Osman Gradaščević

Who was Osman Gradaščević?

Osman Pasha Gradaščević, Gazi Osman Pasha Gradaščević was a Bosniak nobleman at the turn of the 18th century.

Osman Gradaščević was the captain of the Ottoman military captaincy of Gradačac, which he was in control of since 1765. During his rule he was one of the most powerful and richest captains in Bosnia. He was responsible for the construction of the White mosque in Modriča along with a nearby travelers inn, another mosque, and a madrassa with a fountain in Gračanica, as well as another madrassa in Gradačac. In 1808 he also carried on with the previously started renovation of the family castle in Gradačac.

Married to Melek-hanuma, Osman had six heirs. In order of birth they were Hamza, Murat, Osman, Muharrem, Husein, and H. Bećir. After the death of kapetan Mehmed-beg Kulenović of Zvornik in 1806, Osman Gradaščević received the title of Pasha for leading Bosnian Muslim forces against the First Serbian Uprising in 1812. The famed Samson Cerfberr of Medelsheim is known to have served under his command north of Gradačac. Osman Gradaščević died defending and aiding the kapetans of the Bosnian district of Zvornik against a Serbian incursion in 1812.

Upon his death it was Murat who succeeded him as captain of Gradačac. Husein would go on to become one of the most famous figures in Bosnian history when he led the movement for Bosnian autonomy in 1831 and 1832.