The

The Hello, this is a History of Europe Key Battles podcast. This is the third and final part on the Siege of Vienna of 1683.

On the 3rd of November 1676, the Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire, Fasil Ahmed Pasha, was on his way from Istanbul to the city of Edenay, historically known as Ejunople,

when he died unexpectedly at the age of just 41. It is recorded from too heavy drinking.

It was an unfortunate end and otherwise well-respected statesman, who, like his father before him,

had skilfully led the Ottoman government

and brought about much-needed stability to the regime. It was generally assumed that Ahmed

would be succeeded by his brother, Mustafa Zadeh, but instead Sultan Mimit, the fourth, chose

Ahmed's brother-in Enor named Kara Mustafa.

Born near the town of Mezzifon, south of the Black Sea,

Kara Mustafa had been adopted by the future Grand Vizier, Kropruh Mehmed, in his teens.

He quickly became an intimate member of the clan, marrying one of Kupruly's

daughters. He became especially close friends with Fazil Ahmed, but unlike his half-brother,

refused to touch alcohol in any form. Physically, he was tall and powerfully built, with

a thick black beard and dark features.

While the rest of the Kupruulu family were from Albania, Karam Mustafa was pure Anatolian.

As an admiral in the Aegean fleet, he fought in the campaign against Crete and became renowned for his courage.

And he appeared to have

a genuine contempt for Europeans and non-Muslims in general. His first foreign intervention

as Grand Vizier was in Right Bank Ukraine, where he wanted to tighten Ottoman control and

fend off encroachments from Muscovy.

The two countries fought until 1681 when a treaty was signed in Crimea.

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