Sultanzade Mehmed Pasha
Encyclopedia
Sultanzade Mehmed Pasha was a 17th century Ottoman
grand vizier
. This epithet Sultanzade means descendant of a sultana. Because Mihrimah Sultana, the daughter of Süleyman I was one of his grand mothers. Also two former grand viziers Rüstem Pasha
and Cigalazade Yusuf Sinan Pasha
were his grandfathers. Sometimes the ephitets Civankapıcıbaşı (one of his former posts in the Ottoman palace) and semiz (meaning fat) are also used.
. Three years later, during the reign of İbrahim
, he returned to İstanbul
as a vizier
in the Ottoman divan
. In 1641 he was appointed as the governor of Özü (modern Ochakiv
in Ukraina) and tasked with capturing the fort of Azak (modern Azov
in Russia
) which had recently been lost to Cossack
s. He was successful in recapturing the fort . In 1643 he was appointed as the governor of Damascus
(in modern Syria
) .This appointment was probably due to the secret power struggle between him and the Grand vizier Kemankeş Mustafa Pasha
.
named Cinci Hoca
. Well aware of hodja’s influence on the sultan and the tragedy of the previous grand vizier, he was too cautious in governance and became an ineffective grand vizier. He became a yes man of the sultan. According to Lord Kinross one day the sultan asked why he never opposed any opinion to which he replied "Every opinion of the sultan has a deep aphorism even if subjects are unable to understand." Although he was against declaring war on Republic of Venice
, his cautious objections were not taken into consideration and the Cretan War (1645–1669)
soon began in 1645 (which was financially disastrous to both sides).
island (in modern Greece
) which was the theatre of the recently started war as the commander of the army . But he soon died of natural reasons.
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...
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...
. This epithet Sultanzade means descendant of a sultana. Because Mihrimah Sultana, the daughter of Süleyman I was one of his grand mothers. Also two former grand viziers Rüstem Pasha
Rüstem Pasha
Rüstem Pasha Opukovic was a Croat who became an Ottoman general and statesman. He served as the Grand Vizier of Suleiman the Magnificent. Rüstem Pasha is also known as Damat Rüstem Pasha and Rüstem Paşa .-Biography:Rüstem Pasha was born in Skradin, Croatia...
and Cigalazade Yusuf Sinan Pasha
Cigalazade Yusuf Sinan Pasha
Cigalazade Yusuf Sinan Pasha , meaning son of Cigala, was an Ottoman statesman of Italian background, who held the office of Grand Vizier for forty days between 27 October to 5 December 1596, during the reign of Mehmed III....
were his grandfathers. Sometimes the ephitets Civankapıcıbaşı (one of his former posts in the Ottoman palace) and semiz (meaning fat) are also used.
Early years
He was born to Abdurrahman and Ayşe. 1637 he was appointed as the governor of EgyptEgypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
. Three years later, during the reign of İbrahim
Ibrahim I
Ibrahim I was the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1640 until 1648. He was born in Istanbul the son of Ahmed I by Valide Sultan Kadinefendi Kösem Sultan, an ethnic Greek originally named Anastasia...
, he returned to İstanbul
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...
as a vizier
Vizier
A vizier or in Arabic script ; ; sometimes spelled vazir, vizir, vasir, wazir, vesir, or vezir) is a high-ranking political advisor or minister in a Muslim government....
in the Ottoman divan
Divan
A divan was a high governmental body in a number of Islamic states, or its chief official .-Etymology:...
. In 1641 he was appointed as the governor of Özü (modern Ochakiv
Ochakiv
Ochakiv is a city in the Mykolaiv Oblast of southern Ukraine. Serving as the administrative center of the Ochakivsky Raion , the city itself is also designated as a separate raion within the oblast, and is located on a peninsula in the Black Sea, at the entrance to the Dnieper Rivers's estuary,...
in Ukraina) and tasked with capturing the fort of Azak (modern Azov
Azov
-External links:** *...
in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
) which had recently been lost to Cossack
Cossack
Cossacks are a group of predominantly East Slavic people who originally were members of democratic, semi-military communities in what is today Ukraine and Southern Russia inhabiting sparsely populated areas and islands in the lower Dnieper and Don basins and who played an important role in the...
s. He was successful in recapturing the fort . In 1643 he was appointed as the governor of Damascus
Damascus
Damascus , commonly known in Syria as Al Sham , and as the City of Jasmine , is the capital and the second largest city of Syria after Aleppo, both are part of the country's 14 governorates. In addition to being one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, Damascus is a major...
(in modern Syria
Syria
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....
) .This appointment was probably due to the secret power struggle between him and the Grand vizier Kemankeş Mustafa Pasha
Kemankeş Mustafa Pasha
Kemankeş Mustafa Pasha was a 17th century Ottoman military officer and statesman. He served as Kapudan Pasha and as Grand Vizier.- Early life :...
.
As a grand vizier
In 1644 he succeeded the grand vizier Kemankeş Mustafa Pasha, who was executed. Kemankeş Mustafa Pasha was a victim of palace intrigues and a quack hodjaHodja
Hodža, also spelled as Khawaja, Hoca, Hodžić, or Hoxha, is a title of respect in some Central Asian, Middle Eastern and European cultures, used for people who have performed the Hajj a difficult and often dangerous feat in the Middle Ages, especially for those living far away from Arabia...
named Cinci Hoca
Cinci Hoca
Cinci Hoca is the epithet of Karabaşzade Hüseyin Efendi, a 17th century Ottoman spiritualist whose influence on the sultan caused many problems in the empire.- Life :...
. Well aware of hodja’s influence on the sultan and the tragedy of the previous grand vizier, he was too cautious in governance and became an ineffective grand vizier. He became a yes man of the sultan. According to Lord Kinross one day the sultan asked why he never opposed any opinion to which he replied "Every opinion of the sultan has a deep aphorism even if subjects are unable to understand." Although he was against declaring war on 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...
, his cautious objections were not taken into consideration and the Cretan War (1645–1669)
Cretan 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...
soon began in 1645 (which was financially disastrous to both sides).
Later years
In 1645 Sultan Ibrahim deposed him. His next mission was in CreteCrete
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...
island (in modern Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
) which was the theatre of the recently started war as the commander of the army . But he soon died of natural reasons.