Çandarli (2nd) Halil Pasha
Encyclopedia
Çandarlı Halil Pasha was a highly influential Ottoman
grand vizier under the Sultans Murat II and, for the first years of his reign, under Mehmet II (from 1439 to 1 June 1453 precisely). He was a member of the Çandarlı Family
, considered to have contributed nearly as much as the ruling Ottoman dynasty to laying the foundations of the Ottoman Empire. He is not to be confused with his grandfather who was a namesake
(Çandarlı Kara Halil Hayreddin Pasha
) and who had served under Murat I.
Twice during the reign of Murat II, the sovereign, a religious and artistic mind not very keen on holding power himself, retired to the city of Manisa
and Çandarlı Halil Pasha held the effective helm in the capital Edirne
with Mehmet II, then still a child, as the nominal sultan. On both occasions, upon the dangers presented by allied Europe
an armies attacking Ottoman territories, Çandarlı called back Murat II and deposed Mehmet II to replace him with his father. These two incidents led to lasting resentment by Mehmet II towards Çandarlı. The Çandarlı family having become extremely rich, possibly richer than the Ottomans, did not help ease the tension either.
In 1453, one of the first acts committed by the (then fully reigning) Mehmet II immediately after the conquest of Constantinople
was to executeÇandarlı Halil Pasha and confiscate his property. It is interesting to note that the city had been taken on 29 May 1453 and this execution took place on 1 June 1453, suggesting a design conceived by the sultan for a long time.
Mehmet II has thus ended the period called Çandarlı era in the Ottoman Empire, and the later members of family, whose descendants came to our day, became no more than provincial notables based in İznik
, although they were to give yet another, short-term, grand vizier to the Ottoman Empire at the end of the 15th century (Halil's son Çandarlı Ibrahim Pasha
).
Çandarlı Halil Pasha was, as such, the first Ottoman grand vizier to be executed.
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 under the Sultans Murat II and, for the first years of his reign, under Mehmet II (from 1439 to 1 June 1453 precisely). He was a member of the Çandarlı Family
Çandarlı family
The Çandarlı family was an important Ottoman family which provided the empire with five Grand Viziers during the 14th and 15th centuries. At the time, it was the second most important family after the Ottoman dynasty itself.- Background and history :...
, considered to have contributed nearly as much as the ruling Ottoman dynasty to laying the foundations of the Ottoman Empire. He is not to be confused with his grandfather who was a namesake
Namesake
Namesake is a term used to characterize a person, place, thing, quality, action, state, or idea that has the same, or a similar, name to another....
(Çandarlı Kara Halil Hayreddin Pasha
Çandarli Kara Halil Hayreddin Pasha
Çandarlı Kara Halil Hayreddin Pasha was the first vizier of Murad I's reign. He was also the first in Ottoman history who held the title "Grand Vizier", the first who had a military background and the first member of the illustrious Çandarlı Family to hold high office...
) and who had served under Murat I.
Twice during the reign of Murat II, the sovereign, a religious and artistic mind not very keen on holding power himself, retired to the city of Manisa
Manisa
Manisa is a large city in Turkey's Aegean Region and the administrative seat of Manisa Province.Modern Manisa is a booming center of industry and services, advantaged by its closeness to the international port city and the regional metropolitan center of İzmir and by its fertile hinterland rich in...
and Çandarlı Halil Pasha held the effective helm in the capital Edirne
Edirne
Edirne is a city in Eastern Thrace, the northwestern part of Turkey, close to the borders with Greece and Bulgaria. Edirne served as the capital city of the Ottoman Empire from 1365 to 1453, before Constantinople became the empire's new capital. At present, Edirne is the capital of the Edirne...
with Mehmet II, then still a child, as the nominal sultan. On both occasions, upon the dangers presented by allied Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an armies attacking Ottoman territories, Çandarlı called back Murat II and deposed Mehmet II to replace him with his father. These two incidents led to lasting resentment by Mehmet II towards Çandarlı. The Çandarlı family having become extremely rich, possibly richer than the Ottomans, did not help ease the tension either.
In 1453, one of the first acts committed by the (then fully reigning) Mehmet II immediately after the conquest of Constantinople
Fall of Constantinople
The Fall of Constantinople was the capture of the capital of the Byzantine Empire, which occurred after a siege by the Ottoman Empire, under the command of Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II, against the defending army commanded by Byzantine Emperor Constantine XI...
was to executeÇandarlı Halil Pasha and confiscate his property. It is interesting to note that the city had been taken on 29 May 1453 and this execution took place on 1 June 1453, suggesting a design conceived by the sultan for a long time.
Mehmet II has thus ended the period called Çandarlı era in the Ottoman Empire, and the later members of family, whose descendants came to our day, became no more than provincial notables based in İznik
Iznik
İznik is a city in Turkey which is primarily known as the site of the First and Second Councils of Nicaea, the first and seventh Ecumenical councils in the early history of the Church, the Nicene Creed, and as the capital city of the Empire of Nicaea...
, although they were to give yet another, short-term, grand vizier to the Ottoman Empire at the end of the 15th century (Halil's son Çandarlı Ibrahim Pasha
Çandarlı Ibrahim Pasha (died 1499)
Çandarlı Ibrahim Paşa was an Ottoman statesman. He was the scion of the Çandarlı family, which provided a series of Grand Viziers during the first centuries of the Ottoman Empire. His father, Çandarlı Halil Pasha, had also served as Grand Vizier from 1443 to his execution in 1453...
).
Çandarlı Halil Pasha was, as such, the first Ottoman grand vizier to be executed.
Popular culture
- Halil features in the game Legendary Warriors, where he is portrayed as an Ottoman general who wishes for the whole world to live in peace, and thus has serious doubts about the Ottoman conquests. His history is changed so that he lives well past Constantinople, and eventually stages a revolt against the Ottomans, in which he is defeated. He is portrayed as hating his fellow general Zaganos PashaZaganos PashaZaganos Pasha or Zagan Pasha was a military leader, Kapudan Pasha and Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire during the reign of Sultan Mehmed II.- Life :...
for his warlike ways. It is also insinuated that he is a magician. He wields a staff.