Mustafa Bayrakdar (1775-1808) was an Ottoman provincial notable from Rustchuk, Bulgaria who became grand Vizier under Mahmud II. The deposition of the reformer Sultan Selim III in 1807, and his replacement with the reactionary Mustafa IV by the Janissaries and other opponents of reform, provoked Mustafa Bayrakdar to lead his army of Albanians and Bosnians to Constantinople in an attempt to reinstate Selim and restore his reforms. He was too late, however, as Selim had been murdered. Bayrakdar and his forces removed Mustafa and placed Selim's cousin, Mahmud, on the throne. As vizier, Bayrakdar purged the soldiers who had rebelled against Selim, removed conservatives from governmental positions and replaced them with men sympathetic to reform. Bayrakdar modernized the army and navy and attempted to reform the Janissaries, but Mahmud, fearing a political backlash of the elite corps, halted such reform. Bayrakdar's power and influence and his arrogance wielding it caused a rebellion against his position. In November 1808, the Janissairies attacked the Porte and laid siege to the stone powder magazine where he and his personal guard had taken refuge. As the Janissaries were about to break in the powder barrels exploded, killing Bayrakdar, his guard, and several hundred Janissaries. It is uncertain if the explosion was an accident or intentionally set off by Bayrakdar. 1775 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... 1808 was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... The Ottoman Empire at the height of its power Imperial motto El Muzaffer Daima The Ever Victorious (as written in tugra) Official language Ottoman Turkish Capital İstanbul ( Constantinople/Asitane/Konstantiniyye ) Sovereigns Sultans of the Osmanli Dynasty Population ca 40 million Area 12+ million km² Establishment 1299 Dissolution October 29, 1923... Ruse (Bulgarian: Русе; Turkish: Rusçuk) is the fifth largest city in Bulgaria, having a population of 178,000. ... A Vizier (وزير, sometimes also spelled Wazir) is an Arabic term for a high-ranking religious and political advisor, often to a king or sultan. ... Sultan Mahmud II Mahmud II (July 20, 1785–July 1, 1839) was the sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1808 until his death. ... A sultan (Arabic: سلطان) is an Islamic title, with several historical meanings. ... Sultan Selim III Selim III (December 24, 1761 – July 28/29, 1808) was a sultan of the Ottoman Empire (1789–1807). ... 1807 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... Sultan Mustafa IV Mustafa IV (September 8, 1779 – November 15, 1808) was the sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1807 to 1808. ... The Janissaries (or janizaries; in Turkish: Yeniçeri, meaning New Troops) comprised infantry units that formed the Ottoman sultans household troops and bodyguard. ... Jump to: navigation, search Map of Constantinople. ... Synonym of the government of the Ottoman Empire. ... Magazine is the name for a item or place within which ammunition is stored. ...

References

• Shaw, S. J. and Shaw, E. Z. 1997. History of the Ottoman Empire, Volume 2. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.