Selim III

Selim III (1761-1808), Sultan of Turkey, was the son of Mustafa III., and when he ascended the throne in 1789 great expectations were raised from his known admirable qualities. He was, however, hampered by the Janissaries, who defeated his efforts at reform, and finally deposed him in favour of Mustafa IV., who caused him to be strangled. He had contracted alliances with the English and French at different times, and on Napoleon's successful invasion of Egypt it was the former who restored it to him.