Kara Murad Pascha
Kara Murat Pasha (or Kara Dev Murat Pasha) was an Ottoman grand vizier in the 17th century. His epithet Kara (literally black) refers to his courage and Dev means giant.
Early years
Murat was a devshirme of Albanian origin. He distinguished himself in the early phases of Cretan war between the Ottoman Empire and the Republic of Venice. He was assigned to various posts in the janissary army (main army of the Ottoman Empire) and in 1648, during the enthronment of Mehmet IV he was promoted to be commander of the janissary (Vorlage:Lang-tr) [1] When the Ottoman navy was defeated by the Venetian navy in the Battle of Focchies on 12 May 1649, the grand vizier Sofu Mehmet Pasha was blamed for the defeat and he was replaced by Kara Murat Pasha on 21 May.
As a grand vizier (first term)
Ottoman Empire was living a perod of stagnation during the 17th century. The sultan was only seven years old and the two Valide sultans (mother Turhan Hatice and grand mother Kösem) who were acting like regents, were in power struggle. While Kösem was supporting Murat, Turhan was against him. Moreover, the leaders of jannisary, Murat's former colleagues were also against him. Murat feeling that his life was in danger resigned on 5 August 1650.[2] Upon his suggestion he was followed by Melek Ahmet Pasha
After the first term
After his first term Murat was assigned as the governor of Budin (modern Budapest, Hungary). In 1653, he returned to İstanbul and was tasked to transport reinforcements and ammunition to Crete (in modern Greece). Venetian navy had blocked the strait of Dardanelles and Murat defeated Venetians in the Battle of the Dardanelles (1654) [1].
As a grand vizier (second term)
Murat Pasha was reassigned as the grand vizier on 11 May 1955. But his second term was very short.Because of economic problems as well as the opposition from jannisary, he had to resign on 19 August 1655. he was assigned as the governor of Damascus (modern Syria) But on the way toI to Damascus, he fell ill and died. It is interesting to note that between his two terms (5 years ) 6 different pashas were assigned as grand vizier which shows the instability of the empire in the mid 17th century.
References
- ↑ a b Ayhan Buz:Osmanlı Sadrazamları, Neden Kitap, istanbul, 2009, ISBN 978-975254-278-5 pp105-106
- ↑ Prof. Yaşar Yüce-Prof. Ali Sevim: Türkiye tarihi Cilt III, AKDTYKTTK Yayınları, İstanbul, 1991 p 103-104