Elmas Mehmed Pasha
Encyclopedia
Elmas Mehmed Pasha was an Ottoman
grand vizier
. His epithet Elmas means "diamond" in Turkish and refers to his fame as a handsome man.
from Doğanyurt
(formerly Hoşalay) in Kastamonu Province
of Turkey
. His father was a sea captain . During the reign of Mehmed 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 Ahmed II
, he was appointed as the nişancı
in 1688 and vizier
in 1689.
in 1683. After the execution of Merzifonlu Kara Mustafa Pasha, 11 grand vizier
s had been in the office between 1683-1695. Elmas Mehmed 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 Lagosh 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.
, 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
.
Elmas Mehmed 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.
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...
. His epithet Elmas means "diamond" in Turkish and refers to his fame as a handsome man.
Early years
He was a TurkTurkish people
Turkish people, also known as the "Turks" , are an ethnic group primarily living in Turkey and in the former lands of the Ottoman Empire where Turkish minorities had been established in Bulgaria, Cyprus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Greece, Kosovo, Macedonia, and Romania...
from Doğanyurt
Doganyurt
Doğanyurt, formerly Hoşalay, is a town and district of the Kastamonu Province in the Black Sea region of Turkey. According to the 2000 census, population of the district is 9,668 of which 1,470 live in the town of Doğanyurt. The district covers an area of , and the town lies at an elevation of...
(formerly Hoşalay) in Kastamonu Province
Kastamonu Province
Kastamonu Province is one of the provinces of Turkey, in the Black Sea region, to the north of the country. It is surrounded by Sinop to the east, Bartın and Karabük to the west, Çankırı to the south, Çorum to the south east and the Black Sea to the north....
of Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
. His father was a sea captain . During the reign of Mehmed IV
Mehmed IV
Mehmed IV Modern Turkish Mehmet was the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1648 to 1687...
, he began working for the Ottoman palace upon the personal request of the sultan
Sultan
Sultan is a title with several historical meanings. Originally, it was an Arabic language abstract noun meaning "strength", "authority", "rulership", and "dictatorship", derived from the masdar سلطة , meaning "authority" or "power". Later, it came to be used as the title of certain rulers who...
. 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 Ahmed II
Ahmed II
Ahmed II Khan Ghazi was the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1691 to 1695...
, he was appointed as the nişancı
Nisanci
Nisanci was a high post in Ottoman bureaucracy . The word nisancı literally means court calligrapher or sealer and the original duty of the nisancı was to seal royal precepts.-History:...
in 1688 and 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 1689.
As a grand vizier
The Ottoman empire was living a period of defeats during the Great Turkish War following the Second Siege of ViennaBattle of Vienna
The Battle of Vienna took place on 11 and 12 September 1683 after Vienna had been besieged by the Ottoman Empire for two months...
in 1683. After the execution of Merzifonlu Kara Mustafa Pasha, 11 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...
s had been in the office between 1683-1695. Elmas Mehmed Pasha was appointed as the grand vizier on 2 May 1695 by the sultan Mustafa II
Mustafa II
Mustafa II Ghazi was the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1695 to 1703.-Life:...
. He was more successful than his immediate predecessors and together with the sultan, he defeated Habsburg Empire in two battles, namely the Battle of Lagosh 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.
Battle of Zenta and death
His luck failed him during the battle of Zenta on 11 September 1697. A subordinate of Elmas Mehmed Pasha was arrested by the Habsburgs prior to the battle. Prince Eugene of SavoyPrince Eugene of Savoy
Prince Eugene of Savoy , was one of the most successful military commanders in modern European history, rising to the highest offices of state at the Imperial court in Vienna. Born in Paris to aristocratic Italian parents, Eugene grew up around the French court of King Louis XIV...
, 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
Tisá
Tisá is a village and municipality in Ústí nad Labem District in the Ústí nad Labem Region of the Czech Republic.The municipality covers an area of , and has a population of 786 ....
.
Elmas Mehmed 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.