Sofu Mehmed Pasha

Sofu Mehmed Pasha (died August 1649), also known as Mevlevi Mehmed Pasha, was an Ottoman statesman who served as grand vizier and defterdar (finance minister).

For the Ottoman governor of Egypt, Rumelia, Budin, and Sivas, see Sofu Mehmed Pasha (governor).
In this Ottoman Turkish style name, the given name is Mehmet, the title is Pasha, and there is no family name.
Sofu
Mehmed
Pasha
Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire
In office
8 August 1648 – 21 May 1649
MonarchsIbrahim
Mehmed IV
Preceded byHezarpare Ahmed Pasha
Succeeded byKara Murat Pasha
Defterdar
In office
1636–1639
Preceded byMostarlı Ibrahim Pasha
Succeeded byDefterdarzade Ibrahim Pasha
Personal details
DiedAugust 1649
Malkara, Turkey
NationalityOttoman

Early years

He was a chamberlain/deputy (kethüda) of a defterdar (the head of the treasury). During the reign of Murad IV in 1636, he was appointed as the defterdar and served until 1639. During his retirement, he became a member of Mevlevi Order gaining the title Mevlevi or Sofu. During the turbulent events taking place just before the dethronement of Ibrahim in 1648, the previous grand vizier Hezarpare Ahmet Pasha had been lynched by an angry mob, and the Janissary leaders forced the sultan to appoint Sofu Mehmed Pasha as the grand vizier. The sultan reluctantly agreed [1] on 8 August 1648. Nevertheless, the sultan was dethroned five days after his appointment. Despite this dethronement, Sofu Mehmed Pasha was still afraid of the former sultan, as there was a possibility of the Janissaries re-enthroning him. To Sofu Mehmed Pasha's relief, Ibrahim was executed ten days after his dethronement.[2] Sofu Mehmed Pasha is thought to have been personally present during the execution.[3]

Grand Vizierate

A great problem for Sofu Mehmed was the economy. His top priority in the government was the treasury. He limited expenditures, but this policy caused reactions among the sipahi troops, leading them to revolt. Sofu Mehmed saved his life by taking refuge behind the power of the Janissary troops. Although this saved his life, the Janissaries gained an excess of power from the incident, and soon, the commander of the Janissary Kara Murat Pasha took sides against Sofu Mehmed.[2] The defeat of the Ottoman navy in the Battle of Focchies on 12 May 1649 was a further blow to Sofu Mehmed Pasha.

Death

On 21 May 1649, he was replaced by Kara Murat Pasha. He was exiled to Malkara (a town in European Turkey), and soon, Kara Murat Pasha had him executed there in August 1649.

See also

References
  1. Ayhan Buz: Osmanlı Sadrazamları, Neden Kitap, İstanbul, 2009,ISBN 978-975-254-278-5 p.104
  2. Prof. Yaşar Yüce-Prof. Ali Sevim: Türkiye tarihi Cilt III, AKDTYKTTK Yayınları, İstanbul, 1991 pp. 100-102
  3. M.Fatih Ertürk: Osmanlı İmparatorluğu Tarihi, Kalipso yayınları, İstanbul, p.172

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