BELLETEN, cilt.82, sa.295, ss.1013-1047, 2018 (AHCI)
This paper considers fratricide in the Ottoman Empire from the Islamic/Ottoman Law viewpoint. The established Turkish political tradition, which is based on the fact that the ruling power is a common patrimony of the members of the dynasty, gave rise to disastrous results in the early period of the Ottoman Empire. Since a strict succession system was not imposed during that early period of the Ottoman State, it would be the destiny of a shahzadah (prince) which would determine his fate in becoming the next sultan. This resulted in infighting amongst the shahzadahs.