♔ ─〘The Sublime Porte (Devlet-i Osmâniyye) 〙─ ♔

In 1738, the sudden death of Sultan Ahmed IV shattered the fragile balance of the Ottoman Empire. His death left behind a contested throne. He had no close heirs and the system of succession could not handle it, so rival princes, generals, and provincial governors began to lay claim to sovereignty. Though a legitimate heir existed, Prince Mehmed, who was his nephew twice removed, he had been left financially destitute and politically isolated. Without the wealth to rally support from the Janissaries or the Imperial Divan, he could not immediately enforce his right to rule.

What began as a minor succession dispute quickly spiraled into a decade-long civil war (1738–1748). Ambitious beys and pashas raised armies in the provinces, claiming autonomy in exchange for pledging loose loyalty to various pretenders. The central authority of Constantinople broke apart, and the empire fractured into feuding factions, each controlled by warlords, loyalist generals, or opportunistic noble families.

The collapse of central taxation forced local governors to rely on feudal-style arrangements, empowering landowners and granting titles in exchange for soldiers and loyalty. Peasants, once under the stable oversight of the imperial system, became tied to their local lords more closely than ever. In effect, Ottoman feudalism strengthened during this period, as a survival mechanism in a fractured world.

Mehmed won his throne back, making alliances and closed room deals to restore his family to significance after 10 years, in 1748. Two years have passed since then, and he has been working tirelessly to restore the significance of the central government to no avail.

Everyone is welcome in our server, and can be many things. Strive to be a Prince of the Empire, or maybe a noble who worked his way up to the top spot. Or perhaps throw the Empire into a second civil war. The choice is yours. Shape the Sublime Porte's destiny here.