TRENDEAtlas of the Sultans · 11 / 38 · sultan
Selim II
Sarı (“the Blond”)
The first sultan not to lead campaigns; he left government to his grand vizier. Cyprus was won and a heavy naval loss at Lepanto was quickly made good — counted as proof of the empire's institutional strength.
Open the reign of Selim II on the mapFamily
| Father | Suleiman I |
|---|---|
| Mother | Hürrem Sultan |
| Consorts | Nurbanu Sultan |
| Children | Murad III, İsmihan Sultan, Gevherhan Sultan, Şah Sultan, Fatma Sultan |
Major achievements
- Conquest of Cyprus (1570–71)
- A new fleet built within two years after the fleet was burned at Lepanto
- Tunis finally taken from Spain (1574)
- The Selimiye Mosque in Edirne — the masterpiece of the architect Sinan
- Attempt at a Don–Volga canal
- The powerful grand vizierate of Sokollu Mehmed Pasha and the delegation of state affairs to viziers
Treaties
- Treaty of Adrianople (1568, Austria)
- Peace with Venice over Cyprus (1573)
- Treaty with Poland (1569)
Grand viziers
| Name | From | To | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sokollu Mehmed Pasha | September 7, 1566 | December 15, 1574 | 8 years, 99 days |
Battles and treaties
| Year | Event | Result / parties |
|---|---|---|
| 1568 | Treaty: Treaty of Adrianople | |
| 1569 | Treaty: Treaty with Poland | |
| 1571 | Siege: Conquest of Cyprus | Ottoman victory |
| 1571 | Naval battle: Lepanto | Holy League victory |
| 1573 | Treaty: Peace with Venice over Cyprus | |
| 1574 | Siege: Conquest of Tunis | Ottoman victory |
Full infoboxes are in the site’s “Battles and Treaties” tab; source: English Wikipedia.
Death
He died in 1574 in Topkapı Palace after slipping in the bath and striking his head.
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 Selim II.