Mustafa III (Ottoman Turkish: مصطفى ثالث‎, lit. 'Muṣṭafā-yi sālis') (18/28 January 1717 – 21 January 1774) was the Sultan of the Ottoman Empirefrom 1757 to 1774. He was a son of Sultan Ahmed III (1703–30) and was succeeded by his brother Abdul Hamid I (1774–89). He was born in Edirne Palace. His mother was Âminā Mihr-î-Shâh Sultan.
Reign
An energetic and perceptive ruler, Mustafa III sought to modernize the army and the internal state machinery to bring his empire in line with the Powers of Europe.
Mustafa III did secure the services of foreign generals to initiate a reform of the infantry and artillery. The Sultan also ordered the founding of Academies for Mathematics, Navigation and the Sciences.
He died at Topkapi Palace, Constantinople.
Consorts
• Ayn ul-Hayat Bash Kadin Effendi (1726 – 21 July 1764), styled Bash Kadin Effendi from 30 October 1757.
• Fahima Kadin Effendi (d. 1761).
• Mihrişah Sultan (1745 – 16 October 1805), originally from Georgia; styled 2nd Kadin Effendi from 1761, Bash Kadin Effendi from 21 July 1764.
• Rifat Kadin Effendi (1744 – January 1804), styled 2nd Kadin Effendifrom 21 July 1764.
• Aisha Adil-Shah Kadin Effendi (1748 – 19 December 1803).
• Binnaz Kadin Effendi (d. May 1823).
Sons
• Selim III (24 December 1762 – 28 July 1808), son of Mihrişah.
• Şehzade Mehmed (10 January 1767 – 12 October 1772), son of Mihrişah.
Daughters
• Hibatullah Sultan (17 March 1759 – June 1762).
• Shah Sultan (born and died bef. April 1761), daughter of Rifat.
• Shah Sultan (21 April 1761 – 11th March 1803), daughter of Mihrişah. Married:
• firstly 23 April 1764, H.H. Damad Kosa Bahir Mustafa Pasha, Grand Vizier.
• secondly 1 January 1768, H.H. Damad Muhammad Amin Pasha, Grand Vizier 1768-1769.
• thirdly 2 October 1778, Damad Sayyid Mustafa Pasha.
• Mihr-i-Mah Sultan (5 February 1762 – 6 October 1762), daughter of Ayn ul-Hayat.
• Mihr-i-Shah Sultan (9 January 1763 – 21 February 1769).
• Hatum Sultan (1764 – March 1769).
• Bayhan Sultan (13 January 1765 – 7 November 1824), daughter of Aisha Adil-Shah. Married 22 April 1784, Damad Jalik Mustafa Pasha.
• Hatice Sultan (15 June 1766 – 17 July 1821), daughter of Aisha Adil-Shah. Married 10 November 1786, Damad Sayyid Ahmed Pasha.
• Fatma Sultan (9 January 1770 – 26 May 1772), daughter of Mihrişah.
• Raykhan Sultan.