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 Rudnik (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.

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.

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).

Köprülü Complex corridor
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.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Stephen Schwartz, The other Islam: Sufism and the road to global harmony Doubleday 2008 ISBN 978-0-385-51819-2 page 100.
  2. ↑ Ivo Banac, The national question in Yugoslavia: origins, history, politics, ISBN 0-8014-1675-2, ISBN 0-8014-9493-1 Cornell University 1988 page 292.
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