The Köprülü family (Turkish: Köprülü ailesi, pronounced [ˈcœp.ɾy.ly]) was a noble family of Albanian origin in the Ottoman Empire.[1][2] The family hailed from the town of Roshnik (near Berat) in the Sanjak of Vlora and provided six Grand Viziers of the Ottoman Empire (including Kara Mustafa Pasha, who was adopted), with several others becoming high-ranking officers. The era during which these grand viziers served is known as the Köprülü era of the Ottoman Empire.They were historically the most influential family in the Ottoman Empire after the House of Osman.
Another notable member of the family was Köprülü Abdullah Pasha (1684–1735), who was a general in Ottoman-Persian wars of his time and acted as the governor in several provinces of the empire. Modern descendants include Mehmet Fuat Köprülü, a prominent historian of Turkish literature. Members of the family continue to live in Turkey, the Maghreb, and the United States.
In his novel The Palace of Dreams, Albanian author Ismail Kadare offers a reflection on power, politics, and family dynamics, drawing inspiration from various elements of Ottoman history, including the powerful Köprülü family. The novel explores the intertwining of personal ambition and state affairs, which resonates with the legacy of the Köprülü grand viziers who played a pivotal role in shaping the Ottoman Empire.
Köprülü grand viziers
During the history of the Ottoman Empire, the Köprülü grand viziers had a reputation for dynamism in a state that would later show signs of decline and stagnation. The early viziers in particular focused on military campaigns that extended the Empire's power. This, however, came to an end after the disastrous Battle of Vienna launched by Kara Mustafa Pasha, a member of the family (see also the Treaty of Karlowitz).
| Name | Life | Grand vizier in | Sultans |
|---|---|---|---|
| Köprülü Mehmed Pasha | 1583–1661 | 1656–1661 | Mehmed IV |
| Köprülüzade Fazıl Ahmed Pasha | 1635–1676 | 1661–1676 | Mehmed IV |
| Kara Mustafa Pasha1 | 1634–1683 | 1676–1683 | Mehmed IV |
| Abaza Siyavuş Pasha2 | died 1688 | 1687–1688 | Suleiman II |
| Köprülüzade Fazıl Mustafa Pasha | 1637–1691 | 1689–1691 | Suleiman II Ahmed II |
| Amcazade Köprülü Hüseyin Pasha | 1644–1702 | 1697–1702 | Mustafa II |
| Köprülüzade Numan Pasha | 1670–1719 | 1710–1711 | Ahmed III |
1 Kara Mustafa Pasha had been adopted by the Köprülü family and was the brother-in-law of Köprülü Fazıl Ahmet Pasha.
2 Abaza Siyavuş Pasha was a servant of Köprülü Mehmet Pasha. By marrying his daughter, Siyavuş became a son-in-law (damat) of the powerful Köprülü family.
Köprülü Grave
Köprülü mosque
Köprülü Complex courtyard
Amcazade (or Köprülü) Yalı
See also
- Köprülü era of the Ottoman Empire
- Veles, a city in North Macedonia (named Köprülü under Ottoman rule)
- Vezirköprü, a Turkish town named after the family
References
External links
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