In 1544, Sultan Suleyman embarked on a military campaign to the West, returning with substantial booty along with an annual tax revenue of thirty thousand gold coins, as documented in Pegevi history.
Succession and Stewardship of the Treasury
Upon Sultan Suleyman’s death in 1566, his successor, Sultan Selim II (1566-1574), inherited a powerful empire. However, it was largely due to the guidance of his Grand Vizier Sokullu that Sultan Selim II was able to sustain the prosperity of the Treasury and pass it on to his son, Sultan Murad III (1574-1595) Private Turkey Tour Guide.
Topkapi Palace Reorganization
During Sultan Murad III’s reign, the internal organization of Topkapi Palace was finalized. The Harem and Imperial Treasury were relocated to Topkapi Palace, prompting Sultan Murad III to task Governor General and Vizier Mehmet Pasha with overseeing the redesign and quality control of coinage. However, the distribution of faulty “ulufe” coins to the Janissaries and Spahis caused unrest. Dissatisfied with the quality of the coins, the soldiers confronted Governor General Mehmet Pasha, expressing their discontent with his management.
Council of State Confrontation
The Spahis, in particular, voiced their grievances, questioning whether such substandard coins had ever been issued in the history of the Ottoman Empire The Wealth of Ottoman Viziers. Governor General Mehmet Pasha’s response further aggravated the situation, leading to a confrontation between the soldiers and the state officials. The matter was brought to the State Council, where tensions ran high, and the dispute was addressed in the presence of ministers and officials from both the interior and exterior courtyards of the Palace.
