Bayram Pasha

Bayram Pasha (Ottoman Turkish: بایرام پاشا, died 26 August 1638) was an Ottoman grand vizier from 1637 to 1638 and the Ottoman governor of Egypt from 1626 to 1628.

Bayram, was from Ladik, near the Anatolian city of Amasya. He was of Armenian origin and was a member of the Janissary corps, which recruited heavily from Christian families of Greek, Georgian and Armenian origin from different parts of Anatolia. Although the Janissary corps was originally based on the devshirme system, beginning in the reign of Murad III (1574–1595), Armenians were also admitted into the corps. In 1622, his title was turnacıbaşı (chief of recruiting teams), and in 1623, the kethüda (chamberlain). In 1625, he was appointed to Egypt (then an Ottoman territory) as the beylerbey (governor-general). In 1628, he was promoted to the rank of vizier. In 1635, Bayram Pasha was the kaymakam (a title almost equivalent to modern mayor) of the Ottoman capital, Constantinople. In 1637, during the reign of Murad IV (1623–1640), he was promoted to the rank of grand vizier, the highest office in the empire next to that of the sultan. Bayram Pasha participated in the Baghdad campaign led by the sultan. He died (of natural causes) near Urfa.^[1]

Bayram was also a damat (groom) of the palace. In Ottoman tradition, the daughters and sisters of the sultans usually married viziers. But Bayram's case was an exception, because Bayram was married to Hanzade Sultan, the daughter of Ahmed I (1603–1617) in 1623 while he was still a turnacıbaşı. They had a daughter.^[2]

Bayram Pasha was reputed both in Egypt and in Anatolia for his efforts in construction of public works. He repaired the city walls of Constantinople and commissioned a mosque and a külliye (religious complex) in the city. Today, the Istanbul district of Bayrampaşa bears his name. He commissioned an irrigation facility and a caravansarai in Amasya. Bayram Pasha is also known as the commissioner of various inns in Anatolian towns.

As grand vizier, Bayram Pasha executed two princes by the order of the sultan. He is also known as the name behind the execution of the famous poet Nef'i for writing satirical poems. Nef'i had earlier promised not to compose any more satire, but when he broke this promise, he was executed at the request of Bayram Pasha.

• List of Ottoman grand viziers
• List of Ottoman governors of Egypt
• Bayrampaşa District in Istanbul