Background
and
The Ottoman Empire's control of Bagdhad is no longer challenged by anything but it's own decadence but once valient soldiers of the Ottoman Empire and fierce Persian warriors spilled their blood into the sand in battles over Bagdhad. - Aman, tour guide of Bagdhad.
The sixteenth centuries started with the Ottoman Turks controlling Bagdhad thanks to earlier conquests. In 1619 Bekr a captain of the janissaries, or the elite troops of the empire, declared himself the warlord of Bagdhad. In defence against a nearing Ottoman army, he offered to let the Persians take over the city. Worried Ottoman leaders made peace with the rebels and Bekr kept the city gates closed against the Persian army. His son betrayed him and opened the gates. The Persian army killed the entire rebel family along with the soldiers who supported them on the motto that traiters should not be trusted. The Ottoman troops would need a series of campains lasting until 1626 to retake Baghdad. In 1639 the two opposing empires agreed to a peace which has lasted until now. (pg. 142, Iraq from Summer to Saddam) This marked the first of many eneffecient rulers in the Ottoman empire who led to it's long decline from 1600 to the present date of 1800.