The Grand Vizier Ibrahim Pasha: Study in his Political Role (898 AH/ 1520 AD – 942 AH/ 1536 AD)

Abstract

Pargali Ibrahim Pasha (899AH/1492 AD – 942AH/1536AD) was the first grand vizier in the Ottoman Empire, and was appointed by Sultan Suleiman the lawgiver who granted him broad power and state positions which brought up the envy of the other ministers. However, this close relationship had come to an end when Sultan Suleiman had ordered to kill his childhood and best friend Ibrahim Pasha. The importance of this study stems from its goal to demonstrate the political role of the grand vizier Ibrahim Pasha through covering his early life, his role on organizing Egypt’s affairs by putting a status law called “Kanun Nama” after the administrative and military chaos that was left by the Mamluks disobedience movements, and his role in the Battle of Mohács (932 AH/ 1526 AD) and the Iraqs Campaign between (940 AH/ 1533 AD and 941 AH/1534 AD) with the Safavids. The study also demonstrated the importance of the grand vizier Ibrahim Pasha in the Ottoman history in expanding and extending the borders of the Ottoman Empire to reach the Baghdad in the east and the walls of Vienna in the west, and his role in connecting the Ottoman Empire with the west and changing their perspective in the development of institutions and formations of the Ottoman Empire, which was as contemporary as what their countries had. The study mentions his execution in (942 AH/ 1536 AD) and the reasons behind Sultan Suleiman’s decision.