Cezayirli Gazi Hasan Pasha facts for kids

Cezayirli Gazi Hasan Pasha bust at Mersin Naval Museum.

Cezayirli Gazi Hasan Pasha (born 1713 – died 19 March 1790) was a very important leader in the Ottoman Empire. He was a top admiral, known as the Grand Admiral (Kapudan Pasha), from 1770 to 1790. He also became the Grand Vizier, which was like the chief minister, in 1790. He was a skilled general and a brave leader in the late 1700s.

Who Was Cezayirli Gazi Hasan Pasha?

Cezayirli Gazi Hasan Pasha was a powerful figure in the Ottoman Empire. He rose from humble beginnings to become one of the most respected military leaders of his time. His story shows how someone could achieve great things through courage and skill. He is remembered for his bravery in battles and his efforts to improve the Ottoman navy.

Early Life

Hasan Pasha was born in 1713. He grew up as a Georgian slave in western Anatolia. A kind Turkish merchant from Tekirdağ bought him and raised him like his own son. This upbringing gave him a chance to learn and grow.

A Brave Military Career

Hasan Pasha joined the Ottoman military and quickly moved up the ranks. For a while, he was with the Barbary Coast pirates based in Algiers. This is why he was called Cezayirli, which means "Algerian" in Turkish.

The Battle of Chesme

He was a fleet commander during the Battle of Chesme in 1770. This was a terrible defeat for the Turkish navy. Hasan Pasha, aboard his ship Real Mustafa, managed to save his forces from the disaster. He brought the bad news to the Ottoman capital. But he was highly praised for his own success in saving his men. Because of his bravery, he was promoted. First, he became chief of staff, and later, he became the Grand Vizier. He also managed to push back the Russian fleet that had set up a base on the island of Lemnos.

Helping Ayvalık

After the defeat at Chesme, Hasan Pasha and his men were helped by a local priest in Ayvalık. The priest did not know who they were. Hasan Pasha never forgot this kindness. Later, he gave the Greek town of Ayvalık special freedom. This helped Ayvalık become an important cultural center in the Ottoman Empire in the 1800s.

Building a Navy

The defeat at Chesme also made Hasan Pasha realize the navy needed to be stronger. In 1773, he helped create the Naval Engineering Golden Horn Shipyard. This later became the Turkish Naval Academy, a place where future naval officers would be trained.

Campaigns in Acre and Egypt

In 1775, Hasan Pasha led a blockade of Acre. He wanted to control Zahir al-Umar, an Arab ruler in Palestine. Hasan Pasha asked Zahir to pay a large sum of money to stop the siege. Zahir refused, so Hasan Pasha's ships attacked Acre. However, the Ottoman soldiers in Acre did not fire back at Hasan Pasha's ships. They were loyal to the Sultan and would not attack his forces. Zahir tried to escape but was killed by Hasan Pasha's troops.

In 1786, Sultan Abdul Hamid I ordered Hasan Pasha to go to Egypt. His mission was to remove the Mamluk leaders, Ibrahim Bey (Mamluk) and Murad Bey, who were ruling Egypt. Hasan Pasha arrived in Egypt in August 1786 and was successful in this mission. He stayed as the Ottoman governor of Egypt for about a year. Even though the Mamluk leaders would regain power later, Hasan Pasha had achieved his goal.

Leading in War

In the Russo-Turkish War (1787-1792), Hasan Pasha was 74 years old. He still commanded the Turkish troops in the early parts of the war. He took part in battles like the action of 17 June 1788, the Battle of Fidonisi, and the Siege of Ochakov.

His Final Years

Cezayirli Gazi Hasan Pasha died on 19 March 1790. He may have died from illness or perhaps was poisoned. Today, there is a statue of him in the town of Çeşme. The statue also includes a lion that he had tamed in Africa. He loved this lion and took it with him everywhere he went.

See also

• Cezayirli Hasan Paşa Monument

Sources

• Nuttall Encyclopedia: [1]
• World Statesman: Turkey – Grand Viziers
• J.H. Mordtmann, in E.J. Brill's first encyclopaedia of Islam, 1913–36, Volume 2, p 1039 [2]
• This article incorporates text from the public domain 1907 edition of The Nuttall Encyclopædia.