Murad III

Murad III (July 4, 1546 – January 15, 1595) was the sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1574 until his death.

He was the eldest son of Selim II, and succeeded his father. His accession marks the definite beginning of the decline of the Ottoman power, which had only been maintained under Selim II by the genius of the all-powerful grand vizier Mehmed Sokollu. For, though Sokollu remained in office until his assassination in October 1578, his authority was undermined by the harem influences, which with Murad III were supreme.

His mother was a noble Venetian lady, Cecilia Venier-Baffo, the niece of Sebastiano Veniero, the Doge of Venice. She had been captured by Turkish brigands during the 1537 war and sent to the seraglio of Selim II, where she was known as Sultana Nur-Banu.