Cem
Quick Summary
Cem was an Ottoman prince and a claimant to the throne in the late 15th century. He was the son of Sultan Mehmed II and the brother of Sultan Bayezid II. After their father's death in 1481, Cem challenged Bayezid for the throne, leading to a civil war. Cem was ultimately defeated and fled into exile, first to Mamluk Syria and then to the Knights of Rhodes, eventually ending up in Rome. European powers attempted to use Cem as a pawn against the Ottomans, but these efforts were unsuccessful. His exile and the threat of his return influenced Bayezid II's policies, leading to internal consolidation and reforms within the Ottoman Empire. Cem died in exile in 1495.1
Ask Britannica AI about this topic
Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.
- Bayezid II
…father in 1481, his brother Cem contested the succession. Bayezid, supported by a strong faction of court officials at Constantinople, succeeded in taking the throne. Cem eventually sought refuge with the Knights of Saint John at Rhodes and remained a captive until his death in 1495.
Read More…father in 1481, his brother Cem contested the succession. Bayezid, supported by a strong faction of court officials at Constantinople, succeeded in taking the throne. Cem eventually sought refuge with the Knights of Saint John at Rhodes and remained a captive until his death in 1495.
Read More
Ottoman EmpireBayezid II…while his more militant brother Cem fled to Anatolia, where he led a revolt initially supported by the Turkish notables. Bayezid managed to conciliate the latter, however, by exposing to them his essentially pacific plans, which downgraded the devşirme, leaving Cem without major support. Cem then fled into exile in…
Read More…while his more militant brother Cem fled to Anatolia, where he led a revolt initially supported by the Turkish notables. Bayezid managed to conciliate the latter, however, by exposing to them his essentially pacific plans, which downgraded the devşirme, leaving Cem without major support. Cem then fled into exile in…
Read More

