Mehmed Pasha Gurji

Mehmed Pasha Gurji (1556–1666), Statesman of Ottoman Empire, Grand Vizier. As a youngster he was kidnapped in Georgia and sold into slavery in Turkey. Grand Vizier Koja Sinan Pasha bought him and delivered to the Court of the Sultan. Soon the talented young man was upgraded; in 1614 he was appointed a head of the corps of Cebejis (militarized economic organization). In 1615-16 he participated in the campaign against Iran and in 1622 – against Poland. In 1622 he was appointed a Great Amirakhor – the highest ranking official at royal Court Stables. Mehmed Pasha used to hold high offices. At various periods he filled the positions of the Beglarbeg of Damascus (1625-26), Erzerum (1631, 1637) and Anatolia (1632, 1639). In Istanbul he held the post of Divani Humayun’s Kube Vizier (1630s and 1640s). In 1651, Mehmed Pasha, who was over 90, received the rank of Grand Vizier. The old age had its effect; besides, Sultan’s mother actively interfered in governing the Empire; thereby in 1652 Mehmed Pasha Gurji was dismissed from this post. However, after that he held the positions of Beglarbeg of Timisoara, ruler of Cyprus and the Beglarbeg of Bedina, where he died.