Hadim Suleiman Pasha (Turkish: Hadım Süleyman Paşa, Romanian: Hadân Suleiman Pasha) ruled as the Beylerbeyi of Rumelia during the reign of Mehmed II.
The cognomen 'Hadım', for Suleyman Pasha, in Turkish means eunuch.[1] In 1474, he besieged the Iskenderiye fortress (Shkodër), now in Albania — back then under Venetian control. The fortress was defended by one Antonio Loredano. The Ottoman troops managed to damage parts of the fortress, but ultimatelly failed[2] and Suleyman had to satisfy himself with his pillage.[3] He was then ordered to march against Moldavia, as Stephen the Great refused to pay homage to the Sultan. Suleyman was reluctant in marching against Moldavia, as his troops were exhausted from the failed siege and as winter was approaching, but he couldn't dare to question the Sultan's decision.[4] In December 1474, he began his march from Sofia to Moldavia with troops Rumeli provincial levies and, on January 10, 1475, confronted Stephen at the Battle of Vaslui or Battle of Racova. His Ottoman forces suffered a major defeat with high casualties. However, this defeat was recompensated during next summer when the Ottomans occupied Besserabia, took Akkerman, and defeated Stephen on July 17, 1476 at Valea Alba (Akdere).[5]