'Osman III' (
Ottoman Turkish: عثمان ثالث ''‘Osmān-i sālis'')
(January 2, 1699 – October 30, 1757) was the
Sultan of the
Ottoman Empire from
1754 to
1757.
The younger brother of
Mahmud I (1730–54) and son of
Mustafa II (1695–1703), Osman III was a generally insignificant prince. His brief reign is notable for a rising intolerance of non-Muslims (
Christians and
Jews being required to wear distinctive clothes or badges) and for a fire in
Istanbul.
Osman III lived most of his life as a prisoner in the Palace, and so upon becoming Sultan he had some behavioral peculiarities. Unlike previous Sultans, he hated music, and sent all musicians out of the palace. Also living in the "
kafes", the palace prison in the "
harem" which was the part of palace containing women's quarters he grew a dislike for women's companionship. Therefore he would wear iron shoes in order to not cross paths with any women, by wearing such shoes they could hear him approach and disperse.