A khmed the First was very zealous and worked hard at Imperial affairs, being second only to Solyman the Lawgiver in this respect. Even in childhood his decisions were perfect and judicious. He was an excellent poet and published a collection of his work under the pen name Bakhtee.
Akhmed was extremely religious and was a prominent Moslem Saint (a Veli). He built Sultan Akhmed Mosque with its six minarets and 14 sherefes (external galleries on a minaret). He wrote a poem in the picture of Mohammed's sacred footprints and carried it with him in his turban until the day of his death. The poem reads:
"I wish I always carried the picture of the holy feer of his Exalted Excellency
Who is the Chief of all the Prophets
The rose of the rosary of Prophets is the possessor of those holy feet.
Oh Ahmeda, do not hesitate
but rub your face on the holy feet of the Exalted Rose."
When Akhmed took power there were internal wars within the Ottoman Empire. Also there were wars against Persia in the east and Germany and her allies in the west. After a while the German powers were routed and the Peace of Zitwaterok was signed. The Djelalee Rebellions were subdued in 1611 and an agreement signed with Persia. There were numerous naval victories in the Mediterranean.
Sultan Ahmed the First died in 1617 and was buried in his tomb next to the Sultan Akhmed Mosque.
The calligrapher Hassan Chelebi of Scutari and Mawlana Aliy'yul Kaari, the writer of the Tesaniyf, were the great learned men of the time.
Akhmed had ten sons, the most important being Osman the Second and Amurath the Fourth. He also had four daughters.