Ahmed Muhtar Pasha facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gazi
Ahmed Muhtar
Pasha
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| Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire | |
| In office 22 July 1912 – 29 October 1912 |
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| Monarch | Mehmed V |
| Preceded by | Mehmed Said Pasha |
| Succeeded by | Kâmil Pasha |
| Ottoman Governor of Crete | |
| In office 1878–1878 |
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| Preceded by | Konstantinos Adosidis |
| Succeeded by | Alexander Karatheodori Pasha |
| In office 1875–1876 |
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| Preceded by | Redif Pasha |
| Succeeded by | Hasan Sami |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1 November 1839 Bursa, Hüdavendigâr Eyalet, Ottoman Empire |
| Died | 21 January 1919 (aged 79) Istanbul, Ottoman Empire |
| Children | Mahmud Muhtar Pasha |
| Alma mater | Ottoman Military College |
| Nickname | The Victorious |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Ottoman Empire |
| Branch/service | Ottoman Army |
| Years of service | 1856–1885 |
| Rank | Field marshal |
| Commands | Second Army Corps |
| Battles/wars | Crimean War Battle of Cetate Herzegovina Uprising Russo-Turkish War (1877–78) Battle of Kızıl Tepe |
| Awards |     |
Ahmed Muhtar Pasha (born November 1, 1839 – died January 21, 1919) was an important leader in the Ottoman Empire. He was a top military general, called a field marshal. He also served as the Grand Vizier, which was like being the Prime Minister. He fought in major wars, including the Crimean War and the Russo-Turkish War. He became Grand Vizier in July 1912 when he was 72 years old. People respected him a lot because he was an old military hero.
Contents
Life Story of Ahmed Muhtar Pasha
Early Life and Military Career
Ahmed Muhtar was born on November 1, 1839, in Bursa, a city in the Ottoman Empire. His family was Turkish. He went to school at the Ottoman Military College in Istanbul. He later became a professor and then the governor of that same school.
In 1856, he started his military career during the Crimean War. He worked as an assistant to a higher-ranking officer. In 1862, he was a staff officer in a difficult military campaign in Montenegro.
Between 1870 and 1871, he helped stop rebellions in Yemen. Because of his success, he earned the titles of Pasha and Marshal. In 1873, he became the commander of the Second Army Corps. He held this important position until 1876.
Fighting in Bosnia and the Russo-Turkish War
During the uprisings in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1875, he took charge of the Ottoman forces there. When the Russo-Turkish War, 1877-1878 began, he was sent to lead the Ottoman army in Erzurum.
Even though the Russians eventually won the war, Ahmed Muhtar Pasha achieved important victories against them on the eastern front. Because of his bravery and success, he earned the special title Gazi, which means "The Victorious."
In 1879, Ahmed Muhtar Pasha was put in charge of the Ottoman Empire's border with Greece. Later, in 1885, he was sent to Egypt to serve as the Ottoman High Commissioner.
Later Life and Becoming Grand Vizier
Ahmed Muhtar Pasha became the Grand Vizier in July 1912. He was 72 years old at the time. He was chosen mainly because he was a respected old military hero.
His time as Grand Vizier happened because a group of military officers, called the Savior Officers, forced the previous government to step down. These officers supported the opposition party. They felt that the 1912 elections, known as the "Election of Clubs," were unfair. The ruling party had cheated and used violence to win almost all the seats in the parliament.
The "Great Cabinet" Government
Ahmed Muhtar Pasha formed a new government that did not belong to any political party. This government was called the "Great Cabinet." It was also sometimes called the "Father-Son Cabinet" because Ahmed Muhtar Pasha's son, Mahmud Muhtar Pasha, was the Minister of the Navy in this government.
Since the new government had no members from the ruling party, people thought they might dissolve the parliament. A few days after Ahmed Muhtar Pasha took office, the Savior Officers sent a letter to the head of parliament. They demanded that parliament be dissolved for new elections within 48 hours.
Thanks to a new law he helped pass, Ahmed Muhtar Pasha was able to dissolve the parliament easily on August 5, with the support of the Sultan.
End of His Time as Grand Vizier
Soon after parliament was dissolved, the First Balkan War started in early October 1912. Ahmed Muhtar Pasha's government was not ready for this war. The government declared martial law, which means the military takes control.
Ahmed Muhtar Pasha resigned as Grand Vizier on October 29, 1912. He had served in this top position for only four months.
Death and Legacy
Ahmed Muhtar Pasha passed away in Istanbul on January 21, 1919. He was 79 years old. His son, Mahmud Muhtar Pasha, was also a high-ranking officer in the Ottoman Army. He served as the Minister of the Navy in his father's government.
After the country became the Turkish Republic, the Turkish government honored Ahmed Muhtar Pasha. They even put his picture on a postage stamp to remember his important contributions.
See also
- 1912 Ottoman general election
- List of Ottoman grand viziers
