Köprülü Abdullah Pasha
Encyclopedia
Köprülü Abdullah Paşa was an Ottoman
general of the first half of the 18th century and one of the commanders during the Ottoman-Persian War
.
He was a member of the renowned Köprülü Family, originated from Albania
, that had given three grand viziers to the Ottoman Empire (four counting Kara Mustafa Pasha who was an adopted son). He rose through the ranks of the Ottoman army to the rank of General during the reign of Sultan Ahmed III
. In 1716, he was the first appointment at the rank of Pasha
(though not yet at that of a governor), to the hitherto small but fastly growing international trade town of İzmir
.
He was the commander of the Ottoman forces during parts of the campaigns of the Ottoman-Persian War. In 1724 the Safavid Shah Tahmasp II
of Iran
had concluded an agreement with the Russians
and recognized Russian influence in Transcaucasia and the Caspian Sea
. Since this was against Ottoman interests in the region, an army under Köprülü Abdullah Pasha was dispatched and had easily taken Nahçıvan, Merend, Ardabil
, Tabriz
and Karabagh. As a result, an agreement under the auspices of the French
ambassador to Constantinople has been concluded between Ottoman and Russia on 23 June 1724, dividing spheres of influence in the region for the two powers. The provisions of this agreement have also been recognized by the Afghan
pretender to the Iranian throne, Eshref Shah.
But soon, in 1729, the Afshar
leader Nadir Shah forced the Afghans
out of Persia and inflicted several defeats on the Ottoman armies. A first peace agreement has been signed in 1732, which did not last for long.
Köprülü Abdullah Pasha met the Persian general Nadir Shah (soon the Shah
of Persia) in the Battle of Baghavand in 1735. Ordering his forces to entrench in preparation for the advancing Persian army, he managed to avoid an open battle against Nadir. However, recognizing a weakness in the Persian lines, Köprülü launched a successful attack against the Persian forces. Despite initial success, Köprülü's army was defeated in a carefully planned counter attack and Köprülü himself was killed in battle (near present day Kars
).
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...
general of the first half of the 18th century and one of the commanders during the Ottoman-Persian War
Ottoman–Persian Wars
Below is the list of wars between the Ottoman Empire and Persia in the 16th–19th centuries. The Ottomans consolidated their control of what is today Turkey in the 15th century, and gradually came into conflict with the emerging Persian state, led by Ismail I of the Safavid dynasty...
.
He was a member of the renowned Köprülü Family, originated from Albania
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
, that had given three grand viziers to the Ottoman Empire (four counting Kara Mustafa Pasha who was an adopted son). He rose through the ranks of the Ottoman army to the rank of General during the reign of Sultan Ahmed III
Ahmed III
Ahmed III was Sultan of the Ottoman Empire and a son of Sultan Mehmed IV . His mother was Mâh-Pâre Ummatullah Râbi'a Gül-Nûş Valide Sultan, originally named Evmania Voria, who was an ethnic Greek. He was born at Hajioglupazari, in Dobruja...
. In 1716, he was the first appointment at the rank of Pasha
Pasha
Pasha or pascha, formerly bashaw, was a high rank in the Ottoman Empire political system, typically granted to governors, generals and dignitaries. As an honorary title, Pasha, in one of its various ranks, is equivalent to the British title of Lord, and was also one of the highest titles in...
(though not yet at that of a governor), to the hitherto small but fastly growing international trade town 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...
.
He was the commander of the Ottoman forces during parts of the campaigns of the Ottoman-Persian War. In 1724 the Safavid Shah Tahmasp II
Tahmasp II
Tahmasp II was one of the last Safavid rulers of Persia . Tahmasp was the son of Husayn , the Shah of Iran at that time. When Husayn was forced to abdicate by the Afghans in 1722, Prince Tahmasp wished to claim the throne. He fled to Tabriz where he established a government...
of 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...
had concluded an agreement with the Russians
Russians
The Russian people are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Russia, speaking the Russian language and primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries....
and recognized Russian influence in Transcaucasia and the Caspian Sea
Caspian Sea
The Caspian Sea is the largest enclosed body of water on Earth by area, variously classed as the world's largest lake or a full-fledged sea. The sea has a surface area of and a volume of...
. Since this was against Ottoman interests in the region, an army under Köprülü Abdullah Pasha was dispatched and had easily taken Nahçıvan, Merend, Ardabil
Ardabil
Ardabil is a historical city in north-western Iran. The name Ardabil probably comes from the Zoroastrian name of "Artavil" which means a holy place. Ardabil is the center of Ardabil Province. At the 2006 census, its population was 412,669, in 102,818 families...
, Tabriz
Tabriz
Tabriz is the fourth largest city and one of the historical capitals of Iran and the capital of East Azerbaijan Province. Situated at an altitude of 1,350 meters at the junction of the Quri River and Aji River, it was the second largest city in Iran until the late 1960s, one of its former...
and Karabagh. As a result, an agreement under the auspices of the French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
ambassador to Constantinople has been concluded between Ottoman and Russia on 23 June 1724, dividing spheres of influence in the region for the two powers. The provisions of this agreement have also been recognized by the Afghan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
pretender to the Iranian throne, Eshref Shah.
But soon, in 1729, the Afshar
Afshar
Afshar is a district of Kabul, Afghanistan. Most of its population are of the Shia-Hazara ethnic group....
leader Nadir Shah forced the Afghans
Demographics of Afghanistan
The population of Afghanistan is around 29,835,392 as of the year 2011, which is unclear if the refugees living outside the country are included or not. The nation is composed of a multi-ethnic and multi-lingual society, reflecting its location astride historic trade and invasion routes between...
out of Persia and inflicted several defeats on the Ottoman armies. A first peace agreement has been signed in 1732, which did not last for long.
Köprülü Abdullah Pasha met the Persian general Nadir Shah (soon the Shah
Shah
Shāh is the title of the ruler of certain Southwest Asian and Central Asian countries, especially Persia , and derives from the Persian word shah, meaning "king".-History:...
of Persia) in the Battle of Baghavand in 1735. Ordering his forces to entrench in preparation for the advancing Persian army, he managed to avoid an open battle against Nadir. However, recognizing a weakness in the Persian lines, Köprülü launched a successful attack against the Persian forces. Despite initial success, Köprülü's army was defeated in a carefully planned counter attack and Köprülü himself was killed in battle (near present day Kars
Kars
Kars is a city in northeast Turkey and the capital of Kars Province. The population of the city is 73,826 as of 2010.-Etymology:As Chorzene, the town appears in Roman historiography as part of ancient Armenia...
).
See also
- Köprülü EraKöprülü eraThe Köprülü era was the period which Ottoman Empire's politics were set by the Grand Viziers, mainly the Köprülü family, which was a notable family of imperial bureaucrats of Albanian origin. Köprülü family generated grand viziers to the Empire, combining ambition with genuine talent...