Midhat Pasha

Midhat Pasha
born October 1822, Constantinople, Ottoman Empire
died May 8, 1883, Al-Ṭāʾif, Arabian Peninsula

Civil servant and grand vizier of the Ottoman Empire.

As governor of Niš and Baghdad, his successful reforms earned the respect of the sultan Abdülaziz, who in 1872 appointed him grand vizier, a post he held only three months. In 1876 he helped depose Abdülaziz and eventually replaced him with Abdülhamid II. Again appointed grand vizier, he was dismissed after six months. Afterward, he was banished but later was recalled and made governor of Smyrna. He then was arrested and convicted for Abdülaziz's death. His death sentence was commuted to permanent exile. See also Tanzimat.

* * *

▪ Ottoman vizier
Pasha also spelled  Paşa 
born October 1822, Constantinople, Ottoman Empire [now Istanbul, Tur.]
died May 8, 1883, Al-Ṭāʾif, Arabia [now in Saudi Arabia]

      twice Ottoman grand vizier who was known for his honest ability, his administrative reforms, and his initiation of the first constitution of the Ottoman Empire (1876).

      Son of a qāḍī (judge), Midhat was trained for an administrative career. He joined the office of the grand vizier, eventually becoming the second secretary to the Grand Council. His enemies arranged for him to be given (1854) the nearly impossible task of halting the revolt and brigandage rampant in Rumelia, in the Balkans, where he achieved startling success. After restoring order to Bulgaria (1857), he spent six months' study leave in Europe.

      In 1861 Midhat was made a vizier and entrusted with the government of Niš, where his reforms were so successful that Sultan Abdülaziz charged him to help prepare a scheme for their adoption in other parts of the empire. After reorganizing the Council of State, he was made governor of Baghdad (1869), where his success was as impressive as at Niš. Midhat took a bold step in 1872. In an interview with the absolutist sultan, he expressed opposition to the grand vizier Mahmud Nedim (Mahmud Nedim Paşa)'s antireform policies. The sultan thereupon appointed him grand vizier in place of Mahmud Nedim. Too independent for the court, however, Midhat remained in power only three months. He was later made minister of justice and then president of the Council of State.

      Deteriorating conditions in the empire in 1876 led to a coalition of Midhat, the grand vizier, and the minister of war that deposed Sultan Abdülaziz on May 30 and placed his nephew Murad V on the throne; Murad's insanity led to his deposition in August, and he was replaced by his brother Abdülhamid II. Midhat again became grand vizier, and, mainly at his urging, the empire's first constitution was promulgated on December 23, guaranteeing a broad range of democratic freedoms. In the following February, however, he was dismissed and ordered to leave the country. He was recalled again the next year and appointed governor of Smyrna. In May 1881 the sultan again ordered his arrest, and, although he escaped and appealed to the European powers to intervene for him, he gave himself up shortly afterward. At his trial he was found guilty of having caused the death of the deposed Sultan Abdülaziz and sentenced to death. On British intercession the sentence was commuted to life banishment. Midhat spent the last days of his life in Al-Ṭāʾif, where he was probably murdered.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно решить контрольную?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Midhat Pasha — on the cover of Vanity Fair, June 30, 1877 …   Wikipedia

  • Midhat — (also spelled Medhat, or Mithat) is a given name for males. People with the name include: Midhat Pasha, Ottoman grand vizier Midhat J. Gazalé, Egyptian international telecommunications and space consultant Medhat Abdel Hady, Egyptian footballer… …   Wikipedia

  • Pasha — or pacha, formerly bashaw, ( tr. paşa پاشا) (Persian: پاشا) (Armenian: Փաշա) was a high rank in the Ottoman Empire political system, typically granted to governors and generals. As an honorary title, Pasha in one of its various ranks is… …   Wikipedia

  • Midhat Pascha — Ahmet Şefik Midhat Pascha Mithat Pascha auf dem Titelblatt des …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • pasha — pashadom, n. /pah sheuh, pash euh, peuh shah , shaw /, n. a title, placed after the name, formerly held by high officials in countries under Turkish rule. Also, pacha. [1640 50; < Turk pasa; see BASHAW] * * * (as used in expressions) Emin Pasha… …   Universalium

  • Midhat Pascha — Midhat Pascha, türk. Staatsmann, geb. 1825 in Bulgarien von türkischen, der islamischen Sekte der Bektasch angehörigen Eltern, gest. 8. Mai 1884 in Taif, trat um 1840 als Schreiber (Kiatib) zu Rustschuk in den Staatsdienst, rückte aber erst, als… …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • Mahmud Nedim Pasha — (c. 1818 1883) was an Ottoman statesman of Georgian origin.[1] He was the son of Necib Pasha, ex governor general of Baghdad. After occupying various subordinate posts at the Porte he became under secretary of state for foreign affairs, govern …   Wikipedia

  • Mehmed Fuad Pasha — (1814 – 1869) was an Ottoman statesman known for his leadership during the Crimean War and in the Tanzimat reforms within the Ottoman Empire. He was also a noted Freemason.[citation needed] Career Fuad Pasha was a “Europeanized” man who was… …   Wikipedia

  • Kâmil Pasha — (Turkish: Kıbrıslı Mehmet Kamil Paşa , literally Mehmed Kamil Pasha the Cypriot ), also spelled as Kiamil Pasha was an Ottoman statesman of Turkish Cypriot origin in the late 19th century and early 20th century, who became, as aside regional or… …   Wikipedia

  • Mehmed Sadık Pasha — (1825 1901[citation needed]) was an Ottoman statesman. He was Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire from 18 April 1878 until 28 May 1878.[1] References ^ http://rulers.org/rult.html#turkey …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”