Hersekzade or Hersekli Ahmed Pasha ("Ahmed Pasha, son of the Herzog"; Serbo-Croatian: Ahmed-paša Hercegović; Aхмед-паша Херцеговић; 1456 – 21 July 1517), born as Stjepan Hercegović, was an Ottoman Bosnian general and five-times grand vizier of the Ottoman Empire.
Ahmed | |
|---|---|
| 19th Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire | |
| In office 1497–1498 | |
| Monarch | Bayezid II |
| Preceded by | Koca Davud Pasha |
| Succeeded by | Çandarlı Ibrahim Pasha the Younger |
| In office 1503–1506 | |
| Monarch | Bayezid II |
| Preceded by | Hadım Ali Pasha |
| Succeeded by | Hadım Ali Pasha |
| In office 1511–1511 | |
| Monarch | Bayezid II |
| Preceded by | Hadım Ali Pasha |
| Succeeded by | Koca Mustafa Pasha |
| In office 1512 – November 28, 1514 | |
| Monarch | Selim I |
| Preceded by | Koca Mustafa Pasha |
| Succeeded by | Dukakinzade Ahmed Pasha |
| In office 8 September 1515 – 26 April 1516 | |
| Monarch | Selim I |
| Preceded by | Dukakinzade Ahmed Pasha |
| Succeeded by | Hadım Sinan Pasha |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Stjepan Hercegović 1456 Novi, Kingdom of Bosnia |
| Died | 21 July 1517 (aged 60–61) Kızılçöl, Dulkadir Eyalet, Ottoman Empire |
| Nationality | Ottoman |
| Spouse | Hundi Sultan |
| Children | Sultanzade Musa Bey Sultanzade Mustafa Bey Kamerşah Sultan Hümaşah Sultan Aynışah Hanimsultan Mahdümzade Hanimsultan |
| Parents |
|
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Ottoman Empire |
| Branch/service | Ottoman Navy |
| Rank | Kapudan Pasha (grand admiral) |
He was the youngest son of the Herceg Stjepan Vukčić. Between late 1473 and early 1474 he departed from Novi (today Herceg Novi) to Istanbul, where he adopted Islam along with the peculiar way of life of the Ottoman court, which made possible his advancement through the Ottoman government and military ranks, eventually occupying top offices of the Empire's government and military as a statesman and navy's grand admiral.
Early life
editStjepan was born into the Kosača family in 1456. He was third and youngest son of Herceg Stjepan Vukčić, at the time most powerful Bosnian noblemen. Stjepan's half-siblings from his father's first marriage included Queen Katarina, wife of King Stjepan Tomaš, Vladislav Hercegović, and Vlatko Hercegović, their father's successor. Stjepan's family belonged to the Bosnian Church, but were "shaky Christians" like most of their countrymen. His half-sister, Catherine, converted to Roman Catholicism upon marriage and became pious follower of the church.[1][2]
Stjepan himself left Novi and departed for Istanbul in early 1474, at the latest, where he adopted Islam and changed his name to Ahmed.[3]
Career
editAfter settling in Istanbul at the Bayezid II's court, he assumed various high offices, and after marrying Bayezid II's daughter, Hûndi-Hâtûn,[4] he reached the very top of the empire's government and military in a 40-years long career.[5] Hersekli Ahmed Pasha[1] was a five-time Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire and Grand Admiral to the sultan, serving five times as Grand Vizier in the period from 1497 to 1515. He died on 21 July 1517 of natural causes, toward the end of the reign of Selim I.[5][6]
Family
editHe married Hundi Sultan, a daughter of Sultan Bayezid II by his concubine Bülbül Hatun, in 1484. They had two sons and four daughters:[4]
- Sultanzade Musa Bey
- Sultanzade Mustafa Bey
- Kamerşah Hanımsultan
- Hümaşah Hanımsultan
- Aynışah Hanimsultan
- Mahdümzade Hanimsultan
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b Fine, John Van Antwerp (1994). The Late Medieval Balkans: A Critical Survey from the Late Twelfth Century to the Ottoman Conquest. Michigan: The University of Michigan Press. p. 589. ISBN 0472100793.
- ^ Pinson, Mark (1996). The Muslims of Bosnia-Herzegovina: their historic development from the Middle Ages to the dissolution of Yugoslavia. Harvard CMES. p. 33. ISBN 9780932885128.
- ^ Vrankić, Petar (October 5, 2017). "Stjepan/Ahmedpaša Hercegović (1456.?-1517.) u svjetlu dubrovačkih, talijanskih i osmanskih izvora". Hercegovina: Časopis za kulturno i povijesno naslijeđe (in Croatian) (3): 33, 34, 35, 36. doi:10.47960/2712-1844.2017.3.9. ISSN 2566-3429. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
- ^ a b Uluçay 1985, p. 50.
- ^ a b Vrankić, Petar (October 5, 2017). "Stjepan/Ahmedpaša Hercegović (1456.?-1517.) u svjetlu dubrovačkih, talijanskih i osmanskih izvora". Hercegovina: Časopis za kulturno i povijesno naslijeđe (in Croatian) (3): 9–67, 35, 36. doi:10.47960/2712-1844.2017.3.9. ISSN 2566-3429. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
- ^ Pinson, Mark (1996). The Muslims of Bosnia-Herzegovina: their historic development from the Middle Ages to the dissolution of Yugoslavia. Harvard CMES. p. 34. ISBN 9780932885128.
- Bibliography
- Uluçay, M. Çağatay (1985). Padişahların kadınları ve kızları. Türk Tarih Kurumu.