List of Ottoman grand viziers

The grand vizier of the Ottoman Empire ( or Sadr-ı Azam (Sadrazam); Ottoman Turkish: or ) was the de facto prime minister of the sultan, with the absolute power of attorney and, in principle, removable only by the sultan himself in the classical period, before the Tanzimat reforms, or until the 1908 Revolution. He held the imperial seal and could summon all other viziers to attend to affairs of the state in the Imperial Council; the viziers in conference were called "kubbe viziers" in reference to their meeting place, the Kubbealtı ('under-the-dome') in Topkapı Palace. His offices were located at the Sublime Porte.

History

During the emerging phases of the Ottoman state, "vizier" was the only title used. The first of these Ottoman viziers who was titled "grand vizier" was Çandarlı Kara Halil Hayreddin Pasha (also known as Çandarlı Halil Pasha the Elder). The purpose in instituting the title "grand vizier" was to differentiate the holder of the sultan's seal from other viziers. The initially more regularly used title of vezir-i âzam was slowly replaced by sadrazam, both meaning grand vizier in practice. Throughout Ottoman history, the grand viziers have also been called sadr-ı âlî ('high vizier'), vekil-i mutlak ('absolute attorney'), sâhib-i devlet ('holder of the state'), serdar-ı ekrem ('gracious general'), serdar-ı azam ('grand general'), and zât-ı âsafî ('vizieral person') and başnazır, literally "prime minister" in Ottoman Turkish. The Office of the Grand Vizier was called the sadaret.

In the late periods of the Ottoman Empire, especially during and after the 19th century, the grand vizier began to hold a position almost identical to that of a prime minister in other European states. Reforms seen during and after the Tanzimat (1838), the First Constitutional Era (1876–1878), and the Second Constitutional Era (1908–1920) further brought the office of the grand vizier in line with the European standard, making the incumbent the head of a Cabinet of other ministers. During the two constitutional eras, the grand vizier also served as the speaker of the Senate, the upper house of the bicameral Ottoman Parliament. With the establishment of the Republic of Turkey in 1923, the Prime Minister of Turkey took on the roles of the former office.

Grand viziers were often replaced or resigned in rapid succession, frequently leading to political instability. In the final 10 years of the Empire alone, the office of the grand vizier changed hands 13 times between 12 men; some, such as Ahmed Izzet Pasha and Salih Hulusi Pasha, held office for less than a month.

Office of the Grand Vizierate The Office of the Grand Vizierate was known as the Sadaret-i Uzma, or alternatively the Baş Vekâlet (The Prime Ministry), or Bâb-ı Âli (Literally the Sublime Porte, all the departments under the Vezierate). In 1839, this office included only included the Âmedi-i Divan-ı Hümayun (Office of the Imperial Council).

List of grand viziers Chief viziers (1320–1439) In the early Ottoman beylik, the vizier acted as the sultan’s chief deputy for administration and military affairs. The position began with Alaeddin Pasha (c. 1320–1331) and was later dominated by the Çandarlı family, who helped build the empire’s administrative foundations. +VizierTerm of officeSultan Portrait Name Took office Left office Time in officeKemaleddinoğlu Alaeddin Pasha1320133111 yearsOsman IOrhanMahmudoğlu Nizamüddin Ahmed Pasha1331134817 yearsMehmet Hacı Pasha134813491 yearSinanüddin Fakih Yusuf Pasha13491364 †15 yearsMurad IÇandarlızade Halil Hayreddin Pasha13641387 †Çandarlızade Ali Pasha13871406 †19 yearsBayezid ISüleyman ÇelebiImamzade Halil Pasha140614137 yearsMehmed IBayezid Pasha14131421 †8 yearsMurad IIÇandarlızade Ibrahim Pasha the Elder14211429 †8 years Mehmed Nizamüddin Pasha1429143910 years

Grand Viziers (1439–1839) The position of grand vizier was established with Murad II's appointment of Çandarlızade Halil Pasha the Younger to such a position. In the 19th century, Mahmud II would abolish the title of Grand Vizier, and appointed Mehmed Emin Rauf Pasha as Başvekil, or Prime Minister. Upon Sultan Abdülmecid I's ascention to the throne, the Grand Vizierate was restored. +Grand VizierTerm of officeSultanPortraitNameTook officeLeft officeTime in officeÇandarlızade Halil Pasha the Younger14391453 †Murad II Mehmed IIMurad II Mehmed IIZaganos Pasha145314563 yearsMahmud Pasha Angelović1456146812 yearsMehmed Pasha146814691 yearIshak Pasha146914723 yearsMahmud Pasha Angelović14721474 †2 yearsGedik Ahmed Pasha147414773 yearsKaramani Mehmed Pasha14771481 †4 yearsIshak Pasha148114821 yearBayezid IIDavud Pasha1482149715 yearsHersekzade Ahmed Pasha149714981 yearÇandarlızade Ibrahim Pasha the Younger14981499 †1 yearMesih Pasha Palaiologos14991501 †2 yearsAli Pasha150115032 yearsHersekzade Ahmed Pasha150315063 yearsAli Pasha15061511 †5 yearsHersekzade Ahmed Pasha15111511Mustafa Pasha15111512 †1 yearHersekzade Ahmed Pasha15121514Selim IDukakinzade Ahmed Pasha15141515 †Hersekzade Ahmed Pasha15151516Sinan Pasha Borovinić15161517 †Yunus Pasha15171517 †Mehmed Pasha15181523Suleiman Iİbrahim Pasha15231536 †Ayas Mehmed Pasha15361539 †Lütfi Pasha15391541Süleyman Pasha15411544Rüstem Pasha15441553Ahmed Pasha15531555 †Rüstem Pasha15551561 †Semiz Ali Pasha15611565 †Mehmed Pasha1579 †1565Selim IIMurad IIISemiz Ahmed Pasha15791580 † Mustafa Pasha15801580 †Sinan Pasha15801582Siyavuş Pasha15821584Özdemiroğlu Osman Pasha15841585 †Mesih Pasha15851586Siyavuş Pasha15861589Sinan Pasha15891591Serdar Ferhad Pasha15911592Siyavuş Pasha15921593Sinan Pasha15931595Mehmed IIISerdar Ferhad Pasha15951595Sinan Pasha15951595 Mehmed Pasha15951595 †Sinan Pasha15951596 †Ibrahim Pasha15961596Cığalazâde Yusuf Sinan Pasha15961596Ibrahim Pasha15961597Hasan Pasha15971598 †Mehmed Pasha15981599Ibrahim Pasha15991601 † Hasan Pasha16011603 †Malkoç Yavuz Ali Pasha16031604 †Ahmed ISokolluzade Mehmed Pasha16041606 †Derviş Mehmed Pasha16061606 †Murad Pasha16061611 † Nasuh Pasha16111614 † Mehmed Pasha16141616Halil Pasha16191616Mustafa IOsman II Mehmed Pasha16191619 †Ali Pasha16191621 †Hüseyin Pasha16211621Dilaver Pasha16211622 †Hüseyin Pasha16221622 †Davud Pasha16221622 †Mustafa IHüseyin Pasha16221622Mustafa Pasha16221622Murad IVMehmed Pasha16221623Hüseyin Pasha16231623 Ali Pasha16231624 †Mehmed Ali Pasha16241625 †Müezzinzade Ahmed Pasha16251626Halil Pasha16261628Ekrem Hüsrev Pasha16281631Müezzinzade Ahmed Pasha16311632 †Recep Pasha16321632 †Mehmed Pasha16321637Bayram Pasha16371638Mehmed Pasha16381638 † Mustafa Pasha16381644 †IbrahimSultanzade Mehmet Pasha16441645Salih Pasha16451647 †Musa Pasha16471647Ahmet Pasha16471648 †Mehmed Pasha16481649 †Mehmed IV Murat Pasha16491651 Ahmed Pasha16511651Siyavuş Pasha the Elder16511651Mehmed Pasha16511652Ahmed Pasha16521653 †Dervish Mehmed Pasha16531654İpşiri Mustafa Pasha16541655 † Murat Pasha16551655Suleyman Pasha16551656 Hüseyin Pasha16561656Zurnazen Mustafa Pasha165616564 hoursİzahlı Osmanlı Tarihi Kronolojisi, Cilt:5, İsmail Hami DanişmendSiyavuş Pasha the Elder16561656 †Mehmed Pasha16561656Mehmed Pasha16561661 †Köprülüzade Fazıl Ahmed Pasha16611676 † Mustafa Pasha16761683 †İbrahim Pasha16831685Süleyman Pasha16851687 †Siyavuş Pasha the Younger16871688 †Suleiman IIİsmail Kemalettin Pasha16881688Mustafa Pasha16881689Köprülüzade Fazıl Mustafa Pasha16891691 †Ahmed IIBahadırzade Ali Pasha16911692Çalık Ali Pasha16921693Mustafa Pasha16931694Ali Pasha16941695Mustafa IIMehmed Pasha16951697 †Amcazade Köprülü Hüseyin Pasha16971702Mustafa Pasha17021703 †Rami Mehmed Pasha17031703Kavanoz Ahmed Pasha17031703Ahmed IIIHasan Pasha17031704 Ahmed Pasha17041704Mehmed Pasha17041706 Ali Pasha17061710Köprülüzade Numan Pasha17101710Mehmed Pasha17101711 Yusuf Pasha17111712Süleyman Pasha1712171317131713 † Ali Pasha17131716 †Halil Pasha1716171717171718 Ibrahim Pasha17181730 † 17301731Mahmud I17311731Osman Pasha17311732Hekimoğlu Ali Pasha1732173517351735 173617371737173717371739İvazzade Mehmed Pasha17391740 Ahmed Pasha17401742Hekimoğlu Ali Pasha17421742Hasan Pasha1742174617461747Abdullah Pasha17471750Mehmed Emin Pasha17501752Bahir Mustafa Pasha17521755Osman IIIHekimoğlu Ali Pasha17551755Naili Abdullah Pasha17551755 17551755 †Yirmisekizzade Mehmed Said Pasha17551756Bahir Mustafa Pasha17561756Mehmet Ragıp Pasha17571763 †Mustafa III17631763Bahir Mustafa Pasha17631765 †176517681768176817681769 †17691769İvazzade Halil Pasha17691770 1770177117711774 †Abdul Hamid Iİzzet Mehmed Pasha17741775177517771777177817781779 17791781 †İzzet Mehmed Pasha17811782 17821782Halil Hamid Pasha17821785 †17851786Yusuf Pasha17861789Selim III Hasan Pasha17891790 Hasan Pasha17901790 †Çelebizade Şerif Hasan Pasha17901791 †Yusuf Pasha17911792Melek Mehmed Pasha17921794İzzet Mehmet Pasha17941798Yusuf Ziyaüddin Pasha17981805 1805180618061807Mustafa IV18071808Mustafa Pasha18081808 †Mahmud IIMemiş Pasha18081808Ali Pasha18081809Yusuf Ziyaüddin Pasha18091811Aziz Ahmed Pasha18111812Hurşit Ahmed Pasha18121815Mehmed Emin Rauf Pasha1815181818181820 18201821Ali Pasha18211821 † 18211822 Abdullah Pasha1822182318231823Mehmed Said Galip Pasha18231824Mehmed Selim Pasha18241828İzzet Mehmed Pasha18281829Reşid Mehmed Pasha18291833Mehmed Emin Rauf Pasha18331839Abdulmejid IHüsrev Mehmed Pasha18391839Proclamation of the Gülhane Edict

Tanzimat (1839–1876) The Gülhane edict was announced soon after Abdul Mecid's sword girding, ushering in the Tanzimat period, a time of major bureaucratic and administrative reform. +Grand VizierTerm of officeSultanPortraitNameTook officeLeft officeTime in officeHüsrev Mehmed Pasha•18391841Abdulmejid IMehmed Emin Rauf Pasha318411841İzzet Mehmed Pasha218411842Mehmed Emin Rauf Pasha418421846Mustafa Reşid Pasha118461848İbrahim Sarim Pasha•18481848Mustafa Reşid Pasha218481852Mehmed Emin Rauf Pasha518521852Mustafa Reşit Pasha318521852Mehmed Emin Âlî Pasha118521852Mehmed Ali Pasha•18521853Mustafa Naili Pasha118531854Mehmed Emin Pasha118541854Mustafa Reşid Pasha418541855Mehmed Emin Âlî Pasha218551856Mustafa Reşid Pasha518561857Mustafa Naili Pasha218571857Mustafa Reşid Pasha618571858 †Mehmed Emin Âlî Pasha318581859Mehmed Emin Pasha218591859Mehmed Rüşdi Pasha118591860Mehmed Emin Pasha318601861AbdulazizMehmed Emin Âlî Pasha418611861Keçecizade Mehmed Fuad Pasha118611863Yusuf Kâmil Pasha•18631863Keçecizade Mehmed Fuad Pasha218631866Mehmed Rüşdi Pasha218661867Mehmed Emin Âlî Pasha518671871 †Mahmud Nedim Pasha118711872Ahmed Şefik Midhat Pasha118721872Mehmed Rüşdi Pasha318721873Ahmed Esat Pasha118731873Şirvanizade Mehmed Rüşdi Pasha•18731874Hüseyin Avni Pasha•18741875Ahmed Esat Pasha218751875 †Mahmud Nedim Pasha218751876Mehmed Rüşdi Pasha418761876Murad VAbdul Hamid IIPromulgation of Constitution

First Constitutional Monarchy (1876–1878) Under pressure from constitutionalist ministers which overthrew his relatives Abdülaziz and Murad V, Abdülhamid II promulgated a constitution and parliament upon his ascension to the throne. +Grand VizierTerm of officeLegislatureTitleSultanPortraitNameTook officeLeft officeTime in officeAhmed Şefik Midhat Pasha218761877—Grand VizierAbdul Hamid IIİbrahim Edhem Pasha•18771878Grand VizierI(1876)II(1877)Ahmed Hamdi Pasha•18781878Grand VizierAhmed Vefik Pasha118781878Prime MinisterConstitution suspended

Hamidian viziers (1878–1908) Abdul Hamid II suspended the constitution and parliament in the aftermath of the 1877–1878 Russo Turkish war, and ruled the Ottoman Empire for the next three decades in a personal dictatorship. Opposition politicians dubbed this era of Ottoman history as the era of İstibdat (despotism). Abdul Hamid revived the use of the title Başnazır, or Prime Minister, though he eventually settled on his government chiefs being called Sadr-ı Azam, or Grand Vizier.