Köprülü Mehmed Pasha

Who was Köprülü Mehmed Pasha?

Köprülü Mehmed Pasha was the founder of the Albanian Köprülü political dynasty of the Ottoman Empire, a family of viziers, warriors, and statesmen who dominated the administration of the Ottoman Empire during the last half of the 17th century, an era known as the Köprülü era. He helped rebuild the power of the empire by rooting out corruption and reorganizing the Ottoman army. As he introduced these changes, Köprülü also expanded the borders of the empire, defeating the Cossacks, the Hungarians, and most impressively, the Venetians. Köprülü's effectiveness was matched by his reputation.

He founded the city of Köprülü in Rumelia, where his eldest son, Köprülü Fazıl Ahmed, was born.