He fought against his younger brother, Selim, in the Ottoman Civil War of 1509–1513 to succeed their father, and was a central figure in the Şahkulu rebellion.

Although the status was not official, he was usually considered as the crown prince during the last years of his father's reign, in part because of the support of the grand vizier, Hadim Ali Pasha.

Although Selim's son Süleyman (future Suleiman the Magnificent) had been assigned to Bolu, a small sanjak closer to Istanbul, upon Ahmed's objection, he was relocated to Kaffa in Crimea.

His attitude caused unease among the soldiers; more importantly, his main supporter, Hadim Ali Pasha, lost his life during the rebellion.

He is also shown being close to his nephew Suleiman, Selim's son, who supports Ahmed in his efforts to become Sultan and disapproves of his father's methods.

He also oversaw the excavation of an old library built by the Assassin Altaïr Ibn-LaʼAhad in Masyaf, which the Templars believed to contain the power to end all conflict and enslave humanity.

In the final confrontation of the game, Ahmed is defeated by the protagonist Ezio Auditore da Firenze, and then killed by Selim by being pushed off a cliff.