Davud Pasha
Encyclopedia
Davud Pasha also known as Da'ud Pasha was an Albanian
general and Grand Vizier
of the Ottoman Empire
from 1482 to 1497 during the reign of Bayezid II
.
, who during his childhood was conscripted through the devshirme system in the ranks of the Ottoman army, where he converted to Islam.
of the Anatolian Eyalet he was one of the commanders of the Ottoman army in the decisive victory against Ak Koyunlu
in the Battle of Otlukbeli
.
In 1478 he was given control of the troops marching against Shkodër
, Albania
by Sultan Mehmed II
, who marched against Krujë. Davud Pasha managed to capture the city, which was the last stronghold of the League of Lezhë
, thus ending the Ottoman-Albanian Wars. In 1479 he became governor (sanjakbey) of the sanjak of Bosnia and as the commander of large force of akıncılar
cavalry carried out extensive attacks and raids against the Kingdom of Hungary.
As a Grand Vizier
he led the Ottoman army in the 1487 campaign of the Ottoman-Mamluk War
. Initially Davud Pasha planned an all-out offensive expedition against the Mamluks, but his plan was cancelled by Bayezid II
, who assigned him to attack the Turgutlu and Varsak tribes. When Davud Pasha reached the Turgut and Varsak territories the Varsak leaders including the chief of the tribe submitted to him and swore allegiance to the Ottoman Empire.
. In that area he built a mosque with 108 shops around it, a madrasah
, a school, a hospice, a soup kitchen for the poor population and a public fountain dating to 1485. The whole neighborhood was consequently named after him as the Davutpasa neighborhood, part of the Fatih
district in modern times. In the Yenikapı
neighborhood he built a palace, a landing stage, eleven shops and public baths. His other public works include a bedestan
in Bitola
and shops in Skopje
and Bursa. Davud Pasha's baths in modern Skopje
are the largest baths in the Balkans
; in modern times they are used as an art gallery.
Albanians
Albanians are a nation and ethnic group native to Albania and neighbouring countries. They speak the Albanian language. More than half of all Albanians live in Albania and Kosovo...
general and Grand Vizier
Grand Vizier
Grand Vizier, in Turkish Vezir-i Azam or Sadr-ı Azam , deriving from the Arabic word vizier , was the greatest minister of the Sultan, with absolute power of attorney and, in principle, dismissable only by the Sultan himself...
of the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
from 1482 to 1497 during the reign of Bayezid II
Bayezid II
Bayezid II or Sultân Bayezid-î Velî was the oldest son and successor of Mehmed II, ruling as Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1481 to 1512...
.
Early life
Davud Pasha was a Christian AlbanianAlbanians
Albanians are a nation and ethnic group native to Albania and neighbouring countries. They speak the Albanian language. More than half of all Albanians live in Albania and Kosovo...
, who during his childhood was conscripted through the devshirme system in the ranks of the Ottoman army, where he converted to Islam.
Military campaigns
In 1473 as BeylerbeyBeylerbey
Beylerbey is the Ottoman and Safavid title used for the highest rank in the hierarchy of provincial administrators It is in western terms a Governor-general, with authority...
of the Anatolian Eyalet he was one of the commanders of the Ottoman army in the decisive victory against Ak Koyunlu
Ak Koyunlu
The Aq Qoyunlu or Ak Koyunlu, also called the White Sheep Turkomans , was an Sunni Oghuz Turkic tribal federation that ruled parts of present-day Eastern Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan, northern Iraq, and Iran from 1378 to 1508.-History:According to chronicles from the Byzantine Empire, the Aq Qoyunlu...
in the Battle of Otlukbeli
Battle of Otlukbeli
The Battle of Otlukbeli or Otluk Beli was a battle between Ak Koyunlu and the Ottoman Empire that was fought on August 11, 1473.- Reasons for the conflict :...
.
In 1478 he was given control of the troops marching against Shkodër
Shkodër
Shkodër , is a city located on Lake of Shkoder in northwestern Albania in the District of Shkodër, of which it is the capital. It is one of the oldest and most historic towns in Albania, as well as an important cultural and economic centre. Shkodër's estimated population is 90,000; if the...
, Albania
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
by Sultan Mehmed II
Mehmed II
Mehmed II , was Sultan of the Ottoman Empire for a short time from 1444 to September 1446, and later from...
, who marched against Krujë. Davud Pasha managed to capture the city, which was the last stronghold of the League of Lezhë
League of Lezhë
The League of Lezhë was an alliance of Albanian Principalities forged in Lezhë on the 2nd of March 1444. It was initiated and organised by Skanderbeg with the aim of uniting the Albanian principalities that had been founded in the 12th - 14th centuries, to fight the Ottoman Armies...
, thus ending the Ottoman-Albanian Wars. In 1479 he became governor (sanjakbey) of the sanjak of Bosnia and as the commander of large force of akıncılar
Akinci
Akıncı were irregular light cavalry,scout divisions and advance troops of the Ottoman Empire's military. When the pre-existing Turkish ghazis were incorporated into the Ottoman Empire's military they became known as "akıncı." They were one of the first divisions to face the opposing military and...
cavalry carried out extensive attacks and raids against the Kingdom of Hungary.
As a Grand Vizier
Grand Vizier
Grand Vizier, in Turkish Vezir-i Azam or Sadr-ı Azam , deriving from the Arabic word vizier , was the greatest minister of the Sultan, with absolute power of attorney and, in principle, dismissable only by the Sultan himself...
he led the Ottoman army in the 1487 campaign of the Ottoman-Mamluk War
Ottoman–Mamluk War (1485–1491)
An Ottoman-Mamluk war took place between 1485–1491, when the Ottoman Empire invaded the Mamluk Sultanate territories of Anatolia and Syria. This war was an essential event in the Ottoman struggle for the domination of the Middle-East. After multiple encounters however, the war ended in a stalemate...
. Initially Davud Pasha planned an all-out offensive expedition against the Mamluks, but his plan was cancelled by Bayezid II
Bayezid II
Bayezid II or Sultân Bayezid-î Velî was the oldest son and successor of Mehmed II, ruling as Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1481 to 1512...
, who assigned him to attack the Turgutlu and Varsak tribes. When Davud Pasha reached the Turgut and Varsak territories the Varsak leaders including the chief of the tribe submitted to him and swore allegiance to the Ottoman Empire.
Public works
Davud Pasha's public works are mainly found in the Forum Arcadii area of modern IstanbulIstanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
. In that area he built a mosque with 108 shops around it, a madrasah
Madrasah
Madrasah is the Arabic word for any type of educational institution, whether secular or religious...
, a school, a hospice, a soup kitchen for the poor population and a public fountain dating to 1485. The whole neighborhood was consequently named after him as the Davutpasa neighborhood, part of the Fatih
Fatih
Fatih is a municipality and district in Istanbul, Turkey that encompasses most of the peninsula coinciding with historic Constantinople. In 2009, the district of Eminönü, formerly a separate municipality located at the tip of the peninsula, was merged into Fatih...
district in modern times. In the Yenikapı
Yenikapi
Yenikapı is a port and a neighborhood of Istanbul, Turkey, in the metropolitan district of Fatih on the European side of the Bosphorus and along the southern shore of the city's historically central peninsula....
neighborhood he built a palace, a landing stage, eleven shops and public baths. His other public works include a bedestan
Bedestan
A Bedestan is covered market usually for haberdashery and craftsmanship. Bezistans were built in Ottoman Empire and their design is based on the design of the mosques....
in Bitola
Bitola
Bitola is a city in the southwestern part of the Republic of Macedonia. The city is an administrative, cultural, industrial, commercial, and educational centre. It is located in the southern part of the Pelagonia valley, surrounded by the Baba and Nidže mountains, 14 km north of the...
and shops in Skopje
Skopje
Skopje is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Macedonia with about a third of the total population. It is the country's political, cultural, economic, and academic centre...
and Bursa. Davud Pasha's baths in modern Skopje
Skopje
Skopje is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Macedonia with about a third of the total population. It is the country's political, cultural, economic, and academic centre...
are the largest baths in the Balkans
Balkans
The Balkans is a geopolitical and cultural region of southeastern Europe...
; in modern times they are used as an art gallery.