- Born:
- 1635, Vezirköprü, Anatolia, Ottoman Empire [now in Turkey]
- Died:
- Nov. 3, 1676, near Çorlu, Thrace (aged 41)
- Title / Office:
- grand vizier (1661-1676), Ottoman Empire
Köprülü Fazıl Ahmed Paşa
-
Who was Köprülü Fazıl Ahmed Paşa?
Köprülü Fazıl Ahmed Paşa (1635–1676) was the son and successor of Köprülü Mehmed Paşa, serving as grand vizier from 1661 to 1676 under Ottoman Sultan Mehmed IV.
His administration was defined by wars against Austria (1663–64), Venice (1669), and Poland (1672–76), which led to the acquisition of Crete and the Polish Ukraine. Prior to becoming grand vizier, Fazıl Ahmed Paşa served as governor-general of Erzurum (1659) and Damascus (1660).
Fazıl Ahmed Paşa's tenure saw reforms aimed at improving the efficiency and discipline of the Janissaries and spahis, and he upheld the policy of protecting non-Muslim taxpayers. Despite a loss at the Battle of St. Gotthard in 1664, he negotiated a favorable treaty with Austria at Vasvár.
1 Britannica SourceCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
What was his role as an Ottoman vizier?
Köprülü Fazıl Ahmed Paşa was the son and successor to Köprülü Mehmed Paşa as grand vizier of the Ottoman Empire, serving under Sultan Mehmed IV from 1661 to 1676. The grand vizier was the sultan's absolute representative, holding his signet ring as an office symbol.
Fazıl Ahmed Paşa's administration saw a succession of wars with Austria, Venice, and Poland, during which the Ottomans gained territories such as Crete and the Polish Ukraine. He continued his father's reforms to reduce the number of Janissaries and spahis, while also restoring discipline among them. He also emphasized the Ottoman policy of protecting the reaya (non-Muslim taxpayers), which was possible only under a strong central government.
2 Britannica SourcesCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
When did Köprülü Fazıl Ahmed Paşa serve in the Ottoman Empire?
Köprülü Fazıl Ahmed Paşa served as grand vizier of the Ottoman Empire from November 1, 1661, to November 3, 1676, under Sultan Mehmed IV. His administration was marked by wars with Austria, Venice, and Poland, resulting in the acquisition of territories such as Crete and the Polish Ukraine.
2 Britannica SourcesCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
What were some important achievements or events during his time as vizier?
Köprülü Fazıl Ahmed Paşa became grand vizier in 1661, succeeding his father, and demonstrated similar energy and skill in asserting authority. His administration was marked by wars with Austria, Venice, and Poland, resulting in territorial gains such as Crete and the Polish Ukraine.
Other achievements and events during his time as vizier:
* Köprülü captured Candia (modern Iráklion) in Crete (1669) after a 28-month siege.
* Under the Treaty of Buczacz (1672), Podolia was annexed to the empire.
* Köprülü protected the reaya (non-Muslim taxpayers).
* He reformed the Janissaries and spahis to make them more efficient.1 Britannica SourceCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
How did his policies affect the Ottoman Empire?
K\u00f6pr\u00fcl\u00fc Faz\u0131l Ahmed Pa\u015fa's administration (1661–76) involved wars with Austria, Venice, and Poland, resulting in territorial gains such as Crete and the Polish Ukraine. He continued his father's reforms to reduce the number of Janissaries and spahis, while also improving their efficiency through restored discipline. Faz\u0131l Ahmed Pa\u015fa emphasized the protection of the reaya (non-Muslim taxpayers), which was possible under a strong central government. The prestige of the empire was such that auxiliary forces of vassal principalities came under his command during campaigns in central Europe.
1 Britannica SourceCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
Why is Köprülü Fazıl Ahmed Paşa remembered as an important figure in Ottoman history?
Köprülü Fazıl Ahmed Paşa is remembered as an important figure in Ottoman history because of his successful tenure as grand vizier (1661–76) under Sultan Mehmed IV. Succeeding his father, Köprülü Mehmed Paşa, he demonstrated similar energy and skill in asserting authority.
His administration was marked by wars with Austria, Venice, and Poland, resulting in the acquisition of territories such as Crete and the Polish Ukraine. Köprülü Fazıl Ahmed Paşa also implemented reforms to strengthen the Ottoman military and protect non-Muslim taxpayers, continuing his father's policies.
2 Britannica SourcesCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Köprülü Fazıl Ahmed Paşa (born 1635, Vezirköprü, Anatolia, Ottoman Empire [now in Turkey]—died Nov. 3, 1676, near Çorlu, Thrace) was the eldest son of Köprülü Mehmed Paşa and his successor as grand vizier (1661–76) under the Ottoman sultan Mehmed IV. His administration was marked by a succession of wars with Austria (1663–64), Venice (1669), and Poland (1672–76), securing such territories as Crete and the Polish Ukraine.
Fazıl Ahmed Paşa’s father had chosen for him a career in the learned professions. At 16 he was made a professor, but he entered the Ottoman civil service when his father became grand vizier. He was made governor-general of Erzurum (1659) and then Damascus (1660) before he was called as deputy grand vizier during an illness of his father.
Fazıl Ahmed Paşa became grand vizier on Nov. 1, 1661, and proved as energetic and skillful as his father in asserting his authority. When, during his first campaign against the Austrians in 1663, he learned of a plot against himself fomented by Şâmî-zâde Mehmed, chief of the secretaries and member of the clique who brought his father to power, he did not hesitate to have him executed. Against those who belittled and struggled against him, he always had the support of the sultan. Whenever Fazıl Ahmed Paşa was away from the capital, Kara Mustafa, husband of his sister, was left as his deputy. In the battlefield he also had the close cooperation of Gürcü Mehmed, Kaplan Mustafa, his brother-in-law, and other able generals.
The prestige of the empire that his father had reestablished was so great as to bring under his command during his campaigns in central Europe the auxiliary forces of the vassal principalities—Transylvania, Moldavia, Walachia, and the Crimean Khanate. He also followed his father’s reforms aiming at reducing the number of the Janissaries (the core of the Ottoman standing army) and spahis (the Ottoman cavalry) and also made them more efficient by restoring discipline among them. Fazıl Ahmed Paşa also placed emphasis on the age-old Ottoman policy of protection of the reaya (non-Muslim taxpayers), which was possible only under a strong central government. Though his failure at the Battle of St. Gotthard (Aug. 1, 1664) tarnished his earlier success against the Austrians—the capture of Érsekùjvar in September 1663—he was able to make a treaty favourable to the Ottomans at Vasvár (Aug. 10, 1664). The sultan received him in Edirne with great favours.
Fazıl Ahmed Paşa won unparalleled prestige when he conquered Candia (modern Iráklion) in Crete (Sept. 27, 1669) after a siege of 28 months and thus terminated a long and dangerous war with Venice. An expedition against Poland in 1672 in which the sultan himself took part was a great achievement for Fazıl Ahmed Paşa. Under the Treaty of Buczacz (Oct. 18, 1672) Podolia was annexed to the empire, and the Polish Ukraine was surrendered to the Cossacks under Ottoman suzerainty. Poland was also to pay a yearly tribute of 22,000 gold pieces. But the Poles under John Sobieski rejected these onerous conditions and took up a counteroffensive, which caused the war to continue four more years until the Treaty of Żórawno, Oct. 17, 1676. Russian intervention in Ukraine led Fazıl Ahmed Paşa to invade that region in the summer of 1674. Exhausted and for some time ill as a result of long expeditions and excessive use of wine, he died in November 1676. Contemporary Ottoman sources found in him all the qualities requisite for an Oriental statesman—wide knowledge, wisdom, justice, and generosity. He also distinguished himself in Islāmic law and Persian literature. He left a cash fortune of more than 300,000 gold pieces. Like other pashas he maintained a private force of about 1,500 sekbans (mercenary soldiers).