I never would have imagined writing this book were it not for Adam Gauntlett, who, after realising that I was the only professor in the United Kingdom teaching Ottoman history from beginning to end, convinced me to write a complete history of the dynasty. I would like to thank dear friend Theresa Truax, who saved this book at a crucial stage. I am grateful for the wise counsel of Joe Zigmond at John Murray and Brian Distelberg at Basic Books, who offered invaluable criticism on many book drafts. I am indebted to Roger Labrie for asking important questions, which compelled me to rewrite the manuscript until it was clearer. I would like to express my gratitude to Yorgo Dedes, Ceyda Karamürsel, Chris Markiewicz, Esra Özyürek, Christine Philliou, Elyse Semerdjian, Gagan Sood, Bedross Der Matossian, and Taylor Sherman, who graciously commented on all or sections of the manuscript in the midst of a plague year. I am thankful that the International History Department at the London School of Economics and Political Science granted sabbatical leave, which enabled me to finish writing this book. My debt to my teachers, Carl Petry, Rudi Lindner, Fatma Müge Göçek, Ronald Grigor Suny, Robert Dankoff, and Cornell Fleischer, who taught me to look critically at Ottoman history from different perspectives, will be evident to all specialist readers of this work.