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Primary sourceLetter15th century

Testament of Mehmed II to His Son Bayezid II

Mehmed II · 15th century

A deathbed testament of advice from Sultan Mehmed II to his son and heir, Bayezid II, on how to rule justly.

This is Mehmed II's own deathbed advice to his heir, revealing his political and religious outlook.

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Source: Wikisource

About this source

What it is

This Arabic text is presented as the advice Mehmed II gave to his son and successor, Bayezid II, near the end of his life. It is listed among his works on Arabic Wikisource and offers guidance on justice, religion, and governance.

Why it matters

As a primary source attributed to Mehmed himself, this testament gives insight into how the sultan wanted to be remembered and what values he hoped his heir would uphold — justice, support for scholars, care for the treasury, and devotion to religion. It reflects the political and religious outlook of an Ottoman ruler passing power to the next generation.

Look closer

  • What qualities does Mehmed urge his son to value most, and why might he choose these?
  • What does the advice about scholars and religion tell you about Ottoman ideas of good rulership?
  • How might a testament like this differ from how the ruler actually behaved in life?

This letter is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Mehmed II on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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