Selim II
From Halbeeg, the open encyclopedia · Af-Soomaali
76 languages
Selim II (1524–1574) was the Ottoman sultan who ruled from 1566 to 1574. He was the son of Suleiman the Magnificent and Hürrem Sultan (Roxelana). He succeeded to the throne after his father's death while on campaign in Hungary, though his father's death was not publicly announced until after the news reached the seat of power in the capital.
During his reign, financial administration and decisions on warfare and diplomacy were largely concentrated in the hands of the Grand Vizier Sokollu Mehmed Pasha. Unlike his father and grandfather, Selim did not lead military campaigns in person, marking a significant shift in how the sultanate operated: a withdrawal from the battlefield, replaced by rule from the Ottoman capital in Istanbul.
The conquest of Cyprus and the Battle of Lepanto
The most significant event of his reign was the campaign for Cyprus (Cyprus), then held by Venice. Ottoman forces captured the island in 1570–1571. In response, Western Catholic powers—including Spain, Venice, and the Papal States—formed an alliance (the Holy League) whose fleet defeated the Ottoman navy at sea in the Battle of Lepanto in 1571. Nevertheless, the Ottomans rebuilt their fleet quickly and retained Cyprus; a peace treaty with Venice in 1573 formally recognized this.
Other aspects of foreign policy
During his reign there were also attempts at expansion in the northeast, involving Astrakhan and schemes to link the Don and Volga rivers by canal, which ultimately failed. In the western Mediterranean in 1574, Ottoman forces retook Tunis from Spain, strengthening Ottoman control of the North African coast. While ruling, diplomatic and commercial relations with France continued.
Culture and architecture
His name is associated with the Selimiye Mosque in Edirne, designed by architect-engineer Mimar Sinan. That structure—which Sinan himself called among his finest works—is seen as representing the high point of Ottoman architectural achievement in the sixteenth century.
Death and succession
Selim II died in 1574 and was succeeded by his son Murad III. Murad's mother, Nurbanu Sultan, wielded considerable influence over palace affairs in the following period. Some historians refer to him by the epithet 'Sarı Selim' (Selim the Sot); other nicknames attributed to him are largely derived from hostile external sources and should not be relied upon.