Zağanos Pasha (Unknown-1461)
Who is Zağnospaşa?
Zağanos Pasha (or Zağnos Pasha) was an Ottoman Empire pasha that played an important role in Mehmet the Conqueror period, who held office for Gallipoli Sanjak Beylik and as chief admiral, and was Trabzon Flag Officer during 1467-1469 period.
Pasha who was exiled during Sultan I. Murat, was summoned and assigned as the vizier the moment Mehmet the Conqueror inherited the throne. Zağanos Pasha was the military teacher of Mehmet the Conqueror when he was a child. He married with sultan's sister and became his brother-in-law and father-in-law at the same time. Moreover he married with Princess Anna during conquest of Trabzon. He had Rumelian Fortress built before the conquest of İstanbul and he contributed with his efforts in sending Ottoman navy to Kasımpaşa by land.
Mehmet the Conqueror and Zağanos Pasha
Despite of his status and being close to Mehmet the Conqueror, there is a recorded anecdote emphasizing his humbleness enough to work together with workers during the construction of mosque which is called "Zağnos Pasha Mosque" today: When Mehmet the Conqueror visited Balıkesir, Zağanos Pasha was personally working in the construction of mosque, by uplifting the stone on his back via the scaffold. Mehmet visited the construction area: "-May it be easy Zağanos..." he said. Zağanos Pasha, without turning his head and without seeing who talked to him, answered: -Thank you Mehmet! Mehmet asked: "How did you recognize me without seeing me?" Zağanos Pasha answered: -No one calls me Zağanos here. They call me Pasha. Only you can say my name. This is how I recognized you."
Despite of his status and being close to Mehmet the Conqueror, there is a recorded anecdote emphasizing his humbleness enough to work together with workers during the construction of mosque which is called "Zağnos Pasha Mosque" today: When Mehmet the Conqueror visited Balıkesir, Zağanos Pasha was personally working in the construction of mosque, by uplifting the stone on his back via the scaffold. Mehmet visited the construction area: "-May it be easy Zağanos..." he said. Zağanos Pasha, without turning his head and without seeing who talked to him, answered: -Thank you Mehmet! Mehmet asked: "How did you recognize me without seeing me?" Zağanos Pasha answered: -No one calls me Zağanos here. They call me Pasha. Only you can say my name. This is how I recognized you."
| Lala Zaganos Pasha | |
|---|---|
| Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire | |
| In office 1 June 1453 – 1456 | |
| Monarch | Mehmed II |
| Preceded by | Çandarlı Halil Pasha the Younger |
| Succeeded by | Mahmud Pasha Angelovic |
| Kapudan Pasha | |
| In office 1463–1466 | |
| Preceded by | Yakup Bey |
| Succeeded by | Mahmud Pasha Angelovic |
| Personal details | |
| Died | 1462 or 1469 Balıkesir, Turkey, Ottoman Empire |
| Nationality | Ottoman |
| Spouse(s) | Princess Sitti Nefise Hatun Princess Fatma Hatun Princess Anna Hatun |
| Religion | Sunni Islam |
| Ethnicity | Unknown; thought to beAlbanian, Greek, or Serbian |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Ottoman Empire |
| Service/branch |  Ottoman Navy Ottoman Army |
| Rank | Kapudan Pasha (grand admiral; 1463–1466) |
| Battles/wars | Fall of Constantinople |
Zaganos Pasha (Turkish: Zağanos Paşa; fl. 1446 – 1462 or 1469) was an Ottoman military commander, with the titles and ranks ofkapudan pasha and the highest military rank, grand vizier, during the reign of Sultan Mehmed II "the Conqueror". Originally a Christian who was conscripted and converted through the devşirme system, he became a Muslim and rose through the ranks of thejanissaries. He became one of the prominent military commanders of Mehmed II and a lala – the sultan's advisor, mentor, tutor,councillor, protector, all at once. He removed his rival, the previous Grand Vizier Çandarlı Halil Pasha the Younger, amid the fall of Constantinople. He later served as the governor of Thessaly of Macedonia.
Of Greek or Albanian origin, Zağanos Pasha was drafted into
the elite Janissary corps of the Ottoman Empire as a child. Like other
Janissaries, he was educated in Islam, civil administration, and military
matters. He was soon appointed as a mentor and advisor for a young Mehmed II,
who would later become the seventh sultan in the Ottoman dynasty.
When Mehmed became sultan, he appointed Zağanos Pasha
as his second vizier. Zağanos Pasha was commonly consulted on all matters
of state, especially the siege and conquest of Constantinople in 1453. During
the siege, he was given command of a section of the army north of the city, and
his troops were among the first to successfully capture a portion of
Constantinople’s legendary walls. His legacy lives today in the numerous
endowments (including mosques, soup kitchens, and public baths) in his hometown
of Balikesir as well as in Edirne.
Zaganos was conscripted through the Devşirme system and rose through the ranks of the janissaries. He was originallyChristian.[1][2] Sources do not mention his descent.[3] D. Nicolle, J. F. Haldon and S. R. Turnbull believes that he was of South Slavicor Albanian origin.[4] M. Philippides believes that he was of either Greek or Albanian origin.[5] He became a committed Muslim after conversion.[4]
When Mehmed II was exiled in 1446, Zaganos accompanied him.[4]
Second Vizier[edit]
Young Mehmed II had after his return and accession (18 February 1451) confirmed Çandarlı Halil Pasha the Younger as his first Vizier (even though he seems to have disliked him), and raised Zaganos Pasha from third to second Vizier.[4][5] Halil Pasha had been appointed first Vizier in 1439, after the demotion of Ishak Pasha.[6] Zaganos, who was younger, was jealous of the position of Halil Pasha.[7]
Conquest of Constantinople[edit]
Main article: Fall of Constantinople
During the Siege of Constantinople, the bulk of the Ottoman army were encamped south of the Golden Horn. The regular European troops, stretched out along the entire length of the walls, were commanded by Karadja Pasha. The regular troops from Anatolia under Ishak Pasha were stationed south of the Lycus down to the Sea of Marmara. Mehmed himself erected his red-and-gold tent near theMesoteichion, where the guns and the elite regiments, the Janissaries, were positioned. The Bashi-bazouks were spread out behind the front lines. Other troops under Zaganos were employed north of the Golden Horn. Communication was maintained by a road that had been constructed over the marshy head of the Horn.[8] After the inconclusive frontal offensives, the Ottomans sought to break through the walls by constructing underground tunnels in an effort to mine them from mid-May to 25 May. Many of the sappers were miners of German origin sent from Novo Brdo by the Serbian Despot. They were placed under the command of Zaganos Pasha. However, the Byzantines employed an engineer named Johannes Grant (who was said to be German but was probably Scottish), who had counter-mines dug, allowing Byzantine troops to enter the mines and kill the Turkish workers. The Byzantines intercepted the first Serbian tunnel on the night of 16 May. Subsequent tunneling efforts were interrupted on 21, 23, and 25 May, destroying them with Greek fire and vigorous combat. On 23 May, the Byzantines captured and tortured two Turkish officers, who revealed the location of all the Turkish tunnels, which were then destroyed.[9] On 21 May, Mehmed sent an ambassador to Constantinople and offered to lift the siege if they gave him the city. Constantine XI accepted to pay higher tributes to the sultan and recognized the status of all the conquered castles and lands in the hands of the Turks as Ottoman possession. Around this time, Mehmed had a final council with his senior officers. Here he encountered some resistance; one of his Viziers, the veteran Halil Pasha, who had always disapproved of Mehmed's plans to conquer the city, now admonished him to abandon the siege in the face of recent adversity. Halil was overruled by Zaganos, who insisted on an immediate attack. Having been accused of bribery, Halil Pasha was put to death later that year.[10] Mehmed planned to overpower the walls by sheer force, expecting that the weakened Byzantine defense by the prolonged siege would now be worn out before he ran out of troops and started preparations for a final all-out offensive.
After the Ottoman occupation of Constantinople, the Sultan ordered Zaganos to set out with his galleys for Galata, to prevent the Byzantine ships from setting sail.[11][when?]
The stories of Halil Pasha's collaboration with the Byzantines were most likely spread by the faction of Zaganos.[4] Zaganos succeeded Halil Pasha as Grand Vizier.[4] In 1456, however, Zaganos was made scapegoat after a failed expedition against Hungarian-held Belgrade.[4] Zaganos' daughter was expelled from the Sultan's harem, and the two were expelled to Balıkesir, where he probably had property.[4] In 1459, Zaganos returned and became kapudan pasha of the fast-growing Ottoman navy, and the next year he was the governor of Thessaly and Macedonia.[4]
Personality and appearance[edit]
Zaganos was said to be a tall and intelligent man.[citation needed] He has been called the most cruel Ottoman captain of his time,[12] and was said to be an enemy of Christians.[7]He was in absolute loyalty to Mehmed II, even when he was just a prince, knowing that his prospects depended on his master's success.[4] Zaganos was a soldier who believed that the Ottoman Empire must always expand in order to keep the enemies off-balance.[4] He was known for his warlike beliefs and played an important role in the 1453 Fall of Constantinople.
He was one of the prominent Ottoman military commanders of Mehmed II (Mehmet the Conqueror) and a lala, at once an advisor, mentor, tutor, councilor, and protector, for thesultan.
Military achievements[edit]
During the final siege of Constantinople, Zagan Pasha's troops were the first to reach the towers. Ulubatlı Hasan was the first soldier who reached the tower. During the siege many of the sappers were placed under the command of Zagan Pasha. Mehmet took Zaganos' advice almost exclusively.
Mehmet II honored him for his loyalty and honesty, along with the Sultan's two other Viziers, Halil Pasha and Sarica Pasha, by naming the three great towers of Rumeli Hisariafter them. The tower to the south is named after Zaganos Pasha.
Family[edit]
He married three times:
- Princess Sitti Nefise Hatun, daughter of Timurtaşoğlu Oruç Pasha, governor-general of Anatolia under Murad II and Fatma Hatun, daughter of Mehmed I;
- Princess Fatma Hatun (m. 1444), daughter of Sultan Murad II and sister of Mehmed the Conquer;
- Princess Anna Hatun (m. 1481 - div.), daughter of Emperor David of Trebizond and Helena Kantakouzene, daughter of Demetrios I Kantakouzenos.
His daughter from his first wife married Mahmud Pasha Angelovic.
Legacy[edit]
His, as well as his family's, mausoleum is located in his endowment (1454), Zagan Pasha Mosque, in Balıkesir.
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