Tabanıyassı Mehmed Pasha

Who is Tabanıyassı Mehmed Pasha?

Tabanıyassı Mehmed Pasha was an Ottoman statesman of Albanian descent. He was governor of Egypt from September 1628 to October 1630. He served as Grand Vizier from 18 May 1632 to 1633 under Sultan Murat IV. During the early years of his term, he had the support of the sultan because his of services during the campaign in Azerbaijan and Armenia. However, after sultan's return to Istanbul, Mehmed Pasha failed to defend the fort of Revan against the Persian counterattack, and the sultan dismissed him from his post. In his later years, he was appointed as the governor of Silistra. In 1637, Murat IV became suspicious of Mehmed Pasha and accused him of attempting to start a rebellion in parts of the Empire. The sultan first imprisoned him at the Yedikule Fortress and then executed him by drowning on 2 February 1637.