Mustafa II

Mustafa II (1664-1703), Sultan of the Ottoman Empire (1695-1703). Born in Adrianople (now Edirne), he was the son of Sultan Muhammad IV, and he succeeded his uncle, Sultan Ahmed II.

Mustafa wanted to reverse the losses suffered by the Ottoman Empire during the Habsburg-Ottoman Wars. Initially reversing the recent defeats of his uncle’s reign, he recaptured Hungary. However, Mustafa suffered a catastrophic defeat at the battle of Zenta (Senta) in 1697 at the hands of the Habsburg army led by Eugene of Savoy. This paved the way for the Peace of Karlowitz in 1699, where Hungary, Transylvania, Croatia, and Slavonia were passed to the Habsburgs. In 1700 a treaty was signed with the Russians, conceding the fortress at Azov to Peter the Great.

Mustafa retired from Constantinople (now İstanbul) to Adrianople, where he spent his time hunting. A military mutiny in August 1703 led to Mustafa’s dethronement. He was succeeded by his brother, Sultan Ahmed III. Mustafa died four months later.