Köprülü family


The Köprülü family was a noble family of Albanian origin in the Ottoman Empire. The family provided six grand viziers, with several others becoming high-ranking officers. The era during which these grand viziers served is known as the "Köprülü era" of the Ottoman Empire.
Another notable member of the family was Köprülü Abdullah Pasha, who was a general in Ottoman-Persian wars of his time and acted as the governor in several provinces of the empire. Modern descendants include Mehmet Fuat Köprülü, a prominent historian of Turkish literature. Members of the family continue to live in Turkey, Maghreb and the United States.

Köprülü grand viziers

During the history of the Ottoman Empire, the Köprülü grand viziers had a reputation for dynamism in a state that would later show signs of decline and stagnation. The early viziers in particular focused on military campaigns that extended the Empire's power. This, however, came to an end after the disastrous Battle of Vienna launched by Kara Mustafa Pasha, a member of the family.
NameLifeGrand vizier inSultans
Köprülü Mehmed Pasha1583–16611656–1661Mehmed IV
Köprülüzade Fazıl Ahmed Pasha1635–16761661–1676Mehmed IV
Kara Mustafa Pasha11634–16831676–1683Mehmed IV
Abaza Siyavuş Pasha II2died 16881687–1688Suleiman II
Köprülüzade Fazıl Mustafa Pasha1637–16911689–1691Suleiman II
Ahmed II
Amcazade Köprülü Hüseyin Pasha1644–17021697–1702Mustafa II
Köprülüzade Numan Pasha1670–17191710–1711Ahmed III

1 Kara Mustafa Pasha had been adopted by the Köprülü family and was the brother-in-law of Köprülü Fazıl Ahmet Pasha.
2 Abaza Siyavuş Pasha was a servant of Köprülü Mehmet Pasha. By marrying his daughter, Siyavuş became a son-in-law of the powerful Köprülü family.