SULTAN MUSTAFA THE THIRD

(1717 - 1774)

Mustafa the Third was of medium height, large eyed, flat nosed and black bearded. He had a huge and strong body. He had a very good education. He was a prince of considerably industry and talent. He was particularly very gifted at writing poems. The poems written by him under the pseudonym of of "Djikhangir" are very well-known. One of his most famous poems is as follows:
It should not be expected from us that we save the world which is being ruined, The spoilt administration of the country have
caused everything be out of order. Now everybody who is working at the Imperial
Palace is base. Allah is the only One Who is the Merciful and
Everlasting and who will help

He occupied himself with Astronomy. and studied the histories of Islam and Ottoman Empire to a large extent. He prepared for the defense against Russia working day and night since he w 35 aware of that the greatest danger would come iron: Russia. He made the internal and external treasures rich for the expenses of warfare.
He was 40 years old at his accession. He knew well the necessisty of making improvements in the goverment. In fact, he made important attempts in this respect. He even was thinking of opening the Suez-Canal; on the other hand.he had cares of not finding the authorities for important positions.
He had the Fatih Djamiee (Mosque of Conqueror) and the Eyub Sultan Mosque as well as almost the whole City of Islambol reconstructed. The Naval and Land Schools of Gunnery were established in his time in 1764.

The Russian – Ottoman War commenced in 1768 and terminated in 1774, and at the end of the war, the Treaty of Kainardji was concluded between the two countries. The Ottoman Empire had a very heavy loss of lands. It was the time of the real beginning of the "Decline Era" of the Ottoman Empire.
Mustafa the Third fell sick during the Russian War, and passed away at the time when he was in his 57 s (May Allah have mercy upon his soul!)

The Laleli Mosque was built in (our years' ti me during his reigning era. The Sheikh Abdoullah Kashkaree expired in that time, and he v. as committed into his tomb at Eyab.

He had two sons called Selim the Third and Mohammed; and he had five daughters whose names were Shah Sultana, Fatima Sultana. Beikhan Sultana, Fatima Sultana, Khibetoullah Sultana