Özdemiroğlu Osman Pasha
Encyclopedia
Özdemiroğlu Osman Pasha (Osman Pasha, the son of Özdemir) (1527–1585) was an able statesman and a commander of the Ottoman Empire
who had also been the grand vizier
for one year. He was a remarkable statesman who worked both in the southernmost and in the northermost territories of the empire with a latitude difference of more than 35°.
in 1517, the former Mameluk elite (Turks and Circassians) had accepted the Ottoman domination and became the part of Ottoman bureaucracy and military. Özdemir Pasha
, Osman’s father was one of them. After the Indian Ocean campaigns
, he was appointed as the beylerbey
( high governor) of Habeşistan (meaning Ethiopia
, but actually the coastal strip of Eritrea
and Sudan
.)
and in 1573 as the beylerbey of Diyarbakır
(in south east Turkey
).
. His troops fought well and contributed much to the victory during the Battle of Çıldır
.
After the battle, he was assigned to organize the newly conquered territories in Caucasus
. While establishing an effective Ottoman administration, he also had to fight against Persians who were trying to regain their losses.
In 1583, he fought against a Persian army in Baştepe a location in North Caucasus ( modern Dagestan
Republic of Russia
) in a three days clash named Battle of Torches
, (named so because the battle continued during the night). He defeated the Persian army and secured Ottoman presence in Caucasus ( modern Azerbaijan
, Armenia
and most of Georgia
)
His next mission was dethroning the Crimean khan Mehmet II Giray who was an unreliable vassal and enthroning a new khan in which he was also successful. Then from Crimea
he sailed to İstanbul
, the capital where he was praised by the sultan Murat III .
. But a few weeks later, he fell ill and died (29 October 1584). He was buried in Diyarbakır.
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...
who had also been the 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...
for one year. He was a remarkable statesman who worked both in the southernmost and in the northermost territories of the empire with a latitude difference of more than 35°.
Origin
After the Ottoman conquest of EgyptEgypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
in 1517, the former Mameluk elite (Turks and Circassians) had accepted the Ottoman domination and became the part of Ottoman bureaucracy and military. Özdemir Pasha
Özdemir Pasha
Özdemir Pasha was a Caucasian Mameluke general for the Ottoman Empire. He joined Hadim Süleyman Pasha's campaign to India , in 1538. Later he became the Governor of Yemen and invaded Ethiopia in 1557 for the Ottoman Empire.He died in 1561 in Sana, Yemen....
, Osman’s father was one of them. After the Indian Ocean campaigns
Indian Ocean campaigns
The Ottoman naval expeditions in the Indian Ocean were a series of Ottoman amphibious operations in the Indian Ocean in the 16th century...
, he was appointed as the beylerbey
Beylerbey
Beylerbey is the Ottoman and Safavid title used for the highest rank in the hierarchy of provincial administrators It is in western terms a Governor-general, with authority...
( high governor) of Habeşistan (meaning Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
, but actually the coastal strip of Eritrea
Eritrea
Eritrea , officially the State of Eritrea, is a country in the Horn of Africa. Eritrea derives it's name from the Greek word Erethria, meaning 'red land'. The capital is Asmara. It is bordered by Sudan in the west, Ethiopia in the south, and Djibouti in the southeast...
and Sudan
Sudan
Sudan , officially the Republic of the Sudan , is a country in North Africa, sometimes considered part of the Middle East politically. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the...
.)
Early years
Osman was appointed to various posts in Egypt by the porte. After his father’s death in 1561, Osman continued as the beylerbey of Habeşistan for seven years. In 1569 he was appointed as the beylerbey of YemenYemen Eyalet
-History:In 1516, the Mamluks of Egypt annexed Yemen; but in the following year, the Mamluk governor surrendered to the Ottomans, and Turkish armies subsequently overran the country...
and in 1573 as the beylerbey of Diyarbakır
Diyarbakır
Diyarbakır is one of the largest cities in southeastern Turkey...
(in south east 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...
).
Battles
While in Diyarbakır he was assigned to join the army during the Ottoman–Safavid War (1578–1590)Ottoman–Safavid War (1578–1590)
The Ottoman–Safavid War was a war between Safavid Persia under Mohammed Khodabanda and later Abbas I, and the Ottoman Empire under Murad III. It began in 1577-1578 and ended in 1590....
. His troops fought well and contributed much to the victory during the Battle of Çıldır
Battle of Çıldır
Battle of Çıldır was fought in 1578 during Ottoman–Safavid War .-Background:The peace between the Ottoman Empire and Persian Empire after the treaty of Amasya continued from 1555 to 1578. When Murat III of the Ottoman Empire ascended to throne in 1574, Tahmasp I of Persia sent presents to Murat...
.
After the battle, he was assigned to organize the newly conquered territories in Caucasus
Caucasus
The Caucasus, also Caucas or Caucasia , is a geopolitical region at the border of Europe and Asia, and situated between the Black and the Caspian sea...
. While establishing an effective Ottoman administration, he also had to fight against Persians who were trying to regain their losses.
In 1583, he fought against a Persian army in Baştepe a location in North Caucasus ( modern Dagestan
Dagestan
The Republic of Dagestan is a federal subject of Russia, located in the North Caucasus region. Its capital and the largest city is Makhachkala, located at the center of Dagestan on the Caspian Sea...
Republic of Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
) in a three days clash named Battle of Torches
Battle of Torches
The Battle of Torches was fought in 1583 during the Ottoman–Safavid War . The name of the battle refers to torches used during night clashes. - Background :...
, (named so because the battle continued during the night). He defeated the Persian army and secured Ottoman presence in Caucasus ( modern Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
, Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
and most of Georgia
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
)
His next mission was dethroning the Crimean khan Mehmet II Giray who was an unreliable vassal and enthroning a new khan in which he was also successful. Then from Crimea
Crimea
Crimea , or the Autonomous Republic of Crimea , is a sub-national unit, an autonomous republic, of Ukraine. It is located on the northern coast of the Black Sea, occupying a peninsula of the same name...
he sailed to 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...
, the capital where he was praised by the sultan Murat III .
Last years
In 28 May 1584 he was promoted to be the grand vizier, keeping the title the high commander of the army Next year, he was again at the battle front. He conquered Tebriz, West IranWest Azarbaijan Province
West Azerbaijan Province or West Azarbaijan Province , is one of the 31 provinces of Iran. It is located in the North West of the country, bordering Turkey, Iraq and Nakhchivan, and the provinces of East Azerbaijan, Zanjan and Kurdistan....
. But a few weeks later, he fell ill and died (29 October 1584). He was buried in Diyarbakır.