Spies for the Sultan: Ottoman Intelligence in the Great Rivalry with Spain

The Bishop of Heraclea, an Orthodox clergyman who played a key role in 16th century European politics, approached the Habsburgs with an intriguing proposition to sow discord in the Ottoman Empire and enable the Austrian-Spanish imperial family to expand their empire into the Balkans. The Spanish Emperor Charles V could join forces with the Persian Shah Tahmasp and reach out to the son of Sultan Suleiman I, Prince Selim, to form an alliance to take on his brother Prince Mustafa. There was a widespread belief that with the death of Suleiman, there would be a struggle for power, in which Mustafa would likely win. Backing Selim would ensure a period of prolonged chaos and the European power could profit off […]