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Mehmed paša Sokolović

Sokollu Mehmed
Pasha
Mehmed Sokolović (ca 1505-1579) Glasoviti Hrvati 1886.png
Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire
In office
28 June 1565 – 11 October 1579
Sultan Suleiman I
Selim II
Murad III
Preceded by Semiz Ali Pasha
Succeeded by Şemsi Pasha
Personal details
Born (possibly) Bajica
1506
Rudo, Bosnia Eyalet, Ottoman Empire
Died 11 October 1579 (aged 72–73)
Constantinople, Ottoman Empire
Nationality Ottoman
Spouse(s) Ismihan Sultan
Children Sultanzade Ibrahim
Alma mater Enderun School
Profession Sea captain
Religion Islam (prev. Eastern Orthodoxy)
Ethnicity Serb
Military service
Allegiance  Ottoman Empire
Service/branch Janissaries
 Ottoman Navy
Years of service 1541–1579
Rank Commander of the Imperial Guard (1543–1546)
Kapudan Pasha (grand admiral; 1546–1551)
Governor-General of Rumelia (1551–1555)
Third Vizier (1555–1561)
Second Vizier (1561–1565)
Grand Vizier (1565–1579)
Battles/wars Ottoman–Venetian War (1570–73)
Ottoman–Hungarian Wars
Russo-Crimean War (1571)
Croatian-Ottoman Wars
Ottoman–Safavid War (1532–55)
Ottoman–Safavid War (1578–90)

Sokollu Mehmed Pasha (Ottoman Turkish: سوکلو محمد پاشا‎, Sokollu Mehmed Paşa in modern Turkish; Serbian Cyrillic: Мехмед-паша Соколовић, Arebica: مەحمەد-پاشا سۉقۉلۉوٖىݘ, pronounced [měxmet pâʃa sokǒːloʋit͡ɕ]; 1506 – 11 October 1579) was an Ottoman statesman. Born in Ottoman Bosnia into a Serbian Orthodox family, Mehmed was taken away at an early age as part of the Ottoman devşirme system of collection of Christian boys to be raised to serve as a janissary. These boys were forcefully converted into Islam, raised and educated, but in turn were offered great opportunities to excel and to rise within the Ottoman imperial system; Sokollu Mehmed Pasha is one of many that made the best of their careers (reaching Grand Vizier rank).

He rose through the ranks of the Ottoman imperial system, eventually holding positions as commander of the imperial guard (1543–1546), High Admiral of the Fleet (1546–1551), Governor-General of Rumelia (1551–1555), Third Vizier (1555–1561), Second Vizier (1561–1565), and as Grand Vizier (1565–1579, for a total of 14 years, three months, 17 days) under three sultans: Suleiman the Magnificent, Selim II, and Murad III. He was assassinated in 1579, ending his near 15-year rule as de facto ruler of the Ottoman Empire.


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