Mehmed IV was the sultan
of the Ottoman
Empire from 1648 to 1687.
Known as Mehmed Avci (the hunter), outdoor exercise took up much of the time
of this Sultan. His reign is notable for a brief revival of Ottoman fortunes
led by the ruthless Grand Vizier, Mehmed Koprulu. Koprulu regained the Aegean
islands from Venice and fought successful
advertisement
campagns against Transylvania (1664) and Poland (1670-1674) - at one point Ottoman
rule was close to extending into Podolia and the Ukraine. A later vizier, Kara
Mustafa was less able. Supporting the 1683 Hungarian uprising of Imre Tokoloi
against Austrian rule, Kara Mustafa marched a vast army through Hungary and
besieged Vienna. On the Khalenburg Heights, the Ottomans were utterly routed
by the Imperial army (under Charles V of Lorraine) and the vengeful Poles led
by their King, John III Sobieski. Kara Mustafa was strangled in Belgrade on
Murad's orders, but it was not enough to save the throne for the Sulan who was
deposed and imprisoned at Edirne near his favourite hunting grounds.
