Ogier Ghislain de Busbecq: A Diplomat in the Ottoman Court

Ogier Ghislain de Busbecq: A Diplomat in the Ottoman Court

Ogier Ghislain de Busbecq was born in 1522 in Lille, a city now situated on the French-Belgian border, then under the rule of Charles V of the Holy Roman Empire. He belonged to a noble lineage and was raised in an intellectual milieu profoundly shaped by the Renaissance and the Reformation. His humanist worldview was likely solidified during his academic pursuits at the universities of Leuven, Padua, and Venice. A polymath of his time, Busbecq possessed extensive knowledge in various disciplines, including botany, zoology, and linguistics, and is reputed to have been proficient in eight languages, among them Turkish. Around 1554, he entered the service of Emperor Ferdinand I of Austria, and his initial diplomatic assignment was to represent his sovereign at the wedding of Queen Mary Tudor and King Philip II of Spain in England. That same year, he was dispatched to Istanbul on a mission that would later form the basis of his renowned writings. His primary objective was to negotiate the resolution of a protracted border dispute between the Ottoman Empire and Austria. However, the diplomatic process proved lengthy, and he endured approximately eighteen months in semi-confinement at the Ottoman court before returning to his homeland. In 1556, he was once again sent to the Ottoman Empire to finalize the unresolved negotiations.

Jean Baptiste Vanmour - Sultan Ahmet III Receiving a European Ambassador

Tragic End of Şehzade Mustafa

Prince Mustafa was at the height of his youth and had gained great fame as a soldier. Being the son of a Turkish sultan was a great misfortune because when one of them ascended the throne, it meant inevitable death for the others. The Turks did not tolerate rivals to the throne.

When the sultan went to war against Shah Tahmasp of Iran, Rüstem was sent as the chief commander. As he approached the Iranian border, he suddenly stopped and sent a message to the sultan, claiming that he was facing a serious situation. He said he had been betrayed, that the army had been bribed and that they refused to accept anyone but Mustafa. He added that he could not handle the situation alone and urged the sultan to come immediately if he wanted to save his throne. Süleyman immediately set out and sent a letter to Mustafa, summoning him. He told him to clear himself of the accusations and assured him that if he did so, he would not face any danger. Mustafa was in a difficult situation. If he faced his father, he would undoubtedly put himself in danger; if he refused, he would be admitting to treason. Choosing the boldest and most dangerous option, he left Amasya and travelled to his father’s nearby camp. Süleyman had already decided to kill his son before leaving the capital.

When Mustafa arrived at the camp, the soldiers were filled with excitement. They took him to his father’s tent. Everything seemed calm, there were no soldiers, no servants, and no sign of treachery. However, in the inner chamber, a few strong, mute executioners were waiting to kill Mustafa. As soon as he stepped inside, they attacked, trying to strangle him with a bowstring. Mustafa fought bravely. Behind a curtain, Süleyman was watching. When he saw that the execution was taking too long, he leaned forward and gave the executioners a furious, threatening look. The mute men, frightened, tried harder and finally managed to pin Mustafa down, strangling him with the bowstring.

Hüner-nāme, II, Library of the Topkapi Palace Museum, Hazine 1524, f. 168b

Drinking Wine Is Forbidden, But Eating Grapes Is Not

Magnificent Suleiman banned wine. In response, some Greeks came up with a clever plan to challenge his decision. Hoping to make a statement, they uprooted their vineyards and scattered the vines along his path. However, the sultan’s response was not what they expected.When they learned that he would pass through an area with vineyards, they gathered together and uprooted the vines. Some were thrown onto the road, while others were piled onto carts.

When the sultan arrived, he stopped, curious about what had happened. He called the nearest men and asked what they were doing. They replied that since he had banned wine, the vines were now useless, so they were removing them to use as firewood.

In response, Suleiman said:

"You are mistaken; you have misunderstood my intention. I banned the drinking of wine, not the eating of grapes. Grapes are among the noblest fruits bestowed upon man by God. There is nothing stopping you from enjoying fresh grape juice—unless you store it in barrels and, with your harmful inventions, turn it into something improper. Just because apples are not made into wine, should we cut down apple trees? Fools, stop this nonsense and leave these fruitful vineyards alone."

Thus, the Greeks’ clever plan failed completely.

The Intrigues of the Ottoman Palace

I need to repeat what I previously explained about Suleiman’s family. He had five sons. The eldest was Mustafa, born to his concubine, Mahidevran. From his legitimate marriage to Roxolana, he had four more sons: Mehmed, Selim, Bayezid, and Cihangir. Mehmed was married but died at a young age. Selim and Bayezid were still alive.

Death of his youngest son, Cihangir:

When the news of Mustafa’s death reached Istanbul, Cihangir, who was physically and mentally frail (he had a hunchback), became terrified, believing he would meet the same fate. His only hope was that no harm would come to him as long as his father lived. If Suleiman were to die, whoever took the throne next would inevitably see him as a rival, and he would be eliminated along with his brothers. These thoughts filled him with such dread, as if a decree for his execution had already been issued, that he fell ill and died.

Suleiman’s two surviving sons, the elder one, Selim, had been chosen by his father as the heir, while Bayezid had the support of his mother. However, Suleiman wanted only Selim to succeed him after his death. Bayezid, in his quest for the throne, took various measures and even supported a rebellion led by an impostor claiming to be Mustafa. When Suleiman learned of this, he reprimanded the provincial governors for their negligence and ordered them to suppress the revolt. Forces led by Pertev Pasha besieged the rebels, capturing the impostor Mustafa and other leaders, who were then sent to Istanbul. Under torture, the captives confessed Bayezid’s involvement in the rebellion, after which Suleiman had them executed by drowning at sea.

When Bayezid’s punishment became a matter of discussion, Hürrem Sultan cleverly intervened, arguing that her son had made a youthful mistake and should be forgiven. Influenced by his wife, Suleiman softened and pardoned Bayezid, who then appeared before his father and swore his loyalty. Fearing poison, Bayezid hesitated to drink the sherbet offered to him. To ease his son’s worries, Suleiman drank from the same cup, ensuring Bayezid’s temporary safety.

📖 Ogier Ghiselin de Busbecq