Well-educated by his mother, Mehmed the Fourth was only seven years old when he became Sultan and, for the first years of his reign, the Empire was effectively ruled by his advisors. During this time the lack of order amongst Turkish troops reached a climax. The Janissaries and the Sipahees fought each other, the Janissary troops emerging victorious.
In 1651, Koesem Sultana, the mother of both Amurath the Fourth and Ibrahim Khan, was murdered and, as a result, most of the Janissary Regiment’s officers were put to death. Public order was thus restored.
A number of Grand Viziers were tried without success but in 1659 Kiuprili Mahomed Pasha was appointed. In 1659 the Empire also won a great victory against Russia. In 1660 the great fire of Istanbul broke out. The following year Kiuprili Mahomed Pasha died and his place was taken by his son, Fazyl Ahmed Pasha.
War began with Germany in 1663 and the Battle of Serinvar was won. In 1664 the whole of Crete was subjected to the Empire. In 1672 Komaniche, Poland and Galichia were conquered. In 1673, Sultan Mehmed twice waged war on Poland, the Treaty of Zoravno being signed in 1676. Kara Moustapha Pasha of Merziphon became Grand Vizier on November 3rd, 1676.
In 1677, war began with Russia. Cherkhin was captured in 1678 and in 1683 Vienna besieged for the second time. It held out, however, and due to the treachery of the Crimean Khan, the Ottoman army was routed. The Battle of Alamandaghi was lost and the siege was abandoned. There was much rejoicing in the European countries at this news.
In 1678, Mehmed was dethroned and sent, in exile, to the Palace of Edirne. He died in January 1693 at Edirne and his corpse was removed to Istanbul. He was buried next to his mother’s grave in the Yenidjami Tomb.
Mehmed had four sons: Moustapha the Second, Ahmed the Third, Ahmed and Bayezid.