Elmas Mehmed Pasha
Elmas Mehmet Pasha | |
|---|---|
| Grand vizier | |
| Assumed office 3 May 1695-11 September 1697 | |
| Monarch | Mustafa II |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Doğanyurt, Kastamonu, Turkey |
| Died | 11 September 1691 Senta, Serbia |
| Nationality | Ottoman |
| Fell in the Battle of Zenta | |
Elmas Mehmet Pasha (1661–1697) was an Ottoman grand vizier . His epithet Elmas means "diamond" in Turkish and refers to his fame as a handsome man.
Early years
He was a Turk from Doğanyurt (formerly Hoşalay) in Kastamonu Province of Turkey. His father was a sea captain (Template:Lang-tr). During the reign of Mehmet IV, he began working for the Ottoman palace upon the personal request of the sultan. He was one of the few Ottoman statesmen who were lucky enough to be appointed to high posts while still young. During the reign of Ahmet II, he was appointed as the nişancı in 1688 and vizier in 1689.[1]
As a grand vizier
The Ottoman empire was living a period of defeats during the Great Turkish War following the Second Siege of Vienna in 1683. After the execution of Merzifonlu Kara Mustafa Pasha, 11 grand viziers had been in the office between 1683-1695. Elmas Mehmet Pasha was appointed as the grand vizier on 2 May 1695 by the sultan Mustafa II. He was more successful than his immediate predecessors and together with the sultan, he defeated Habsburg Empire in two battles, namely the Battle of Lugos and the Battle of Olasch.
He was not only a military leader. He also tried to reform the treasury. One of the most important problems of the 17th-century Ottoman economy was the devaluated coins. He collected various coins (including European coins) and minted new gold and silver coins in the name of Mustafa II.[2]
Battle of Zenta and death
His luck failed him during the battle of Zenta on 11 September 1697. A subordinate of Elmas Mehmet Pasha was arrested by the Habsburgs prior to the battle. Prince Eugene of Savoy, the Habsburg commander, learned about the campaign plan of the Ottoman side and the Habsburgs raided the Ottoman army while the army was crossing the bridge over Tisa.[3] Elmas Mehmet tried to organize an orderly withdrawal and he had to fight against the undisciplined soldiers who were in panic. He was killed by his own soldiers. (Two years later the Ottoman Empire had to sign the Treaty of Karlowitz and had to accept the loss of Hungary.)
References
- ^ Ayhan Buz:Osmanlı Sadrazamları, Neden Kitap, İstanbul, 2009, ISBN 978-975-254-278-5, p146-147
- ^ Ottoman grand viziers' page Template:Tr icon
- ^ Prof. Yaşar Yüce-Prof. Ali Sevim: Türkiye tarihi Cilt III, AKDTYKTTK Yayınları, İstanbul, 1991 p 227
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