Mustafa Reşid Pasha facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Koca Mustafa Reşid Pasha
Reşid, c. 1850s
Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire
In office 22 October 1857 – 7 January 1858
Monarch	Abdulmejid I
Preceded by	Mustafa Naili Pasha
Succeeded by	Mehmed Emin Âli Pasha
In office 1 November 1856 – 6 August 1857
Monarch	Abdulmejid I
Preceded by	Mehmed Emin Âli Pasha
Succeeded by	Mustafa Naili Pasha
In office 24 November 1854 – 2 May 1855
Monarch	Abdulmejid I
Preceded by	Kıbrıslı Mehmed Emin Pasha
Succeeded by	Mehmed Emin Âli Pasha
In office 5 March 1852 – 5 August 1852
Monarch	Abdulmejid I
Preceded by	Mehmed Emin Rauf Pasha
Succeeded by	Mehmed Emin Âli Pasha
In office 12 August 1848 – 26 January 1852
Monarch	Abdulmejid I
Preceded by	Ibrahim Sarim Pasha
Succeeded by	Mehmed Emin Rauf Pasha
In office 28 September 1846 – 28 April 1848
Monarch	Abdulmejid I
Preceded by	Mehmed Emin Rauf Pasha
Succeeded by	Ibrahim Sarim Pasha
Personal details
Born	(1800-03-13)13 March 1800 Constantinople, Ottoman Empire
Died	7 January 1858(1858-01-07) (aged 57) Constantinople, Ottoman Empire

Koca Mustafa Reşid Pasha (born March 13, 1800 – died January 7, 1858) was an important leader in the Ottoman Empire. He was a statesman and a diplomat. He is best known for being the main person behind big government changes called the Tanzimat reforms.

Mustafa Reşid was born in Istanbul (then called Constantinople). He started working for the government when he was young. He quickly became an ambassador to France (in 1834) and to the United Kingdom (in 1836). He also served as the Minister for Foreign Affairs. He helped the Ottoman Empire during important events like the Oriental Crisis of 1840 and the Crimean War. Between 1845 and 1857, he was the Grand Vizier (like a prime minister) six times.

He was one of the most skilled leaders of his time. He understood European politics well. He strongly believed in reforms and helped create new laws for the Ottoman government. His work helped other reformers, like Mehmed Fuad Pasha and Mehmed Emin Âli Pasha, rise in their careers.

Mustafa Reşid's Early Life and Career

Mustafa Reşid was born on March 13, 1800. His father was a government worker who died when Mustafa Reşid was only ten. He had been studying to become a religious leader. But after his father's death, he had to stop his studies. He went to live with his uncle, Ispartalı Ali Pasha. His uncle worked for Sultan Mahmud II. Reşid then studied at a school for scribes (people who copy documents). In 1816, his uncle became governor of Morea Eyalet, and Reşid went with him.

Starting in Politics

During the Greek War of Independence (1820-1822), Mustafa Reşid worked for the Grand Vizier, Seyyid Ali Pasha. This war showed him two key things. First, the Ottoman government needed big changes, especially a modern army. Second, he realized that help from European countries was vital for the empire to survive.

After this war, Mustafa Reşid got a job as a clerk in the Ottoman Porte (the central government). He worked under the Foreign Minister. He quickly earned respect and moved up. During the Russo-Turkish War (1828–29), he sent important reports to Istanbul. Sultan Mahmud II noticed his good work and promoted him. In 1829, he was a secretary for the Ottoman team at the peace talks in Edirne.

He became a follower of Pertew Pasha, who was pro-British. Reşid also went with Pertew to talks in Egypt with Muhammad Ali Pasha. Muhammad Ali was impressed by Reşid's skills and offered him a job in Egypt, but Reşid said no. By 1832, Reşid was in charge of incoming letters for the government. He helped negotiate with Muhammad Ali's son, Ibrahim Pasha, after Egyptian forces won battles against the Ottomans.

Working with Other Countries

Ambassador to Paris (1834–1836)

Mustafa Reşid's first mission to Paris in 1834 was to try and get Algeria back from France. He didn't succeed, but he stayed in Paris as an ambassador. In 1836, he moved to London.

Ambassador to London (1836–1838)

In London, Reşid built strong connections with the British government. His biggest success was getting Britain to support the Sultan against Muhammad Ali in Egypt. In 1838, he became Foreign Minister and was given the title of Pasha. He returned to London to try and form an alliance against Muhammad Ali. While an alliance didn't happen, he did sign the Treaty of Balta Liman on August 16. This was a trade agreement between the Ottoman Empire and Britain. It allowed British goods into Ottoman markets and aimed to end government monopolies.

The Oriental Crisis of 1840

When Muhammad Ali tried to take over Syria, the Grand Vizier at the time gave away Syria, Egypt, and Adana. Mustafa Reşid quickly saw that this would harm the Ottoman Empire. He got support from Britain because of his strong ties there. France supported Egypt, but other major European powers (Britain, Austria, Prussia, and Russia) supported the Ottoman Empire.

Mustafa Reşid, now the Foreign Minister, played a key role. He sided with the European powers and refused to make a deal directly with Egypt and France. He even secretly drafted a plan to give Egypt to Muhammad Ali as a hereditary state. This plan would have allowed Muhammad Ali's family to rule Egypt, but they couldn't take more land. This plan was never used because of the Convention of London (1840).

After the London Convention, France threatened the Ottomans if they signed it. Reşid ignored the threats, and the Ottoman government signed. When Muhammad Ali refused to sign, the European diplomats and Reşid Pasha worked to remove Ali from office. After a quick military action defeated Egyptian forces in Syria, Muhammad Ali finally gave in to the Sultan on December 11, 1840.

Ambassador to Paris (1841–1845)

After the Oriental Crisis, Muhammad Ali Pasha tried to get Mustafa Reşid Pasha removed from his job. Reşid returned to Paris as ambassador. There, he mainly worked on the Lebanon Question. This was a conflict between Christian Maronites and Shia Druzes groups in Lebanon.

The Crimean War (1853–1856)

In early 1853, Mustafa Reşid was not in a political office. Tensions grew between Russia and France over holy sites in Palestine. A Russian diplomat, Alexander Sergeyevich Menshikov, came to Istanbul to restore Russia's old privileges. He tried to use Reşid Pasha, thinking he would be helpful. But Menshikov didn't know that Reşid Pasha was close with the British Ambassador Stratford and didn't trust Russia.

When Russia's demands were rejected on May 10, Reşid, with Ambassador Stratford's help, became Foreign Minister again. Reşid tried to delay the Russian diplomat to get support from other ministers. On May 15, the Ottoman government again rejected Russia's demands. This led to the Russian embassy leaving and diplomacy ending on May 21. Reşid met and wrote to both Menshikov and Stratford. Menshikov said Reşid seemed embarrassed about rejecting Russia's proposal. He also said Reşid wanted to restart talks but was advised not to by Lord Stratford.

The Vienna Note

In July 1853, diplomats from France, Britain, Austria, and Prussia met in Vienna. They created a solution to the crisis, called the Vienna Note. All four neutral powers and Russia accepted it. But Mustafa Reşid Pasha and the Ottoman government strongly rejected it. The Ottomans had already sent their own demands to Russia. Reşid Pasha was angry that the British had gone behind their backs. He felt they were trying to force the Ottomans to give up their independence. He added changes to the Vienna Note to protect Ottoman independence from Russia. Only with these changes did he and other Ottoman diplomats agree to the note. Russia rejected these changes, and peace seemed impossible.

Declaring War

On September 26, after Russia moved into the Balkans, the Ottoman government held a meeting. They had to decide between war and diplomacy. Many officials wanted war, but Reşid Pasha warned them. He said the country was not ready for war with Russia. However, he also said it was their decision, even if European powers advised against war. He also noted that European powers might support them if they were convinced.

By the end of the meetings, Reşid seemed to change his mind. He was quoted saying, "It is better to die with arms in hand than to die with tied hands." Stratford had warned Reşid that Britain and France might not support them if the Ottomans started the war. But Reşid's arguments seemed to convince others. On September 30, Reşid drafted a resolution for war, which the Sultan accepted. On October 4, the Ottoman Empire officially declared war on Russia.

During the War

Reşid Pasha immediately worked to get European support. On October 8, he asked the British and French ambassadors for naval ships in the Dardanelles straits. On October 20, the ships arrived. Two days earlier, Reşid Pasha had ordered Ottoman forces to start fighting, which began on October 23.

In December, after an Ottoman naval defeat at the Battle of Sinop and rumors of Reşid Pasha's peace talks, students in Istanbul protested. Reşid tried to resign, but his resignation was not accepted. Reşid Pasha had a rivalry with one of his former students, Mehmed Emin Âli Pasha. It's thought that Mehmed Ali, who wanted the war, helped stir up the students. Reşid, with Lord Stratford's help, had Mehmed removed from his position and even sent away.

In the spring of 1854, Reşid used his role as Foreign Minister to work with France and Britain on naval movements. He also officially brought Britain and France into the war with a military alliance in March 1854. In November, he became Grand Vizier. But in May 1855, he was removed from office. This meant he was not involved in the rest of the war or the peace talks.

Important Changes at Home

The Edict of Gülhane

The Edict of Gülhane was a very important document.

Mustafa Reşid Pasha is known for writing the decree that started the Tanzimat era. This decree, called the "Edict of Gülhane" or "Rose Garden Edict," was read in the rose garden of the Topkapi Palace. Foreign diplomats and Sultan Abdulmejid I were present.

The edict came about for several reasons. First, after Sultan Mahmud II died in 1838, his son Abdulmejid became Sultan. Abdulmejid wanted to make liberal reforms to make the Ottoman Empire more like European countries. Second, Reşid Pasha and other officials knew a lot about European politics because they had been ambassadors.

In August 1839, while in London, Mustafa Reşid Pasha sent a secret note to the British ambassador, Lord Palmerston. This note was Reşid Pasha's personal ideas. He told Palmerston that reforms were badly needed in the Ottoman government. He believed they could happen now that the young Abdulmejid was Sultan. Reşid Pasha also wrote that protecting people's rights and safety was very important. He felt that European support was necessary to keep the Ottoman state strong. All these ideas later appeared in the Rose Garden Edict. His main goal was to keep the Sultan's power strong while creating a good central government. This would help prevent the Ottoman Empire from falling apart.

Reşid Pasha also talked with Austrian diplomat Prince Metternich about government reforms. Another reason for the edict was the ongoing crisis with Muhammad Ali of Egypt. The Ottoman Empire wanted support from the major European powers. Reşid hoped the Edict of Gülhane would gain foreign, especially British, support. This was because it promised better treatment for all subjects, including Christians.

By the end of summer 1839, the government held a meeting. Reşid Pasha and other important officials were there. They created a petition for the Sultan. It asked for the protection of individual rights and property. It also called for an end to corruption in the government. This petition became the "Edict of Gülhane."

Reforms and Changes

Mustafa Reşid Pasha is seen as the father of the Tanzimat Reforms. These reforms lasted from 1839 to 1876. During this time, Reşid Pasha served as Grand Vizier six times and Foreign Minister several times. He believed the Ottoman Empire stood on four main pillars: Islam, the Ottoman Dynasty, the government, and the capital city, Istanbul. He wrote that the empire needed a good government to survive. He felt that if they didn't have one, foreign powers might try to control Istanbul.

Right after the Edict of Gülhane was read, Reşid Pasha proposed two things for the Supreme Council of Judicial Ordinances. First, he wanted to combine two government bodies into one. This would create a single institution advising the government and avoid confusion. This council would also be based in the Sublime Porte (the central government building). This showed how much influence the Tanzimat reformers would have. In 1841, Reşid Pasha also renamed the new army. He also created a new court for commercial disputes within the Ministry of Commerce. He hoped this would help foreign trade. He also created new commercial laws based on French models. When religious scholars questioned these laws, Reşid said Islam didn't apply to them. This led to his removal as Foreign Minister.

From 1846, during Reşid Pasha's first two terms as Grand Vizier, the Tanzimat Reforms were at their strongest. He focused on creating free economic policies. He again set up commercial courts and laws based on French ideas. He also finally ended slavery and the slave trade in the Empire. Reşid also worked to improve education. In 1846, he created a committee for education. Its goal was to reduce the influence of religious leaders on schooling. This created a more secular (non-religious) education system. In 1847, the government opened several middle schools and a school for teachers in 1848. In 1852, he started an Academy for Sciences. He hoped this academy would gather texts that could be used when an Ottoman University was created. He also wanted to simplify the Turkish language. In 1846, Reşid ordered the creation of an archive system in the government.

During his third time as Grand Vizier, which lasted only six months, he again changed the Supreme Council. He took away its power to make laws. He created the Council of Reforms to take over this job. This new council was in charge of discussing reforms that would help the state.

Serving as Grand Vizier

Mustafa Reşid Pasha served as Grand Vizier from 1846 to 1852, with only a four-month break in 1848. These years were his most successful in putting his Tanzimat reforms into action. He was removed from office in January 1852 due to pressure from foreign countries, especially France, because he favored Britain.

Just two months later, he was made Grand Vizier again. But he was removed in August because of a disagreement with the head of the Imperial Arsenal.

During the Crimean War, after he successfully negotiated an alliance with Britain and France, he became Grand Vizier again in November 1854. He was removed less than a year later. This was because he was against building the Suez Canal, which upset the French. This removal meant he was not part of the Treaty of Paris (1856) talks after the Crimean War.

In November 1856, with British support, Reşid Pasha became Grand Vizier for the fifth time. For the third time, he was removed by the French. They disagreed with his view against creating a Romanian state in the Principalities in July 1857.

Mustafa Reşid Pasha was appointed Grand Vizier for the sixth and final time on October 22, 1857. This term lasted only a few months. He died of a heart attack on January 7, 1858.

Personal Life and Death

Mustafa Reşid Pasha was married twice and had five sons. One of his granddaughters, Adila Khanum, married Hussein bin Ali, who became King of Hejaz.

He passed away from a heart attack on January 7, 1858, in Istanbul.

Legacy and Impact

Even though some of the reforms started by Reşid and the Tanzimat didn't fully succeed, his influence was huge. The famous Ottoman poet İbrahim Şinasi called Reşid an "apostle of civilization." After Reşid Pasha's death, his students, Mehmed Fuad Pasha and Mehmed Emin Âli Pasha, continued his work. Reşid Pasha made the government stronger and started the idea of legal equality for all people in the Empire. However, a lack of money and weak leaders made some of his changes difficult to fully implement. Still, his ideas were important in the Ottoman Empire's shift from an old-style government to one based on laws.

See also

• Edict of Gülhane (November 3, 1839)
• Tanzimat (November 3, 1839 – November 22, 1876)
• List of Ottoman grand viziers