The Grand Vizierate in the Context of Murad III’s Politics: The Case of Sokollu Mehmed Pasha

Mehmet Barman

Makale detayları

The Grand Vizierate in the Context of Murad III’s Politics: The Case of Sokollu Mehmed Pasha

Yazarlar:

Mehmet Barman

Yayıncı:

Sakarya University

Ana Başlıklar:

Türk Siyasi Tarihi

Dergi:

Sosyal ve Kültürel Araştırmalar Dergisi (SKAD) Vol.11 Issue 22, pp.18-34

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

6/2025

Belge Dili:

Türkçe

Document ID (Org No.):

2001349711

pISSN:

2149-2778

Anahtar kelimeler:

Özet:

 With the conquest of Istanbul by Mehmed the Conqueror, the Ottoman dynastys underwent a significant transformation in terms of governance stakeholders, Unlike in its early years, Mehmed II began selecting the new administrative elites viziers and military leaders predominantly from among the devşirme. To grant the dynasty greater independence in its actions, these new administrative elites, supported by laws and decress, grew increasingly influential in governance processes over time. By the reign of Suleiman the Magnificent, their power had expanded to the extent that even the sultans daily political decisions were constrained. For instance, when Suleiman passed away during the Szigetvar campaign, his son, Selim II, was invited to the throne in accordance with the requirements of the central administration. In practice, however, authority was largely left in the hands of Sokollu Mehmed Pasha, the grand vizier of the time. This shift signified that the central administration, originally designed by Mehmed II to operate on a rational basis through devşirme officials, had deviated from its initial purpose. Recognizing this, Murad III, who ascended to the throne after Selim II, was acutely aware of the dominant position of the central administration, a dynamic he had observed since his years as a prince. Discontented with the power amassed by the central administraton and its leading figures, the grand viziers, Murad III sought to weaken the institutionalized authority of the grand vizierate. To this end, he began appointing administrative stakeholders from either local elites or individuals from within the kul system, aligning them with his political vision, much like during the early years of the dynasty. One of his primary targets was Sokollu Mehmed Pasha, whose centralized power Murad III aimed to dismantle in favor of dynastys interests. This study examines Murad IIIs struggle against Sokollu Mehmed Pasha, a prominent and powerful figure of the central administration, alongside key events such as the execution of Buda Governor Mustafa Pasha, an important representative of the center-periphery relationship, and the evolving positions of grand viziers in relation to the sultans authority, all within the framework of Murad IIIs political approach.

 With the conquest of Istanbul by Mehmed the Conqueror, the Ottoman dynastys underwent a significant transformation in terms of governance stakeholders, Unlike in its early years, Mehmed II began selecting the new administrative elites viziers and military leaders predominantly from among the devşirme. To grant the dynasty greater independence in its actions, these new administrative elites, supported by laws and decress, grew increasingly influential in governance processes over time. By the reign of Suleiman the Magnificent, their power had expanded to the extent that even the sultans daily political decisions were constrained. For instance, when Suleiman passed away during the Szigetvar campaign, his son, Selim II, was invited to the throne in accordance with the requirements of the central administration. In practice, however, authority was largely left in the hands of Sokollu Mehmed Pasha, the grand vizier of the time. This shift signified that the central administration, originally designed by Mehmed II to operate on a rational basis through devşirme officials, had deviated from its initial purpose. Recognizing this, Murad III, who ascended to the throne after Selim II, was acutely aware of the dominant position of the central administration, a dynamic he had observed since his years as a prince. Discontented with the power amassed by the central administraton and its leading figures, the grand viziers, Murad III sought to weaken the institutionalized authority of the grand vizierate. To this end, he began appointing administrative stakeholders from either local elites or individuals from within the kul system, aligning them with his political vision, much like during the early years of the dynasty. One of his primary targets was Sokollu Mehmed Pasha, whose centralized power Murad III aimed to dismantle in favor of dynastys interests. This study examines Murad IIIs struggle against Sokollu Mehmed Pasha, a prominent and powerful figure of the central administration, alongside key events such as the execution of Buda Governor Mustafa Pasha, an important representative of the center-periphery relationship, and the evolving positions of grand viziers in relation to the sultans authority, all within the framework of Murad IIIs political approach.

 With the conquest of Istanbul by Mehmed the Conqueror, the Ottoman dynastys underwent a significant transformation in terms of governance stakeholders, Unlike in its early years, Mehmed II began selecting the new administrative elites viziers and military leaders predominantly from among the devşirme. To grant the dynasty greater independence in its actions, these new administrative elites, supported by laws and decress, grew increasingly influential in governance processes over time. By the reign of Suleiman the Magnificent, their power had expanded to the extent that even the sultans daily political decisions were constrained. For instance, when Suleiman passed away during the Szigetvar campaign, his son, Selim II, was invited to the throne in accordance with the requirements of the central administration. In practice, however, authority was largely left in the hands of Sokollu Mehmed Pasha, the grand vizier of the time. This shift signified that the central administration, originally designed by Mehmed II to operate on a rational basis through devşirme officials, had deviated from its initial purpose. Recognizing this, Murad III, who ascended to the throne after Selim II, was acutely aware of the dominant position of the central administration, a dynamic he had observed since his years as a prince. Discontented with the power amassed by the central administraton and its leading figures, the grand viziers, Murad III sought to weaken the institutionalized authority of the grand vizierate. To this end, he began appointing administrative stakeholders from either local elites or individuals from within the kul system, aligning them with his political vision, much like during the early years of the dynasty. One of his primary targets was Sokollu Mehmed Pasha, whose centralized power Murad III aimed to dismantle in favor of dynastys interests. This study examines Murad IIIs struggle against Sokollu Mehmed Pasha, a prominent and powerful figure of the central administration, alongside key events such as the execution of Buda Governor Mustafa Pasha, an important representative of the center-periphery relationship, and the evolving positions of grand viziers in relation to the sultans authority, all within the framework of Murad IIIs political approach.

 Fatihin İstanbulu fethiyle beraber Osmanlı hanedanlığı yönetim paydaşları bağlamında da yeni bir fasılaya evrildi. Zira Fatih, kuruluş yıllarının aksine hanedanlığın yeni yönetici paydaşlarını vüzera ve asker daha ziyade devşirmeler içerisinden belirlemekteydi. Hanedanlığa daha müstakil hareket etme kabiliyeti kazandırmak için kanun ve nizamnamelerle desteklenen yeni yönetici paydaşların merkezi hükümetin ilerleyen yıllarda yönetim süreçlerindeki etkileri artmış ve Kanuni dönemine gelindiğinde daha da güçlenerek padişahın dahi günlük siyasetini sınırlayan bir potansiyele ulaşmıştı. Nitekim Kanuni çıktığı Sigetvar seferinde vefat edince tahta davet edilen oğlu II. Selim, merkezi hükümetin icapları doğrultusunda tahta oturmuş ve vaziyet bir anlamda dönemin sadrazamı Sokollu Mehmed Paşanın tasarrufuna bırakılmıştı. Bu tasarruf, hanedanlık bağlamında Fatihin kullardan oluşturduğu merkezi hükümetin başlangıçta tasarlanan rasyonalitesini kaybettiği anlamına gelmekteydi. Dolayısıyla II. Selimden sonra tahta çıkan ve daha babasının şehzadeliği yıllarından beri merkezi hükümettin bu baskın pozisyonunun farkında olan III. Murad, merkezi hükümetin ulaştığı bu güçten rahatsızlık duyacak ve merkezi hükümetin başat aktörü sadrazamlara karşı tavır takınarak, sadaret makamının kurumsallaşmış gücünü zayıflatmaya çalışacaktı. Bu amaçla yönetici paydaşlarını kuruluş yıllarında olduğu gibi yerel elitlerinden yahut kul sistemi içerisinden siyasasına uygun yeni aktörler üzerinden belirleyen III. Murad, Kanuni zamanından beri bir güç unsuru olarak beliren mevcut sadrazam Sokolluyu hedef alacak ve onun şahsında temerküz eden gücü, hanedanlık lehine kırmaya çalışacaktı. Yapılan bu çalışma, merkezi hükümetin vüzeranın önemli ve güçlü bir aktörü olan Sokollu Mehmed Paşaya karşı yapılan mücadeleyi, onun merkez-çevre ilişkisinin önemli bir temsilcisi olan Budin Beylerbeyi Mustafa Paşanın idamını ve dönemin sadrazamlarının padişah otoritesi karşısındaki pozisyonlarını III. Muradın siyasası yönetim anlayışı ekseninde irdelemeyi hedeflemektedir.

Makale detayları

The Grand Vizierate in the Context of Murad III’s Politics: The Case of Sokollu Mehmed Pasha

Yazarlar:

Mehmet Barman

Yayıncı:

Sakarya University

Ana Başlıklar:

Türk Siyasi Tarihi

Dergi:

Sosyal ve Kültürel Araştırmalar Dergisi (SKAD) Vol.11 Issue 22, pp.18-34

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

6/2025

Belge Dili:

Türkçe

Document ID (Org No.):

2001349711

pISSN:

2149-2778

Murad III

Sokollu Mehmed Pasha

Palace

Faction

Grand VizierateIII. Murad

Sokollu Mehmed Paşa

Saray

Hizip

Sadaret

Sayı

Makale detayları

Yazarlar: Mehmet Barman

Yayıncı: Sakarya University

Ana Başlıklar: Türk Siyasi Tarihi

Dergi: Sosyal ve Kültürel Araştırmalar Dergisi (SKAD) Vol.11 Issue 22, pp.18-34

Belge Tipi: Makale

Yayın Tarihi: 6/2025

Belge Dili: Türkçe

Document ID (Org No.): 2001349711

pISSN: 2149-2778

Sayı

Yazarlar:

Mehmet Barman

Yayıncı:

Sakarya University

Ana Başlıklar:

Türk Siyasi Tarihi

Dergi:

Sosyal ve Kültürel Araştırmalar Dergisi (SKAD) Vol.11 Issue 22, pp.18-34

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

6/2025

Belge Dili:

Türkçe

Document ID (Org No.):

2001349711

pISSN:

2149-2778