Mustafa I

Mustafa I (born 1591 in Manisa – died January 20, 1639 in Istanbul) (Arabic: مصطفى الأول) was the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1617 to 1618 and from 1622 to 1623.

The brother of Ahmed I (1603–17), who died because of typhus at a young age, Mustafa I was reported to be mentally retarded or at least neurotic and was never more than a tool of court cliques at the Topkapı Palace. During the reign of his brother, he was confined to his room in virtual imprisonment, a system called Kafes, for fourteen years.

In 1618, after a short rule, he was deposed in favour of his young nephew Osman II (1618–22) and was sent back to Kafes. As the conflict between the Janissaries and Osman II, who had some improvements for the imperial military in his mind, continued, a second chance became available for Mustafa. After the assassination of Osman II in 1622 by Janisarries, he retook the throne and held it for another year. He was finally deposed and imprisoned by Osman II's brother, Murad IV (1623–40). Mustafa I died sixteen years later.