Kaptan Pasha

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Kaptan Pasha (Ottoman Turkish: Kapudan Pasha) or Kaptan-ı Derya (meaning Captain of the Sea in English) were the titles given to the chief commander of the navy in the Ottoman Empire.

The title Kaptan-ı Derya was first instaured during the reign of Bayezid I (the Thunderbolt) as an official rank within the state structure. Starting with the reign of Mehmed II (the Conqueror), the holders of the rank were accorded the status of viziers and held the title of Pasha, thus they were more often called Kaptan Pasha. A total of 161 Kaptan-ı Derya/Kaptan Pasha served in the vizieral office until 1867 when an Ottoman Naval Ministry was founded. The supreme commanders of the Ottoman Navy that followed were thus ministers (Bahriye Nazırı), until a further re-structuring in 1897.

Some famous Kaptan-ı Derya include:

• Barbarossa Hayreddin Pasha
• Uluj Ali Pasha
• Piyale Pasha
• Cezayirli Gazi Hasan Pasha
• Sinan Pasha
• Ali Pasha
• Koca Mehmed Hüsrev Pasha

[edit] See also

• List of Ottoman Kaptan Pashas
• Military of the Ottoman Empire
• Ottoman titles

[edit] External links

• History of Turkish Fleet Command by the Turkish Naval Forces