, 1643 – 1695) was the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1691 to 1695. ... Sultan Mehmed IV Mehmed IV (also known as Dördüncü, fourth, and Avci, hunter) (January 2, 1642–1693) (Arabic: محمد الرابع) was the sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1648 to 1687. ... Sultan Mustafa II Mustafa II (February 6, 1664 – December 28, 1703) was the sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1695 to 1703. ...

Line of succession today

Presently the head of the Imperial House of Osman is Ertuğrul Osman V. According to genealogies on the House of Osman there are currently twenty four people in the line of succession after Ertuğrul Osman V: The Ottoman Dynasty (or the Imperial House of Osman) ruled the Ottoman Empire from 1281 to 1923, beginning with Osman I (not counting his father, ErtuÄŸrul), though the dynasty was not proclaimed until 1383 when Murad I declared himself sultan. ... His Imperial Highness Prince Ertugrul Osman V (Full name: Devletlu Najabatlu ErtuÄŸrul Osman Efendi Hazretleri) (born August 18, 1912), is the 43rd Head of the Imperial House of Osman, which ruled the Ottoman Empire from 1281 to 1923, when Turkey became a republic. ...

1. HIH Prince Burhaneddin Djem (b. 1920) (descendant of Abdülmecid I)
2. HIH Prince Bayezid Osman (b. 1924) (descendant of Abdülmecid I)
3. HIH Prince Dündar Aliosman (b. 1930) (descendant of Abdülhamid II)
4. HIH Prince Harun Osmanoglu (b. 1932) (descendant of Abdülhamid II)
5. HIH Prince Gengiz Nazim (b. 1939) (descendant of Mehmed V)
6. HIH Prince Osman Selaheddin Osmanoglu (b. 1940) (descendant of Murad V)
7. HIH Prince Ömer Abdül Medjid Namouk (b. 1941) (descendant of Mehmed V)
8. HIH Prince Mehmed Selim Orhan (b. 1943) (descendant of Abdülhamid II)
9. HIH Prince Hasan Orhan (b. 1946) (descendant of Mehmed V)
10. HIH Prince Mehmed Ziyaeddin (b. 1947) (descendant of Mehmed V)
11. HIH Prince Roland Selim Kadir (b. 1949) (descendant of Abdülhamid II)
12. HIH Prince Selim Djem (b. 1955) (descendant of Abdülmecid I)
13. HIH Prince Orhan Suleiman Saadeddin (b. 1959) (descendant of Abdülâziz)
14. HIH Prince Orhan Osmanoglu (b. 1963) (descendant of Abdülhamid II)
15. HIH Prince Gülhan Suleiman Saadeddin (b. 1968) (descendant of Abdülâziz)
16. HIH Prince Orhan Murad Osmanoglu (b. 1972) (descendant of Murad V)
17. HIH Prince René Osman Kadir (b. 1975) (descendant of Abdülhamid II)
18. HIH Prince Daniel Adrian Hamid Kadir (b. 1977) (descendant of Abdülhamid II)
19. HIH Prince Abdülhamid Kayihan Osmanoglu (b. 1979) (descendant of Abdülhamid II)
20. HIH Prince Selim Süleyman Osmanoglu (b. 1979) (descendant of Murad V)
21. HIH Prince Nazim (b. 1985) (descendant of Mehmed V)
22. HIH Prince Nilhan Osmanoglu (b. 1987) (descendant of Abdülhamid II)
23. HIH Prince Yavuz Selim Osmanoglu (b. 1989) (descendant of Abdülhamid II)
24. HIH Prince Turan Djem Osmanoglu (b. 2004) (descendant of Murad V)

His/Her Imperial Highness (abbreviation HIH) is a title used by members of an Imperial family to denote Imperial - as opposed to royal - status to show that the holder in question is descended from an Emperor rather than a King (compare His/Her Royal Highness). ... Prince Burhaneddin Djem Efendi (born February 2, 1920) is the heir apparent to the headship of the Ottoman dynasty. ... Abdülmecid I (Ottoman Turkish: عبد المجيد اول ‘Abdü’l-MecÄ«d-i evvel) (April 23, 1823 – June 25, 1861) was the 31st sultan of the Ottoman Empire and succeeded his father Mahmud II on July 2, 1839. ... Abdülmecid I (Ottoman Turkish: عبد المجيد اول ‘Abdü’l-MecÄ«d-i evvel) (April 23, 1823 – June 25, 1861) was the 31st sultan of the Ottoman Empire and succeeded his father Mahmud II on July 2, 1839. ... Sultan Abdul Hamid II Abd-ul-Hamid II also Abdulhamid, Abdülhemit, Abdul Hamid, Abd al-Hamid II, or Abdul-Hamid (Arabic: عبد الحميد الثاني) (September 21, 1842 – February 10, 1918) was the sultan of the Ottoman Empire, from August 31, 1876 – April 27, 1909. ... Sultan Abdul Hamid II Abd-ul-Hamid II also Abdulhamid, Abdülhemit, Abdul Hamid, Abd al-Hamid II, or Abdul-Hamid (Arabic: عبد الحميد الثاني) (September 21, 1842 – February 10, 1918) was the sultan of the Ottoman Empire, from August 31, 1876 – April 27, 1909. ... Sultan Mehmed V Mehmed V (sometimes also Mahommed V; known as Mehmed V ReÅŸad (or ReÅŸat) or Reshid Effendi) (November 2, 1844 – July 3, 1918) was the 39th Ottoman Sultan. ... Sultan Mehmed Murad V (September 21, 1840 – August 29, 1904) (Arabic: مراد الخامس) was the sultan of the Ottoman Empire who reigned from May 30, 1876 to August 31 of the same year. ... Sultan Mehmed V Mehmed V (sometimes also Mahommed V; known as Mehmed V ReÅŸad (or ReÅŸat) or Reshid Effendi) (November 2, 1844 – July 3, 1918) was the 39th Ottoman Sultan. ... Sultan Abdul Hamid II Abd-ul-Hamid II also Abdulhamid, Abdülhemit, Abdul Hamid, Abd al-Hamid II, or Abdul-Hamid (Arabic: عبد الحميد الثاني) (September 21, 1842 – February 10, 1918) was the sultan of the Ottoman Empire, from August 31, 1876 – April 27, 1909. ... Sultan Mehmed V Mehmed V (sometimes also Mahommed V; known as Mehmed V ReÅŸad (or ReÅŸat) or Reshid Effendi) (November 2, 1844 – July 3, 1918) was the 39th Ottoman Sultan. ... Sultan Mehmed V Mehmed V (sometimes also Mahommed V; known as Mehmed V ReÅŸad (or ReÅŸat) or Reshid Effendi) (November 2, 1844 – July 3, 1918) was the 39th Ottoman Sultan. ... Sultan Abdul Hamid II Abd-ul-Hamid II also Abdulhamid, Abdülhemit, Abdul Hamid, Abd al-Hamid II, or Abdul-Hamid (Arabic: عبد الحميد الثاني) (September 21, 1842 – February 10, 1918) was the sultan of the Ottoman Empire, from August 31, 1876 – April 27, 1909. ... Abdülmecid I (Ottoman Turkish: عبد المجيد اول ‘Abdü’l-MecÄ«d-i evvel) (April 23, 1823 – June 25, 1861) was the 31st sultan of the Ottoman Empire and succeeded his father Mahmud II on July 2, 1839. ... Abdülâziz (Ottoman Turkish: عبد العزيز ‘Abdü’l-‘AzÄ«z) was the 32nd sultan of the Ottoman Empire and reigned between June 25, 1861 and May 30, 1876. ... Sultan Abdul Hamid II Abd-ul-Hamid II also Abdulhamid, Abdülhemit, Abdul Hamid, Abd al-Hamid II, or Abdul-Hamid (Arabic: عبد الحميد الثاني) (September 21, 1842 – February 10, 1918) was the sultan of the Ottoman Empire, from August 31, 1876 – April 27, 1909. ... Abdülâziz (Ottoman Turkish: عبد العزيز ‘Abdü’l-‘AzÄ«z) was the 32nd sultan of the Ottoman Empire and reigned between June 25, 1861 and May 30, 1876. ... Sultan Mehmed Murad V (September 21, 1840 – August 29, 1904) (Arabic: مراد الخامس) was the sultan of the Ottoman Empire who reigned from May 30, 1876 to August 31 of the same year. ... Sultan Abdul Hamid II Abd-ul-Hamid II also Abdulhamid, Abdülhemit, Abdul Hamid, Abd al-Hamid II, or Abdul-Hamid (Arabic: عبد الحميد الثاني) (September 21, 1842 – February 10, 1918) was the sultan of the Ottoman Empire, from August 31, 1876 – April 27, 1909. ... Sultan Abdul Hamid II Abd-ul-Hamid II also Abdulhamid, Abdülhemit, Abdul Hamid, Abd al-Hamid II, or Abdul-Hamid (Arabic: عبد الحميد الثاني) (September 21, 1842 – February 10, 1918) was the sultan of the Ottoman Empire, from August 31, 1876 – April 27, 1909. ... Sultan Abdul Hamid II Abd-ul-Hamid II also Abdulhamid, Abdülhemit, Abdul Hamid, Abd al-Hamid II, or Abdul-Hamid (Arabic: عبد الحميد الثاني) (September 21, 1842 – February 10, 1918) was the sultan of the Ottoman Empire, from August 31, 1876 – April 27, 1909. ... Sultan Mehmed Murad V (September 21, 1840 – August 29, 1904) (Arabic: مراد الخامس) was the sultan of the Ottoman Empire who reigned from May 30, 1876 to August 31 of the same year. ... Sultan Mehmed V Mehmed V (sometimes also Mahommed V; known as Mehmed V ReÅŸad (or ReÅŸat) or Reshid Effendi) (November 2, 1844 – July 3, 1918) was the 39th Ottoman Sultan. ... Sultan Abdul Hamid II Abd-ul-Hamid II also Abdulhamid, Abdülhemit, Abdul Hamid, Abd al-Hamid II, or Abdul-Hamid (Arabic: عبد الحميد الثاني) (September 21, 1842 – February 10, 1918) was the sultan of the Ottoman Empire, from August 31, 1876 – April 27, 1909. ... Sultan Abdul Hamid II Abd-ul-Hamid II also Abdulhamid, Abdülhemit, Abdul Hamid, Abd al-Hamid II, or Abdul-Hamid (Arabic: عبد الحميد الثاني) (September 21, 1842 – February 10, 1918) was the sultan of the Ottoman Empire, from August 31, 1876 – April 27, 1909. ... Sultan Mehmed Murad V (September 21, 1840 – August 29, 1904) (Arabic: مراد الخامس) was the sultan of the Ottoman Empire who reigned from May 30, 1876 to August 31 of the same year. ...

External link

• Genealogy of the Ottoman Imperial Family