TRENDEAtlas of the Sultans · 3 / 38 · sultan
Murad I
Hüdavendigâr (“the Sovereign”)
He turned the state into an empire in the Balkans and founded most of the classic Ottoman military and administrative institutions. He was the first sultan to expand by purchase and marriage as well as by conquest.
Open the reign of Murad I on the mapFamily
| Father | Orhan |
|---|---|
| Mother | Nilüfer Hatun |
| Consorts | Gülçiçek Hatun, Maria Thamar Hatun (Bulgarian princess), Paşa Melek Hatun |
| Children | Bayezid I, Yakub Çelebi, Savcı Bey, Nefise Sultan |
Major achievements
- Capture of Adrianople (1369), made the capital
- Founding of the Janissary corps and the cadet corps, the devşirme system
- The Pençik law regulating the recruitment of prisoners of war
- Creation of the Beylerbeylik of Rumelia
- Victories at Sırpsındığı (1364) and the First Battle of Kosovo (1389)
- Hamid and Germiyan lands acquired by purchase and dowry — expansion without war
- First use of the titles ‘sultan’ and ‘Hüdavendigâr’
Treaties
- Vassalage and tribute agreements with Byzantine, Serbian and Bulgarian lords
Grand viziers
| Name | From | To | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sinanüddin Fakih Yusuf Pasha | March 1362 | 1364 | 1-2 years |
| Çandarlı Kara Halil Hayreddin Pasha | 1368 | 1387 | 18-19 years |
| Çandarlı Ali Pasha | 1387 | June 1389 | 1-2 years |
Battles and treaties
| Year | Event | Result / parties |
|---|---|---|
| Treaty: Vassalage and tribute agreements with Byzantine, Serbian and Bulgarian lords | ||
| 1364 | Battle: Sırpsındığı | Ottoman victory · Adrianople becomes capital of Ottoman state |
| 1369 | Siege: Capture of Adrianople | Ottoman victory |
| 1371 | Battle: Maritsa | Ottoman victory |
Full infoboxes are in the site’s “Battles and Treaties” tab; source: English Wikipedia.
Death
He was stabbed to death on the battlefield right after the First Battle of Kosovo (1389) by the Serbian nobleman Miloš Obilić. He is the only Ottoman sultan to have died on the field of battle.
Territorial change
The lands that changed hands in this period, and the battles or treaties that brought the changes, can be seen on the map: map of the reign of Murad I.