Rüstem Pasha

Damat Rüstem Opuković Pasha
Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire
In office 28 November 1544 – 6 October 1553
Monarch	Suleiman I
Preceded by	Hadim Suleiman Pasha
Succeeded by	Kara Ahmed Pasha
In office 29 September 1555 – 10 July 1561
Monarch	Suleiman I
Preceded by	Kara Ahmed Pasha
Succeeded by	Semiz Ali Pasha
Personal details
Born	c. 1500 Skradin, Croatia, Ottoman Empire
Died	10 July 1561 (aged 60–61) Constantinople, Ottoman Empire
Nationality	Ottoman
Spouse(s)	Mihrimah Sultan (m. 1539–61)
Religion	Catholic, converted to Islam

Rüstem Pasha Opuković (Turkish pronunciation: [ɾysˈtem paˈʃa]; Ottoman Turkish: رستم پاشا‎; Croatian: Rustem-Paša Opuković c. 1500 – 10 July 1561) was an Croatian-born Ottoman statesman. He served as the grand vizier of sultan Suleiman the Magnificent. Rüstem Pasha is also known as Damat Rüstem Pasha (the epithet damat meaning "son-in-law" to the Ottoman dynasty) because of his marriage to one of the sultan's daughters.

Biography

The Rüstem Pasha Mosque (center), overlooked by the Süleymaniye Mosque (upper right) dedicated to Suleiman the Magnificent.

Of Croatian descent, Rüstem Pasha's birthplace was Skradin, a town today located in Croatia. He was taken as a child to Istanbul, where he built a military and bureaucracy career. On 26 November 1539, he married Mihrimah Sultan, the daughter of Suleiman the Magnificent and Hürrem Sultan. Rüstem Pasha held the title Grand Vizier twice, first from 1544–1553 and second from 1555–1561, until his death. As Grand Vizier, he collected vast wealth. He spent a chunk of his wealth raising public buildings, mosques, and charitable foundations. At the time of his death in Constantinople on 10 July 1561, his personal property included 815 lands in Rumelia and Anatolia, 476 mills, 1700 slaves, 2,900 war horses, 1,106 camels, 800 Qur'ans, etc.

The Rüstem Pasha Mosque (Turkish: Rüstem Paşa Camii) is an Ottoman mosque located in Hasırcılar Çarşısı (Strawmat Weavers Market) in Fatih, Turkey, which was designed by Ottoman imperial architect Mimar Sinan for Grand Vizier Rüstem Pasha. It was built between 1561 and 1563.

Children

Together with Mihrimah Sultan, he had three children; one daughter and two sons:

• Ayşe Hümaşah Hanımsultan
• Sultanzade Osman Bey
• Sultanzade Mehmed Bey

Popular culture

In the acclaimed Turkish television series Muhteşem Yüzyıl, he is portrayed by actor Ozan Güven.

See also

• List of Ottoman Grand Viziers

References

Bibliography

Political offices
Preceded by Hadım Süleyman Pasha	Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire 28 November 1544 – 6 October 1553	Succeeded by Kara Ahmed Pasha
Preceded by Kara Ahmed Pasha	Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire 29 September 1555 – 10 July 1561	Succeeded by Semiz Ali Pasha