Sinan Pasha (Ottoman admiral)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Note: There were several prominent military and government officers with the name Sinan Pasha in Ottoman history. See Sinan (disambiguation) for details. Particularly, Sinanüddin Yusuf Pasha, the 16th century admiral, treated in this article, should not be confused with Sinanüddin Fakih Yusuf Pasha, a 14th century first vizier.

Tomb of Ottoman admiral Sinan Pasha located at the garden of Mihrimah Sultan Mosque in the Üsküdar district of İstanbul

Sinanüddin Yusuf Pasha or shortly Sinan Pasha, d. 21 December 1553) was a Kaptan Pasha (Fleet Admiral) of the Ottoman Navy for nearly four years between 1550 and the end of 1553, during the reign of Suleiman the Magnificent. He was the predecessor of Piyale Pasha in this rank and was the brother of Grand Vizier Damat Rüstem Pasha, who in turn was married to Sultana Mihrimah, a daughter of Suleiman the Magnificent.

Sinan Pasha and Turgut Reis collaborated on several naval expeditions in the Mediterranean Sea, particularly on the coasts of Italy and North Africa. Sinan was not an expert on naval issues as much as Turgut Reis, who was a more popular commander among the admirals and captains of the navy, and this often caused conflict between the two. In an incident following the Ottoman conquest of Tripoli in 1551, the entire Ottoman fleet left Sinan Pasha on the shore and followed Turgut Reis into the Tyrrhenian Sea, declaring that they would accept only Turgut as their commander. Turgut Reis, however, considered this to be mutiny and treason and ordered them to return.

Disturbed by this conflict, but favouring the talent of Turgut Reis, Sultan Suleiman ordered Sinan Pasha to "do whatever Turgut says." Most Ottoman seamen of that time, however, believed that Turgut Reis deserved the rank of Sinan Pasha.

There are conflicting descriptions about Sinan Pasha's character. The Ottoman historian Peçevî wrote that "Sinan Pasha was a proud and megalomaniac man who would not listen to the opinions and complaints of others. He had a cold gaze." However, a Spanish historian of that period wrote that "Sinan Pasha was a tall and strong man with a truly handsome face and a gallant heart. He was also very kind."^{[citation needed]}

Sinan Pasha died on 21 December 1553 in his palace which was located at the present Sultanahmet Square in İstanbul, and was later buried at the garden of Mihrimah Sultan Mosque in the Üsküdar district of the city, which was designed by the great Ottoman architect Sinan.

Sinan Pasha had ordered the construction of a grand mosque with his name in the Beşiktaş district and wanted to be buried there, but the mosque could not be completed in time. Even though he had two daughters and a son, he left his entire fortune to Mihrimah Sultan (Sultana Mihrimah), the daughter of Sultan Suleiman and wife of his brother, Grand Vizier Rüstem Pasha.