Amurath

views updated Jun 27 2018

Amurath the name of several Turkish sultans. Amurath in 1574 murdered his brothers on succeeding to the throne, and his successor in 1596 did the same. Shakespeare alludes to this in Henry IV, Part 2 (1597), when the dying king admonishes his son, ‘This is the English, not the Turkish court; Not Amurath an Amurath succeeds, but Harry, Harry.’