Sultan Murad IV's Bagdad Campaign and The Kasr-ı Sirin Treaty

The Ottoman Porte was in good company with many goverments beginningfrom its establishment to the 16th century. The greatest problem for the governmentfrom the beginning to the midst of the 17th century were the Safavis. With the BekirSubasi insurgence, immediately after Murad IV succeeded to the throne, Baghdad, oneof the most important states of the of the Ottoman Empire, was captured by the Safavis.Besides being situated on the trade roads running from the east, the existence of both,Imam-ı Azam Ebu Hanefi?s tomb, which is holy for the Suni, and the holy Shi?a shrinesof Najaf and Karbala in the region of Baghdad state make the importance of the placeclear to the eye. The Ottoman and the Safavis made every sacrifice to conquer and ownBaghdad.During the first period of Murad IV reign, three attempts of conquest ofBaghdad were made. As the Sultan was at the age of a child, none of these attempts,made with the leadership of the Veziriazams, were successful and Baghdad couldn?t beseized. There were a great amount of military and financial losses. After 1632, SultanMurad having gained control of all governing, he attacked on the Safavis in the firstplace. He then moved on Revan in 1635 and after the 10 days? siege, the Revan Castlewas captured. The Sultan, who intended to move on Baghdad, had togo back due to hisillness. Six months later, Revan was recaptured by Shah Safi and was added to theSafavian land. This loss forced the second biggest movement to the east led by SultanMurad himself. Thus, the hatred in him to the Safavis had fully increased. The easternmovement was started in 1636. Sultan Murad, leading his armies, moved on Baghdad.While in Mosul, he sent some of his troops on Revan and then Baghdad was besieged.After the forty days? siege, the castle was seized. Owing to his worsened illness, SultanMurad decided to go back to İstanbul, appointing Veziriazam Kara Mustafa Pasa to thenegotiations of peace with the Safavis in Baghdad. When the Veziriazam moved oninterior Iran, the Safavian Shah Safi agreed to make peace. The peace treaty with theSafavis was signed in Kasr-ı Sirin near Zehab plain in 1639. The text of the agreementwas sent to İstanbul to be signed by the Sultan. Thus, the period of peace between Iranand the Ottomans, that would last for years, was started. The territories designed withthe Kasr-ı Sirin treaty has been valid so far. For this reason, how practical the treatymentioned above is, beyond doubt, is a solid fact.