Mustafa Bayrakdar

Mustafa Bayrakdar (1775-1808) was an Ottoman provincial notable from Rustchuk, Bulgaria who became grand Vizier under Mahmud II. The deposition of the reformer Sultan Selim III in 1807, and his replacement with the reactionary Mustafa IV by the Janissaries and other opponents of reform, provoked Mustafa Bayrakdar to lead his army to Constantinople in an attempt to reinstate Selim and restore his reforms. He was too late, however, as Selim had been murdered. Bayrakdar and his forces removed Mustafa and placed Selim's cousin, Mahmud, on the throne. As vizier, Bayrakdar purged the soldiers who had rebelled against Selim, removed conservatives from governmental positions and replaced them with men sympathetic to reform. Bayrakdar modernized the army and navy and attempted to reform the Janissaries, but Mahmud, fearing a political backlash of the elite corps, halted such reform. Bayrakdar's power and influence and his arrogance wielding it caused a rebellion against his position. The Janissairies attacked the Porte and laid siege to the stone powder magazine where he and his personal guard had taken refuge. As the Janissaries were about to break in the powder barrels exploded, killing Bayrakdar, his guard, and several hundred Janissaries. It is uncertain if the explosion was an accident or intentionally set off by Bayrakdar.

Related Topics:
1775 - 1808 - Ottoman - Rustchuk - Bulgaria - Grand Vizier - Mahmud II - Sultan - Selim III - 1807 - Mustafa IV - Janissaries - Reform - Constantinople - Porte - Magazine

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