Orhan Çelebi

Orhan Çelebi (1412 – 29 May 1453) was a prince of the Ottoman dynasty. He was the grandson of Süleyman Çelebi.^[1]

Orhan lived in Constantinople as an exile and hostage. As the only living male member of the Ottoman dynasty other than Mehmed II Orhan was a potential challenger to the throne. The Ottoman Empire paid tribute to the Byzantines to keep him as a hostage so that he would not emerge as a rival to Mehmed II. Emperor Constantine XI's threat to release Orhan as a challenger unless the tribute money was increased angered the Ottomans and provided a pretext for besieging Constantinople.^[2] In 1453 he joined the defence of the Byzantine Empire during the Fall of Constantinople with about 600 Ottoman prisoners who were loyal to him^[3] by his side.^[4] They were charged with defending part of the sea walls, including the harbour of Eptaskalio.

There are several tales about exactly how it happened, but after the city had fallen, Orhan was caught and executed on the orders of Sultan Mehmed II while attempting to escape while disguised as a monk.^[5]