27. Ibrahim bankrupted the Ottoman Empire through his extravagances
Ibrahim was the brother of Murad IV, Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, and as a result was sentenced to imprisonment by the insane Murad, who had his other three brothers executed. Ibrahim was only spared due to the pleadings of his mother, who was also the concubine who had given birth to Murad (the other brothers were from other concubines). When Murad died Ibrahim became Sultan and became so infamous that it was widely believed his imprisonment had affected his sanity. Ibrahim spent his time and the empire’s treasure on personal extravagances, banishing or imprisoning any who opposed him, and elevated women of his harem to high offices. Eventually even Ibrahim’s mother called for his removal, responding to a member of a conspiracy for the purpose, “The whole society is in ruins. Have him removed from the throne immediately”. After he was removed from the throne his mother, who had once pled for his life, gave her consent to his assassination.
