Ahmed I vs Christian VII of Denmark

Upon his accession, Ahmed I spared his brother Mustafa I from execution, breaking the tradition of fratricide established by Mehmed II. Instead, he placed Mustafa in confinement (kafes). This reform changed Ottoman succession practices, ending the killing of brothers.

Ahmed I's empire signed the Treaty of Zsitvatorok with the Habsburg monarchy, ending the Long Turkish War. The treaty recognized the Habsburg emperor as equal to the Ottoman sultan and established a peace that lasted for decades.

Ahmed I's grand vizier Kuyucu Murad Pasha brutally suppressed the Celali rebellions in Anatolia, killing tens of thousands. The rebellion was crushed by 1610, restoring order but at a high human cost, leaving the countryside devastated.

Ahmed I commissioned the construction of the Sultan Ahmed Mosque in Istanbul, known as the Blue Mosque for its blue tiles. Completed in 1616, it was the first imperial mosque built in over 40 years and became a symbol of Ottoman architecture.

Christian VII, suffering from severe mental illness, appointed his personal physician Johann Friedrich Struensee as a minister. Struensee quickly gained influence over the king and effectively became the de facto ruler of Denmark-Norway, initiating a series of radical Enlightenment reforms.

Under Struensee's direction, a wave of reforms was enacted, including freedom of the press, abolition of torture, reform of the justice system, and reduction of noble privileges. These reforms were implemented rapidly and without consultation, alienating the nobility and conservative elements.

A conspiracy led by the queen dowager Juliana Maria and noble opponents resulted in Struensee's arrest. He was convicted of usurping royal authority and having an affair with Queen Caroline Matilda. Struensee was executed, and his reforms were largely reversed, restoring conservative rule.

After Struensee's fall, Christian VII remained king but was completely incapacitated by mental illness. A regency government was established, first under Juliana Maria and later under Crown Prince Frederick (future Frederick VI). Christian VII had no real power for the rest of his reign.