Constructing Imperial Authority: Fazıl Ahmed Pasha’s Governorships in Erzurum and Damascus (1659-1661)

Name: Constructing Imperial Authority: Fazıl Ahmed Pasha’s Governorships in Erzurum and Damascus (1659-1661)
Author: Muhammed Fatih Çalışır

Title	Constructing Imperial Authority: Fazıl Ahmed Pasha’s Governorships in Erzurum and Damascus (1659-1661)
Author	Muhammed Fatih Çalışır
Type	Book
Language	Arabic
Digital	Yes
Manuscript	No
Library:	Royal Danish Library
Library Asset ID	EISSN: 2717-6967, DOI: 10.26650/iuitd.2025.1592042
Record ID	cdi_doaj_primary_oai_doaj_org_article_de9b5cce87e24e20bc082e55f870430e
Library Location	DOAJ Directory of Open Access Journals
Notes	This article examines the early career of Fazıl Ahmed Pasha (c. 1635–1676, grand vizier 1661–1676) within the context of the seventeenth-century Ottoman provincial administration, focusing on his contributions to fiscal discipline, crisis management, and the consolidation of imperial authority in the provinces. Appointed by his father, the reformist Grand Vizier Köprülü Mehmed Pasha (c. 1575–1661, grand vizier 1656–1661), Fazıl Ahmed Pasha governed the strategically important provinces of Erzurum and Damascus from 1659 to 1661, addressing pressing issues such as frontier instability, famine, and resistance from local powerholders. In Erzurum, he introduced tax reductions, oversaw infrastructure repairs following a devastating earthquake, and managed vital resources. In Damascus, he organized famine relief efforts, restructured local Janissary units and quelled rebellions to strengthen the imperial authority. This study places Fazıl Ahmed Pasha’s administrative practices within the broader framework of the Köprülü reform agenda, emphasizing the dynamic interplay between central and provincial governance. It also explores Fazıl Ahmed Pasha’s intellectual and cultural pursuits, showcasing the blend of scholarship and statesmanship in his career. Fazıl Ahmed Pasha’s early administrative achievements not only bolstered his reputation but also accentuated the critical role of reliable and skilled provincial governors in maintaining the Ottoman Empire’s stability during a period of significant upheaval. By examining Fazıl Ahmed Pasha’s provincial tenure, this study offers fresh insights into center-periphery dynamics in the mid-seventeenth century and illuminates the enduring influence of the Köprülü family on Ottoman governance.
Görüntüle	İslam tetkikleri dergisi, 2025-04, Vol.15 (1), p.185-210

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Constructing Imperial Authority: Fazıl Ahmed Pasha’s Governorships in Erzurum and Damascus (1659-1661)

Author Muhammed Fatih Çalışır

Type Book

Language Arabic

Digital Yes

Manuscript No

Library Royal Danish Library

Library Asset ID EISSN: 2717-6967, DOI: 10.26650/iuitd.2025.1592042

Record ID cdi_doaj_primary_oai_doaj_org_article_de9b5cce87e24e20bc082e55f870430e

Library Location DOAJ Directory of Open Access Journals

Notes This article examines the early career of Fazıl Ahmed Pasha (c. 1635–1676, grand vizier 1661–1676) within the context of the seventeenth-century Ottoman provincial administration, focusing on his contributions to fiscal discipline, crisis management, and the consolidation of imperial authority in the provinces. Appointed by his father, the reformist Grand Vizier Köprülü Mehmed Pasha (c. 1575–1661, grand vizier 1656–1661), Fazıl Ahmed Pasha governed the strategically important provinces of Erzurum and Damascus from 1659 to 1661, addressing pressing issues such as frontier instability, famine, and resistance from local powerholders. In Erzurum, he introduced tax reductions, oversaw infrastructure repairs following a devastating earthquake, and managed vital resources. In Damascus, he organized famine relief efforts, restructured local Janissary units and quelled rebellions to strengthen the imperial authority. This study places Fazıl Ahmed Pasha’s administrative practices within the broader framework of the Köprülü reform agenda, emphasizing the dynamic interplay between central and provincial governance. It also explores Fazıl Ahmed Pasha’s intellectual and cultural pursuits, showcasing the blend of scholarship and statesmanship in his career. Fazıl Ahmed Pasha’s early administrative achievements not only bolstered his reputation but also accentuated the critical role of reliable and skilled provincial governors in maintaining the Ottoman Empire’s stability during a period of significant upheaval. By examining Fazıl Ahmed Pasha’s provincial tenure, this study offers fresh insights into center-periphery dynamics in the mid-seventeenth century and illuminates the enduring influence of the Köprülü family on Ottoman governance.

Görüntüle İslam tetkikleri dergisi, 2025-04, Vol.15 (1), p.185-210