Jusuf Mašković
| Silahdar Damat Yusuf Pasha Jusuf Mašković | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Josef Mašković |
| Born |
c. 1604 Vrana, Croatia (Then Bosnia Eyalet of Ottoman Empire) |
| Died |
1646 Constantinople, Ottoman Empire |
| Allegiance |
 Ottoman Empire |
| Service/branch |
Ottoman Navy |
| Years of service | fl. 1643–1646 |
| Wars and campaigns | Cretan War (1645–69) |
| Spouse(s) | Fatma Sultan, daughter of Sultan Ibrahim I (c. 1645–1646, his death) |
Yusuf Pasha or Jusuf Mašković, sometimes known as Silahdar Yusuf Pasha (born Josef Mašković; c. 1604–1646), was an Ottoman vezir and admiral (Kapudan Pasha, grand admiral of the Ottoman fleet), known for conquering Chania in western Crete in only 54 days in 1645 during the Cretan War (1645–69).[1] He built a large han, or Turkish inn, at Vrana in 1644, which still stands today.
Life
Origin and early life
Josef Mašković[1] was born a Christian around 1604, in Vrana, Dalmatia, then at the Venetian-Ottoman frontier.
According to Frane Difnico, Yusuf was the servant of Durak Bey, while Girolamo Brusoni claims that his father was the servant of Halil Bey, and that Yusuf was the groomer of Ibrahim Bey Bećiragić in Nadin. Brusoni said that Yusuf eventually came into good relations with the Beys, who even claimed him as a relative and near friend ("Durachbeg, che si dice suo parente" "Il Sapitan bie Bessiraghch, suo amico"). At the service of the Bećiragići in Nadin, Josef learned the Turkish language and alphabet. Though he was a sharp and intelligent boy, he was in serious poverty; once an elder lady of Nadin saw him barefooted and gave him opanci.
While following his master on a trip, he got to know a gatekeeper of the Porte, and decided to join Ottoman service in Constantinople.
Service
He was a silahdar at one point and was an ally of Cinci Hoca.[1]
Return and death
When Yusuf Pasha returned to Constantinople in 1645, he married Fatma Sultan, a daughter of Sultan Ibrahim I "the Mad". He was also given the Ibrahim Pasha Palace as a residence. However, one year later in 1646, he was executed by the Sultan at the persuasion of Yusuf Pasha's political rivals.
Legacy
He built a large han, or Turkish inn, at Vrana in 1644 named Maškovića Han.
References
Sources
- Boško Desnica, excerpts from "Stojan Janković i uskočka Dalmacija"