Suleiman Pasha, commander in Russo-Turkish War

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For other uses, see Suleiman Pasha (disambiguation)

Suleiman Pasha (c. 1840-1892) was the chief commander of Turkish military operations in the Balkan Peninsula during the Russo-Turkish War, 1877-78. His incompetent command is considered to have been one of the main reasons for the Turkish defeat. After that war he was sent into exile by the Turkish authorities.

He was born at Constantinople, and trained at the military school in Constantinople. He entered the army, becoming major in 1867, when he served in Crete. In 1873 he was a colonel and instructor at the military school, of which he later became subdirector, with the rank of general of brigade, in 1874. He took part in the deposition of Abdul Aziz, May 30, 1876, and was made general of division by Amurath V.

During the war of 1877–1878, he took over the leadership of troops who had been led by Mehmet Ali (a Prussian by birth).