Commander of navy (B.
1496 D-.June 25, 1587). He is also known
as Uluç Reis. His birth year is not exactly known, but he died around the age
of ninety. He is originally from Kalabra and his real name is assumed to be
Giovan Dionigi Galeni. According to some European historians; he was an Italian
named Uchiali and he was captured as a prisoner on his way to Napoli in 1520 by
Cezayirli Ali Ahmet Reis. But, as we see that his father is indicated as
Abdulmennan and Abdullah in the foundation for the mosque built upon his name;
we can say he is a believer.
He converted to Islam,
joined the sailors and joined the cortege of Turgut Reis in 1548, and he
contributed a lot in Mehdiye defense (1549) and Cerbe raids (1550). He joined
the Trablusgarp campaign of Turgut Reis in 1551. His first known duty is
Belediunnap commandership. He was put under investigation due to complaints.
Despite Memi Reis was ordered to bring him into Algeria by Algerian Governor
Salih Pasha's Order; he ran away from him and arrived in Istanbul. Documents
have indicated that he is one of the Algerian leaders; and Uluc Ali was
appointed as head of "Sultan's bodyguards". When Algerian Governor
Salih Pasha died, he went to Algeria in order to recall the navy and joined the
Ottoman navy sailed into Mediterranean in 1557 under the rule of Piyale
Bey.
He went to Cerbe campaign in
1560 with Piyale Pasha. When the navy was directed to Benfica, he was sent to
Cuka Island for exploration where he imprisoned a ship and did a lot during the
siege. As a result of his services, he was appointed as the ruler of Sigla and
took part of protection in the region. He had conflicts with rulers of Sakiz Island
when he was tracking grain smugglers (1564) and his brother Ali was murdered by
them. Then he participated in Malta siege as Alexandria Ruler with a fleet of
six ships. When the Tripoli Governor Turgut Pasha was martyred, he became the
Tripoli Governor in July 1565. Although Mehmet Pasha became the Tripoli
Governor for a while, but people of Tacura revolted, Uluc Ali Pasha was
appointed to this position again. He was praised by the Sultan as he oppressed
the revolt (September 20, 1567). He has informed the movement of Spanish fleet
in Mediterranean to Istanbul and requested precautions to be taken. He became
the Algerian Governor on June 27, 1568. When the people of Tunisia invited him,
he conquered Tunisia in March 1570 and returned to Algeria.
Uluc Ali Pasha was ordered
to join the navy of Pertev Mehmet Pasha for Battle of Leponto and he went to
Egriboz on May 27, 1571. In the battle made against the navies of Spain, Papacy
and Venice on October 7, 1571 at Leponto; the Ottoman navy was defetaed, but
his fleet consisting of thirty ships were safe. Because of this sucess, he
became the Navy Commander Governor of Algeria and his name Uluç was transformed
to Kılıç; and so was he named. His first thing after coming to office was to
renew the navy. He made new ships to be built it the shipyards. Tunisia was
also under his liability (February 1572). When the new navy has won victories
in Koron and Navarin Ports against the allied navy forces (September 1572); he
retırned to Istanbul.
When the Spanish navy
invaded Tunisia during the Tunisian Governorship of Haydar Pasa in 1573; the
navy under the commandership of Kılıç Ali Pasa and Koca Sinan Pasha's
leadership reached to Tunisia on May 15, 1574 and Tunisia was recaptured under
the Ottoman rule. After that, the navy under the rule of Kilic Ali Pasha has
sailed into the Black Sea in 1579 to support the Sirvan campaign. Kilic Ali Pasha reached to the
shores of Georgia and made Fas Castle to be built. Within this period, he
assigned some sea lords to preserve the commerce in Mediterranean.
Kılıc Ali
Pasa has taken Vizier Ibrahim Pasha, who was assigned to setlle the problems in
Egypt in 1583 to Alexandria and Islam Giray, who replaced the revolting Crimean
Lord Mehmet Giray to Kefe. And he was appointed to carry Osman Pasha from Sinop
to Kefe in order to suppress the revolt in Crimea. Kılıc Ali Pasha could not
lead the navy in Mediterranean (1586) probably due to his age and illness; and
he passed away on June 25, 1587. Poet Talibi said "Gitti bu dâr-ı fenâdan kapudan” and Poet Ulvi said "Arşa astın Alî gibi kılıcı” after his death.
Kılıc Ali
Pasha was also named as "Big Captain" and he made some modifications
in Istanbul Shipyard to make bigger ships with some changes to make saddling
easier and faster. A big "ship" (baştarda) was started to be built in
the name of Sultan Murad the Third, and he was praised by Sultan. He made a
solid castle to be built at the entrance of Navarin Port, deployed cannons and
soldiers, securing the place. He had brought a resembling mountain made from
wood with the work of thousands of slaves for the circumcision ceremony of Prince
Mehmet in 1582; and he donated the house he made built to watch the ceremony as
a teacher's house (School, course) for the education of children.
It is
known that Kılıc Ali Pasha has made a mosque, fountain and bathhouse and a
mosque in Bogazici in 1580 and a bathhouse for Sultan at Topkapi Palace in
1586.
REFERENCE: Ali Haydar Emir /
Kılıç Ali ve Lepanto (1931),
Aziz Samih İlter / Şimalî Afrika’da
Türkler (1936), İbrahim
Alaeddin Gövsa / Türk Meşhurları (1946), Şerafettin Turan /
“Rodos’un Zaptından Malta Muhasarasına" (Kanunî Armağanı, 1970, s. 82, 86), Kâtip Çelebi / Tuhfetü’l-kibâr (Prepared by Orhan
Şaik Gökyay, 1973), İdris Bostan / TDV İslam Ansiklopedisi (v. 25, p. 411-412,
2002).
