Editing Selim II (section)

===Character of Selim's rule===
In this new political environment, the grand vizier Sokollu Mehmed Pasha exerted significant control over governance throughout his entire reign.{{sfn | A’goston | Masters | 2010 | pp= 152–153}} Mehmed Pasha served continuously as grand vizier under Suleiman, and then Selim. Known for strategically placing family members and associates in key positions across the empire, he established a reliable network of proteges. Contemporary accounts highlight Sokollu's virtual sovereignty during Selim's reign, with the grand vizier effectively managing the empire. Selim's limited involvement in governance can be attributed not only to Sokollu's dominant role but also to a significant shift in the empire's political landscape. The emergence of the court and favourites system, along with the sedentarization of the sultanate, marked Selim's reign and later became defining aspects of power struggles among his successors.{{sfn | A’goston | Masters | 2010 | pp=513, 536}}

Beginning with Selim, the sultans also abstained from participating in military campaigns, spending most of their time in the palace.{{sfn | A’goston | Masters | 2010 | p=369}} Over time during his reign, the janissaries began to increase their power at the expense of the sultan. "Acession money" demanded by the janissaries had increased; they used their power to gain more benefits for their personal lives instead of improving the state. Janissaries were now able to marry and were allowed to enrol their sons in the Corps.<ref>{{Cite book |last=McCarthy |first=Justin |url=http://archive.org/details/ottomanturksintr0000mcca |title=The Ottoman Turks: An Introductory History to 1923 |date=1997 |publisher=London; New York : Longman |isbn=978-0-582-25656-9 |pages=163–164 |language=en}}</ref>