Öküz Kara Mehmed Pasha
Encyclopedia
Kara Mehmed Pasha or "Öküz" Mehmed Pasha (Mehmed Pasha the Oxen) was an Ottoman
statesman and military commander of the early 17th century, who held the office of Grand Vizier
twice, the first time from 17 October 1614 to 17 November 1616 (during the reign of Ahmet I), and the second time from 18 January 1619 to 23 December 1619, (under Osman II
the Young) (see List of Ottoman Grand Viziers).
In between the above two periods as Grand Vizier, he held the office of Governorship of the Ottoman Vilayet (province) of Aydın
(then covering a large part of western Anatolia
), and his governorship is marked by the construction of a remarkable caravanserail in Kuşadası
, aimed at attracting international trade through the port there (which shifted, in time, much more towards the port of İzmir
upon the preference displayed by European
merchants). The caravanserail in Kuşadası is used as luxury hotel and shopping center today. He has had another solid caravanserail built in Ulukışla
on the way to a campaign against Iran
of the Safavids.
During his offices he was usually called Kara Mehmet Pasha, the nickname oxen having been invented behind his back (although he certainly must have overheard it) by virtue of his heavy build and his father having been a blacksmith for cattle in the Karagümrük
quarter of İstanbul
. History retained this nickname rather than Kara, which means black in Turkish and which may refer to one's complexion or hair or, in the figurative, to courage and daring.
He certainly did distinguish himself with his courage and daring all along his career, although one less known episode involving an attack on Vienna
accompanied with only 47 raiders, and without having informed the Sultan
or any other authority in the Ottoman capital, ended in complete failure and was nearly going to cost him his head. Some historians consider his foray as a third siege of Vienna by the Ottoman Turks
, alongside the better known incidences, undertaken first by Süleyman the Magnificent in 1529 and later by Kara Mustafa Pasha in 1683.
He had been strangled to death in 1619 by a young Janissary
whose favors he sought.
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...
statesman and military commander of the early 17th century, who held the office of 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...
twice, the first time from 17 October 1614 to 17 November 1616 (during the reign of Ahmet I), and the second time from 18 January 1619 to 23 December 1619, (under Osman II
Osman II
Sultan Osman II or Othman II was the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1618 until his death on 20 May 1622...
the Young) (see List of Ottoman Grand Viziers).
In between the above two periods as Grand Vizier, he held the office of Governorship of the Ottoman Vilayet (province) of Aydın
Aydin
Aydın is a city in and the seat of Aydın Province in Turkey's Aegean Region. The city is located at the heart of the lower valley of Büyük Menderes River at a commanding position for the region extending from the uplands of the valley down to the seacoast...
(then covering a large part of western Anatolia
Anatolia
Anatolia is a geographic and historical term denoting the westernmost protrusion of Asia, comprising the majority of the Republic of Turkey...
), and his governorship is marked by the construction of a remarkable caravanserail in Kuşadası
Kusadasi
Kuşadası is a resort town on Turkey's Aegean coast and the center of the seaside district of the same name in Aydın Province. Kuşadası lies at a distance of to the south from the region's largest metropolitan center of İzmir, and from the provincial seat of Aydın situated inland. Its primary...
, aimed at attracting international trade through the port there (which shifted, in time, much more towards the port of İzmir
Izmir
Izmir is a large metropolis in the western extremity of Anatolia. The metropolitan area in the entire Izmir Province had a population of 3.35 million as of 2010, making the city third most populous in Turkey...
upon the preference displayed by European
European ethnic groups
The ethnic groups in Europe are the various ethnic groups that reside in the nations of Europe. European ethnology is the field of anthropology focusing on Europe....
merchants). The caravanserail in Kuşadası is used as luxury hotel and shopping center today. He has had another solid caravanserail built in Ulukışla
Ulukisla
Ulukışla is a town and district of Niğde Province in the Central Anatolia region of Turkey. It covers an area of 1,502 km², and the altitude is 1,427 m...
on the way to a campaign against Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
of the Safavids.
During his offices he was usually called Kara Mehmet Pasha, the nickname oxen having been invented behind his back (although he certainly must have overheard it) by virtue of his heavy build and his father having been a blacksmith for cattle in the Karagümrük
Karagumruk
Karagümrük is a neighborhood in Fatih district of Istanbul, Turkey. The neighborhood also has a famous soccer team in Turkish Superleague Karagümrük Spor Kulübü. In 1958, the team qualified for the first division. However their professional performance did not last long and eventually they got...
quarter of İstanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
. History retained this nickname rather than Kara, which means black in Turkish and which may refer to one's complexion or hair or, in the figurative, to courage and daring.
He certainly did distinguish himself with his courage and daring all along his career, although one less known episode involving an attack on Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
accompanied with only 47 raiders, and without having informed 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...
or any other authority in the Ottoman capital, ended in complete failure and was nearly going to cost him his head. Some historians consider his foray as a third siege of Vienna by the Ottoman Turks
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...
, alongside the better known incidences, undertaken first by Süleyman the Magnificent in 1529 and later by Kara Mustafa Pasha in 1683.
He had been strangled to death in 1619 by a young Janissary
Janissary
The Janissaries were infantry units that formed the Ottoman sultan's household troops and bodyguards...
whose favors he sought.