In Rome the Ottoman trace is not a battle but a sad story of a prince: Cem Sultan, son of Mehmed II, spent the last years of his life in the Pope’s palace, in a golden cage.
A lost throne
When Mehmed II died in 1481, a struggle for the throne broke out between his sons Bayezid and Cem. Cem lost and in 1482 took refuge with the Knights of Rhodes. The Knights took him to France, where he lived for years under guard. For Europe’s rulers the prince was a valuable bargaining chip: as long as they held Cem, it was harder for Bayezid II to campaign in Europe.
The Pope’s guest, the Sultan’s hostage
Cem was brought to Rome on 13 March 1489 and placed in the custody of Pope Innocent VIII. Bayezid II paid the Pope 45,000 ducats a year to keep his brother; in 1492 he also sent the “Holy Lance”, a relic sacred to Christians, to Rome. In the Vatican Cem wrote poetry, went hunting and received visitors, but he was not free.
Death near Naples
In 1494 King Charles VIII of France invaded Italy and demanded that Pope Alexander VI hand Cem over. Cem left Rome with the French army in January 1495 and died near Naples at the end of February 1495. Rumours of poisoning spread at once, but many historians think he most likely died of pneumonia. His body was brought to Bursa only a few years later, in 1499, and buried in the Muradiye complex.
Cem Sultan’s story is one of the longest tales of exile in Ottoman history, and it was written in Europe.
What to see today
- Vatican Museums, Borgia Apartments: frescoes by Pinturicchio; one of the figures is said to depict Cem.
- The Vatican and St Peter’s area: where the papal palace in which Cem lived stands.
- Bursa, Muradiye complex: Cem Sultan’s tomb (in Türkiye).
Tips for your visit
The Vatican Museums are very crowded; book tickets in advance and check the museum plan so you do not miss the Borgia Apartments on your route. Check current opening times before you go. For the story of Cem’s father, read The Conquest of Constantinople.