Statesman, grand vizier (B. ? – D. 2 July 1511, Gökçay). He is originally from
Drozgometva village of Sarajevo. He is also known with his nickname Hadım Ali
Pasha. As a Devşirme (T.N. Christian conscripted to brought up for the
Janissaries) he was raised in Enderun (royal school). After serving as Babüssaâde
Chief (Third gate of Topkapı Palace) he was first assigned as sanjak beyliği and later as Karaman Governor (1482).
Meanwhile he was busy with various political disorders in the country.
Especially against Cem Sultan and Karamanoğlu Kasım Bey he struggled with
success. Ali Pasha later became Rumeli Governor. Upon the attempt of
Voivode of Boğdan to capture Akkirman, he was sent to defend against him. Ali
Pasha defeated Eflak’s Ruler and entered Boğdan. Since he realized that he
could not defeat Boğdan’s Prince Stefan Çel Mare he had to seek refugee in
Poland. In company of Grand Vizier Davut Pasha he participated to Mameluke
expedition in 1483. He was successful in capturing the castles around and was
promoted to Viziership (1486). Meanwhile, despite the disease and exhaustion among
soldiers, he nevertheless continued fighting, defeated Mameluke soldiers and
retreated to Karaman (1492).
After a peace treaty was signed with Mamelukes Ali Pasha was assigned to
capture Modon and Koron together with Davut Pasha since the Venetians
threatened Mora shores. On the way, he captured castles of Navarin and Zenşiyo
without any battle for the Ottoman land (1500). During this expedition he met Beyazıt
II but since the winter was approaching, the sultan returned. Venetians took
advantage of this situation and recaptured Navarin. However he managed to
recapture the town from Venetians with the help of Kemal Reis’ fleet (1501). After this conquest commerce in Mora developed
a lot. He placed some of the Muslims who were suffering in Spain to Mora. When
Mesih Pasha died in 1501, he became the Grand Vizier. His first Viziership
lasted about two years and in 1503 he was discharged. In 1506, he was
reassigned to this position and stayed there until he was martyred in 1511.
Sultan Beyazıt II left the rule of many topics to Atik Ali Pasha since he
conducted state duty with success. During his Grand Viziership, mostly fights
for the throne among sultan’s
sons and various troubling movements kept him busy. About
the problem of princes, he supported Ahmed against the youngest prince Selim
and the oldest prince Korkut. There was a disagreement between him and Korkut
because of the ruler’s assets around Antalya district and because Ali Pasha
insisted about these assets, Korkut escaped to Egypt with some of his men.
However, Ali Pasha doubled assets of Korkut which made him return from Egypt.
Besides, he defeated Prince Selim who attempted to take the rule from his
father by force in 1511 in Çorlu and prevented this purpose of him. On the other
hand, Şahkulu movement (local) was no longer a local one but rather a problem,
which kept the state busy, and he was assigned to quell this movement. He
removed occurring disagreements among soldiers, moved towards Şahkulu and faced
him in Gökçay region between Sivas and Kayseri. During this battle Şahkulu was
killed and his soldiers were dismantled. But Ali Pasha moved towards the rebels
without takings measures, he was besieged by Şahkulu’s soldiers and an arrow
which hit him martyred him.
Atik Ali Pasha was a
valuable statesman and a good commander, besides he gave great services for the
construction of the country. His honest and astute personality and beneficence
were praised by sources of his period. His main beneficence was the complex in
Çemberlitaş which consisted of mosque, madrasah, cultivation, school, library
and outhouses. The library built by Ali Pasha in this social complex is one of
the most important cultural institutions established in Istanbul after the
conquest. Also Zincirlikuyu Mosque (also known as Atik Ali Pasha Mosque) in
Istanbul Karagümrük, the Kariye Mosque near to the Byzantine Palace which was
turned into a mosque from a monastery, a madrasah near to it, a mosque in
Edirne, a cultivation in Bursa and some primary schools in Mora belong to
his charities.
Ali Pasha donated hundreds
of houses, storehouses, khans, bath houses, farms, gardens and fields in
numerous places of the empire, especially in Istanbul, to pay the salaries of
serving staff in his foundations and reparation expenses of these works.
According to a calculation in 1546 the total income of the foundations was
471.998 coins.
Ali Pasha was also closely
interested in science and arts and protected people of science and arts. He
often gathered scientists and poets in his palace, gave them feasts and made scientific
and cultural conversations possible. A famous poet of his period, Priştineli
Mesihî was his council clerk. Mesihî’s elegy upon the death of his master is
famous. İdris-i Bitlisî dedicated his historical work “Heşt Bihişt” to
Atik Ali Pasha.
He made great services in the
wars during the period of Kanuni Sultan Süleyman, especially in the ones
against Hungarians and Austrians; he also served in Iran expeditions. He passed
away in 1557 and he has a mosque in Çatalca.
