Nişancı Ahmet Pasha
Encyclopedia
Nişancı Ahmed Pasha also called Şehla Ahmed Pasha, was an Ottoman
Grand Vizier
during the reign of Mahmud I
.
in Antalya Province
, Turkey
). But he was born in Söke
(in Aydın Province
, Turkey) to Cafer. One of his uncles was a vizier
. He found a job in the Ottoman palace. He was appointed as the chief stableman . In 1738 he was promoted to be the governor of Aydın Province. In 1742 he returned to İstanbul
, the capital. He was appointed as the nisanci
(one of the highest bureaucratic posts). But soon he was promoted to be the grand vizier on 22 June 1740.
and Russian Empire
had just ended and Nader Shah
of Persia was occupied in Transoxiana
and Daghestan. But Ahmed Pasha was unable to benefit from the favorable conditions to follow a program of recovery and reformation. Besides he was accused of dishonesty and insouciance to state affairs. He was dismissed from the post on 23 April 1742.
island (in modern Greece
) . But then he returned to government services. In 1743 he became the governor of İçel (modern Mersin Province
, Turkey) and then governor of Sidon
(in modern Lebanon
). After the beginning of the new phase of the war against Persia, he was tasked with commanding the northern portion of the front where he successfully defended Kars
(in modern Turkey). He then worked as the governor of Aleppo (in modern Syria
) and Diyarbakır
(in modern Turkey).
After the treaty of Kerden
he was appointed as the governor of Baghdad
(in modern Iraq
) in 1747 as the governor of Egypt
in 1748 and in the governor of Adana
(in modern Turkey) in 1750. But Ahmed Pasha refused this new position. In 1752, he returned to his former seat in Aleppo where he died in February 1753.
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...
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...
during the reign of Mahmud I
Mahmud I
Mahmud I , called the Hunchback was the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1730 to 1754.-Biography:...
.
Early life
His family was from Alaiye (now AlanyaAlanya
Alanya , formerly Alaiye, is a beach resort city and a component district of Antalya Province in the Mediterranean Region of Turkey, from the city of Antalya. On the southern coast of Turkey, the district has an area of 1,598.51 km2 and 248,286 inhabitants...
in Antalya Province
Antalya Province
Antalya Province is located on the Mediterranean coast of south-west Turkey, between the Taurus Mountains and the Mediterranean sea.Antalya Province is the centre of Turkey's tourism industry, attracting 30% of foreign tourists visiting Turkey. The province of Antalya corresponds to the lands of...
, 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...
). But he was born in Söke
Söke
Söke is a town and a large district of Aydın Province in the Aegean region of western Turkey, south-west of the city of Aydın, near the Aegean coast. It had 68,020 population in 2010.- Geography :...
(in Aydın Province
Aydin Province
Aydın Province is a province of southwestern Turkey, located in the Aegean Region. The provincial capital is the city of Aydın which has a population of approx. 150,000 . Other towns in the province include the summer seaside resorts of Didim and Kuşadası.-History:Aydın was founded by the ancient...
, Turkey) to Cafer. One of his uncles was a vizier
Vizier
A vizier or in Arabic script ; ; sometimes spelled vazir, vizir, vasir, wazir, vesir, or vezir) is a high-ranking political advisor or minister in a Muslim government....
. He found a job in the Ottoman palace. He was appointed as the chief stableman . In 1738 he was promoted to be the governor of Aydın Province. In 1742 he returned 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. He was appointed as the nisanci
Nisanci
Nisanci was a high post in Ottoman bureaucracy . The word nisancı literally means court calligrapher or sealer and the original duty of the nisancı was to seal royal precepts.-History:...
(one of the highest bureaucratic posts). But soon he was promoted to be the grand vizier on 22 June 1740.
As Grand Vizier
His term in the office was one of the short periods of peace, for the war against Austrian EmpireAustrian Empire
The Austrian Empire was a modern era successor empire, which was centered on what is today's Austria and which officially lasted from 1804 to 1867. It was followed by the Empire of Austria-Hungary, whose proclamation was a diplomatic move that elevated Hungary's status within the Austrian Empire...
and Russian Empire
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
had just ended and Nader Shah
Nader Shah
Nāder Shāh Afshār ruled as Shah of Iran and was the founder of the Afsharid dynasty. Because of his military genius, some historians have described him as the Napoleon of Persia or the Second Alexander...
of Persia was occupied in Transoxiana
Transoxiana
Transoxiana is the ancient name used for the portion of Central Asia corresponding approximately with modern-day Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, southern Kyrgystan and southwest Kazakhstan. Geographically, it is the region between the Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers...
and Daghestan. But Ahmed Pasha was unable to benefit from the favorable conditions to follow a program of recovery and reformation. Besides he was accused of dishonesty and insouciance to state affairs. He was dismissed from the post on 23 April 1742.
Later years
He was exiled to RhodosRhodos
In Greek mythology, Rhodos or Rhodus also known as Rhode was the goddess of the island of Rhodes and wife of Helios, she was the daughter of Aphrodite and Poseidon. -References:* Grimal, Pierre, , Wiley-Blackwell, 1996, ISBN 9780631201021....
island (in modern Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
) . But then he returned to government services. In 1743 he became the governor of İçel (modern Mersin Province
Mersin Province
The Mersin Province is a province in southern Turkey, on the Mediterranean coast between Antalya and Adana. The provincial capital is the city of Mersin and the other major town is Tarsus, birthplace of St Paul...
, Turkey) and then governor of Sidon
Sidon
Sidon or Saïda is the third-largest city in Lebanon. It is located in the South Governorate of Lebanon, on the Mediterranean coast, about 40 km north of Tyre and 40 km south of the capital Beirut. In Genesis, Sidon is the son of Canaan the grandson of Noah...
(in modern Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
). After the beginning of the new phase of the war against Persia, he was tasked with commanding the northern portion of the front where he successfully defended 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...
(in modern Turkey). He then worked as the governor of Aleppo (in modern Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
) and Diyarbakır
Diyarbakır
Diyarbakır is one of the largest cities in southeastern Turkey...
(in modern Turkey).
After the treaty of Kerden
Treaty of Kerden
Treaty of Kerden was signed between Ottoman Empire and Afsharid Iran on the 4th of September, 1746.- Background :During the last years of Safavid dynasty in Iran, Ottomans were able to annex most of Caucasus and west Iran. Meanwhile, Afghans were able to annex a part of Khorasan. The shah had to...
he was appointed as the governor of Baghdad
Baghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
(in modern Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
) in 1747 as the governor of Egypt
Egypt
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 1748 and in the governor of Adana
Adana
Adana is a city in southern Turkey and a major agricultural and commercial center. The city is situated on the Seyhan River, 30 kilometres inland from the Mediterranean, in south-central Anatolia...
(in modern Turkey) in 1750. But Ahmed Pasha refused this new position. In 1752, he returned to his former seat in Aleppo where he died in February 1753.