Kara Murad Pasha
Encyclopedia
Kara Murad Pasha or Kara Dev Murad Pasha was a mid-17th century Ottoman
statesman and military officer. He served as Kapudan Pasha and twice as Grand Vizier. His epithets (literally, "black") refer to his courage and ("giant") to his size.
between the Ottoman Empire and the Republic of Venice
. He was assigned to various posts in the Janissary
corps (the professional regiments that formed the core of the Ottoman army) and in 1648, during the enthronement of Mehmed IV
, he was promoted to be commander of the Janissaries . Upon his suggestion he was succeeded by Melek Ahmet Pasha
.
After his resignation Murad was assigned as the governor of Budin
(modern Budapest
, Hungary
). In 1653, he returned to Istanbul
and was appointed Kapudan Pasha (Grand Admiral) and tasked with transporting reinforcements and ammunition to Crete
by sea. The Venetian navy was blockading the Dardanelles Strait at the time, but Murad managed to defeat the Venetians and break their blockade in the First Battle of the Dardanelles.
, but on the way to take up the post, he fell ill and died. It is interesting to note that in the five years between his two terms, six different pasha
s were appointed Grand Viziers, an indication of the political instability of the empire in the mid-17th century.
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...
statesman and military officer. He served as Kapudan Pasha and twice as Grand Vizier. His epithets (literally, "black") refer to his courage and ("giant") to his size.
Early years
Murad was a devshirme of Albanian origin. He distinguished himself in the early phases of Cretan WarCretan War (1645–1669)
The Cretan War or War of Candia , as the Fifth Ottoman–Venetian War is better known, was a conflict between the Republic of Venice and her allies against the Ottoman Empire and the Barbary States, fought over the island of Crete, Venice's largest and richest overseas possession...
between the Ottoman Empire and the Republic of Venice
Republic of Venice
The Republic of Venice or Venetian Republic was a state originating from the city of Venice in Northeastern Italy. It existed for over a millennium, from the late 7th century until 1797. It was formally known as the Most Serene Republic of Venice and is often referred to as La Serenissima, in...
. He was assigned to various posts in the Janissary
Janissary
The Janissaries were infantry units that formed the Ottoman sultan's household troops and bodyguards...
corps (the professional regiments that formed the core of the Ottoman army) and in 1648, during the enthronement of Mehmed IV
Mehmed IV
Mehmed IV Modern Turkish Mehmet was the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1648 to 1687...
, he was promoted to be commander of the Janissaries . Upon his suggestion he was succeeded by Melek Ahmet Pasha
Melek Ahmet Pasha
Melek Ahmed Pasha was an Ottoman official and Grand Vizier during the stagnation of the empire.- Early years :He was of Abkhaz origin. According to one source his father was a sea captain named Pervane. During the reign of Murad IV, he was appointed as the governor of Diyarbakır...
.
After his resignation Murad was assigned as the governor of Budin
Budin Province, Ottoman Empire
Budin Eyalet was an administrative unit of the Ottoman Empire in Central Europe and the Balkans...
(modern Budapest
Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
, Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
). In 1653, he returned to Istanbul
Istanbul
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...
and was appointed Kapudan Pasha (Grand Admiral) and tasked with transporting reinforcements and ammunition to Crete
Crete
Crete is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, and one of the thirteen administrative regions of Greece. It forms a significant part of the economy and cultural heritage of Greece while retaining its own local cultural traits...
by sea. The Venetian navy was blockading the Dardanelles Strait at the time, but Murad managed to defeat the Venetians and break their blockade in the First Battle of the Dardanelles.
Second term as Grand Vizier and death
Murad Pasha was reappointed as the Grand Vizier on 11 May 1655. His second term was very short; due to economic problems as well as opposition from the Janissaries, he had to resign on 19 August 1655. He was then assigned to the governorship of Damascus in SyriaSyria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
, but on the way to take up the post, he fell ill and died. It is interesting to note that in the five years between his two terms, six different pasha
Pasha
Pasha or pascha, formerly bashaw, was a high rank in the Ottoman Empire political system, typically granted to governors, generals and dignitaries. As an honorary title, Pasha, in one of its various ranks, is equivalent to the British title of Lord, and was also one of the highest titles in...
s were appointed Grand Viziers, an indication of the political instability of the empire in the mid-17th century.