Sürmeli Ali Pasha

Sürmeli Ali Pasha (1645 – May 29, 1695) was an Ottoman statesman who served as Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire from March 14, 1694 to May 2, 1695.

Life and Career

Ali Pasha was born in Didymoteicho, a town in eastern Macedonia and Thrace, which is now part of north-eastern Greece. He came from a noble family and was trained by his uncle, Ibrahim Han's kethudası Ali Ağa, who was a high-ranking official.

Ali Pasha began his career as a tax collector, where he demonstrated his skills and abilities. He then served as a muteahhid to the army, responsible for collecting barley taxes. In 1688, he was appointed as "re sure of the restane", an important task in Shipyard-i Amire. From December 1688, he was assigned to the task of Prime Minister.

Grand Vizier

In March 1694, Ali Pasha was appointed as Grand Vizier by Sultan Ahmed II and Sultan Mustafa II. His epithet "Sürmeli" is derived from Turkish, literally meaning "wearing mascara" or "wearing kohl", which some historians interpret as "I didn't know his place".

Death

Ali Pasha died on May 29, 1695 in Edirne by order of Sultan Mustafa II. His death occurred just a few months after he was appointed Grand Vizier.

References

* Uzunçarşılı, İsmail Hakkı (1954). Osmanlı Tarihi. Cilt IV.
* Hammer-Purgstall, Joseph von (1835). Geschichte des Osmanischen Reiches. Band 3.
* Ottoman bones in t (Source 4)