TRENDEAtlas of the Sultans · Wars, battles and treaties
Revolt · 1808
Former statesmen who wanted to restore Selim III (the Rusçuk Committee) gathered around Alemdar Mustafa Pasha, the notable (ayan) of Rusçuk. Alemdar came to Istanbul with his Rumelian troops in the grand vizier's train (19 July 1808), having had Kabakçı Mustafa killed on the way. On 28 July he occupied key points of the city, marched on Topkapı Palace and called on Mustafa IV to abdicate. Mustafa IV had the palace gates shut and allowed Selim III and Prince Mahmud to be killed; when Alemdar broke in, Selim III was already dead. Mahmud, who was saved, was enthroned as Mahmud II in place of the deposed Mustafa IV.
| Date | 19–28 July 1808 |
|---|---|
| Location | Istanbul |
| Result | Selim III was killed in the palace; Mustafa IV was deposed, Mahmud II enthroned and Alemdar became grand vizier (28 July 1808) |
| Belligerents | Mustafa IV | Alemdar Mustafa Pasha, the Rumelian troops and the Rusçuk Committee |
|---|---|---|
| Commanders | Mustafa IV | Alemdar Mustafa Pasha |
Took place during the reign of Mustafa IV (1807–1808). Mustafa IV
Open the reign of Mustafa IV on the mapBy the atlas's calculation the Ottoman lands covered about 4,551,000 km² in 1808; at the start of Mustafa IV's reign they measured 4,551,000 km², at its end 4,551,000 km².
During Mustafa IV (1807–1808) the atlas records 0 regions gained and 0 regions lost.
His one-year reign was the interval in which Selim III's reforms were reversed. He came to the throne through a revolt, fell through a revolt and was executed — the starkest example of Janissary tutelage.
Areas are land area computed from the atlas's region data; see Method and sources.
Source: TDV Encyclopedia of Islam, “Alemdar Mustafa Paşa” (Turkish); text written for the atlas.