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camisoledadparis · 20 days ago

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THIS DAY IN GAY HISTORY

based on: The White Crane Institute's 'Gay Wisdom', Gay Birthdays, Gay For Today, Famous GLBT, glbt-Gay Encylopedia, Today in Gay History, Wikipedia, and more … November 6

1494 – Suleiman the Magnificent, Ottoman Sultan, was born (d.1566); the tenth and longest‐serving Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, reigning from 1520 to 1566. He is known in the West as Suleiman the Magnificent and in the Islamic world, as the Lawgiver, deriving from his complete reconstruction of the Ottoman legal system. Within the empire, Suleiman was known as a fair ruler and an opponent of corruption.

As well as being a capable goldsmith and distinguished poet, Suleiman was also a great patron of artists and philosophers, overseeing the golden age of the Ottoman Empire's cultural development.

Historians claim that Suleiman, in his youth, had an admiration for Alexander the Great as he wanted very much to learn how he had managed to unite the peoples of the east and the west.

Pargali Ibrahm Pasha was the boyhood friend of Suleiman. Ibrahim was originally Greek Orthodox and when young was educated at the Palace School as a devshirme (the systematic abduction of young boys from conquered Christians lands by the Ottomann sultans as a form of regular taxation in order to build a loyal slave army).

As the Sultan's male favorite, he shared Suleiman's quarters and his tent while at home and on campaign. Suleiman made him the royal falconer, then promoted him to first officer of the Royal Bedchamber. Eventually, Ibrahim Pasha became the Grand Vizier in 1523 and commander in chief of all the armies. Suleiman also conferred upon Ibrahim pasha the honor of beylerbey of Rumelia, granting Ibrahim authority over all Turkish territories in Europe, as well as command of troops residing within them at times of war.

According to a 17th century chronicler, Ibrahim had asked Suleiman not to promote him to such high positions, fearing for his safety, to which Suleiman replied that under his reign no matter what the circumstance, Ibrahim would never be put to death.

Ibrahim would eventually fall from grace with the Sultan. During his thirteen years as Grand Vizier, his rapid rise to power and vast accumulation of wealth had made Ibrahim many enemies among the Sultan's court.

Reports had reached the Sultan of Ibrahim's imprudence committed during a campaign against the Persian Safavid empire, in particular his adoption of the title serasker sultan was seen as a grave affront to Suleiman. Suleiman's suspicion of Ibrahim was worsened in a quarrel between the latter and the Minister of Finance Iskender Chelebi. The dispute ended in the disgrace of Chelebi on charges intrigues against the Sultan, with Ibrahim convincing Suleiman to sentence the Minister to death. Before his death however, Chelebi's last words were to accuse Ibrahim of conspiracy against the Sultan. Since these were his dying words, Suleiman became convinced of Ibrahim's disloyalty and on March 15, 1536, Ibrahim's lifeless body was discovered in the Topkapi palace.

1730 Hans Hermann von Katte (1704 – 1730) is executed in Prussia. Prince Fredrick II of Prussia (aka Frederich the Great) was thought to be lovers with, Katte. They planned to escape Prussia together, but were discovered. The court sentenced Katte to life in prison but refused to judge the prince. Fredrick’s father thought this too lenient and ordered Katte executed and Fredrick imprisoned. Frederick was awakened at 5:00 AM and told to look out his prison window at the execution of Katte. He called out to him "My dear Katte, a thousand pardons." Katte called back, "My prince, there is nothing to apologize for" just before he was beheaded.

1949 – Brad Davis, American actor, best known for his role in the 1978 film Midnight Express, was born on this date (d.1991).

Davis was born Robert Creel Davis in Tallahassee, Florida to Eugene Davis, a dentist whose career declined due to alcoholism, and his wife, the former Anne Creel. His brother Gene is also an actor. According to an article in The New York Times published in 1987, According to an article in The New York Times published in 1987, Davis suffered physical abuse and sexual abuse at the hands of both parents. As an adult, he was an alcoholic and an intravenous drug user before becoming sober in 1981. Davis was known as "Bobby" during his youth, but took Brad as his stage name in 1973.

At 17, after winning a music talent contest, Davis worked at Theatre Atlanta. He later moved to New York City and attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, as well as studied acting at the American Place Theater. After a role on the soap opera How to Survive a Marriage, he performed in off-Broadway plays. In 1976 he was cast as Sally Field's love interest in the television film Sybil. He played the lead role in Larry Kramer's play about AIDS, The Normal Heart (1985).

His most successful film role was as the main character in Midnight Express (1978), for which he won the Golden Globe Award for New Star Of The Year - Actor. He also had a small role in Roots. The steamy shower scene in Midnight Express and Davis' portrayal of the sexy Gay sailor in Rainer Werner Fassbinder's film adaptation of Jean Genet's Querelle (1983) made him a Gay film icon.

Davis was married to Susan Davis, who later became an Emmy Award-winning casting director. They had one child, Alexandra (now Alex, he's a transman).

Diagnosed with AIDS in 1985, Davis kept his condition secret until shortly before his death. Although it was announced he died of AIDS in 1991 in Los Angeles, he actually died of an intentional drug overdose. Near death and in severe pain in a hospital, he opted to return home and end his life on his own terms. With his wife and a family friend present, he committed assisted suicide. Susan Davis continues to campaign to combat AIDS.

1952 – Michael Cunningham is an American writer, best known for his 1998 novel The Hours, which won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and the PEN/Faulkner Award in 1999.

Cunningham was born in Cincinnati, Ohio and grew up in Pasadena, California. He studied English literature at Stanford University where he earned his degree. Later, at the University of Iowa, he received a Michener Fellowship and was awarded a Master of Fine Arts degree from the Iowa Writers' Workshop. While studying at Iowa, he had short stories published in the Atlantic Monthly and the Paris Review. His short story, "White Angel", was later used as a chapter in his novel A Home at the End of the World. It was included in "The Best American Short Stories, 1989," published by Houghton Mifflin. A Home at the End of the World, a gay love story, was also made into a 2004 movie with Colin Farrell, Dallas Roberts and Robin Wright.

Cunningham is currently professor of creative writing at Yale University.

Although Cunningham is gay and has been in a long-term domestic partnership with psychoanalyst Ken Corbett, he dislikes being referred to as a gay writer, according to a PlanetOut article. While being gay greatly influences his work, he feels that it should not be his defining characteristic.

1955 – Wolfgang Busch, born in Heppenheim, Germany, is a two time Humanitarian award winner, was inducted into the Queens Business Hall of Fame for his company Art From The Heart Films, was inducted into the LGBT Hall of Fame and is a multiple award winning documentary filmmaker, director, producer, cinematographer and editor, including a humanitarian award for his documentary "How Do I Look". He also received a "Keep The Dream Alive" Martin Luther King Humanitarian award for his social and artistic activism for the Black and Hispanic LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) Ballroom community, aka Harlem Drag Ball community.

He is an entrepreneur, grass-root organizer, motivator, inspirational and touches people life's from all walks of life. His Art In Education Documentaries are screened worldwide. He lectures about Artistic Empowerment and HIV/AIDS education at the most prestigious universities, Yale, NYU, Penn State, not for profit organizations The Door, LGBT Community Center in New York City and Chicago, the Gay Mens Health Crisis, community-based organizations and Churches across the United States; London, Amsterdam, Paris and Berlin.

From 1990-2000 he produced New York New Rock, a weekly TV show highlighting cultural and educational aspects of various communities such as the local New York City Rock and R & B communities, LGBT, arts, sports, politics and fashion reaching 500,000 Manhattan households. The show was a successful outreach tool for artists and not for profit organizations and Busch was able to sign national and international record and licensing deals for several artists.

As an openly gay artist, he has been embraced by a wide range of LGBT organizations to produce high level events including GLAMA (The Gay and Lesbian American Music Awards), SAGE (Senior Action in a Gay Environment) Lifetime Achievement Awards ceremonies and events for LifeBeat, Center For the Media Arts and Gay and Lesbian Community Services Center.

1957 – Cam Clarke is an American voice actor and singer known for his work in animation, video games and commercials. Among his notable roles are Leonardo and Rocksteady in the 1987 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles animated series, Shotaro Kaneda in the 1989 original Streamline Pictures English dub of Akira, and Liquid Snake in the Metal Gear series. He often serves as a voice double for Matthew Broderick.

Clarke was born Cameron Arthur Clarke in Burbank, California, to actor Robert Clarke and singer Alyce King.

Clarke is the nephew to guitarist Alvino Rey and pianist Buddy Cole, cousin to actress Tina Cole and writer Chris Conkling, half brother to musicians Ric and Lex de Azevedo, and uncle to voice actress Emilie Brown and actress Rachel Coleman.

Clarke began his acting career in The Hollywood Palace as The King Family Show. He continued to perform with his family on various television specials until the 1980s when he got his first voice acting roles in Snorks and Robotech. He was taught by Michael Bell.

To date, Clarke has voiced over four hundred titles. From 1987 until 1996, Cam Clarke would most notably portray Leonardo, the leader of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles as well as Rocksteady, one of the show's antagonists. Clarke would reprise the role of Leonardo in non-musical spoken portions of the first show of the "Coming out of their Shells" concerts designed around the Ninja Turtle characters held at Radio City Music Hall, though the later VHS tape released of the event leaves him uncredited.Clarke is openly gay, and his experiences inspired his album Inside Out, which changed pronouns in lyrics of classic songs and his one-man autobiographical play Stop Me If I Told You This.

1988 – Tom Neuwirth, better known by his drag stage persona Conchita Wurst, is an Austrian singer. Wurst came to international attention when winning the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 in Copenhagen, Denmark with the song "Rise Like a Phoenix".

Born in Gmunden, Neuwirth moved to Graz to do his Matura with a focus on fashion, before embarking on a singing career through the 2007 casting show Starmania. He subsequently became a founding member of the short-lived boyband Jetzt Anders!.

In 2011, Neuwirth began appearing as Wurst – a drag persona noted for her beard – and came second in the Austrian preselection for the Eurovision Song Contest 2012. Wurst was successfully selected to represent Austria at the Eurovision Song Contest 2014, where she proved victorious.

Wurst's entry and victory courted controversy, being condemned by some of the continent's social conservatives and right-wingers who saw her performance as a promotion of LGBT rights. Conversely, it brought her international attention and established her as a prominent LGBT icon, resulting in invites to perform at various LGBT pride parades and the European Parliament.

Neuwirth describes himself as a gay man and uses female pronouns to describe his Wurst character, but male pronouns when referring to himself.

1991 – Paul Poirier is a Canadian ice dancer. With Piper Gilles, he is the 2021 World bronze medallist, as well as a three-time Four Continents medallist (silver in 2014 and 2020, bronze in 2019), three-time Skate Canada International champion (2019, 2021–22), and two-time Canadian national champion (2020, 2022). Gilles and Poirier competed for Canada at the 2018 and 2022 Winter Olympics.

With earlier partner Vanessa Crone, he is the 2010 Grand Prix Final bronze medallist, 2011 Four Continents bronze medallist, 2008 World Junior silver medallist, and 2011 Canadian national champion. Crone and Poirier competed for Canada at the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Paul Poirier was born in Ottawa, Ontario, to Debra Mendes de Franca and Marc Poirier. In 2015, he graduated from the University of Toronto with a Bachelor of Arts in linguistics. He continues graduate studies in linguistics part-time. He speaks English, French, Japanese, and Spanish. His brother played in the Ontario Hockey League.

Poirier is gay and has spoken about "perhaps [being] a role model for...younger queer athletes."

2012 – Washington State voters approve Referendum 74 legalizing same-sex marriage.

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reallifesultanas · 4 years ago

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Portrait of Pargali Ibrahim Pasha/Pargali Ibrahim pasa portréja

Of the many particularly colorful individuals who surrounded Suleiman I, Ibrahim Pasa, nicknamed “makbul” (favorite) and “maktul” (executed), was one of the most interesting characters.

Origin and life as a slave

Ibrahim was around the same age as Suleiman, so most probably he was born around 1495 in Parga, Northeastern Greece. However he was most probably not a typical greek, because he spoke a slavic dialect, near to croatian. This is not surprising, since in the Parga territories a lot os slav family lived. Maybe Ibrahim's family was one of them, or maybe he came from a mixed slav and greek family. Some sources even suggest he was an Albanian. We don’t know too many things on his natural family, except that his father was a sailor or fisherman.

It is not known surely when and how was he captured. There are old legends, without any valide evidence. One of these stories says that he was captured by Türks and then he found himself at the slave market, where a widow from Manisa bought him. This woman raised him very well, educated him, taught him how to play violin. They say when Süleyman arrived to Manisa as a governor he heard the violin play of Ibrahim. He immediatelly started to search for the source of music, when find Ibrahim. He was charmed by his musical and as well as other talents and took him into his princely household. There with time a strong, life-long friendship formed between the two youngster. It sounds very nice, but doesn't really seems plausible.

There is another story, which seems more accurate and there are second-hand evidences to support this theory. It says that Ibrahim was captured during Sultan Bayezid’s reign (somewhere between 1499-1502), by his Bosnian governor, Iskender pasha. This governor and his daughters (Hafsa and Mihrişah) raised and educated him. The pasha's daughter, Mihrişah, nicknamed Ms. Haci, was the one who raised Ibrahim. In his later letters, Ibrahim also often refers to the woman with love: "the crown of good deeds and the infinity and purity of good things last until the day of judgment." The woman eventually died in 1527, and Ibrahim said plenty of prayers for her soul.

The friend of Şehzade Suleiman

Ibrahim's life turned upside down, when he met with Prince Süleyman in Edirne. Ibrahim stayed there with the daughter of Iskender Pasha, while Suleiman was sent to Edirne by his father to took care of the western border of the Empire, until he returns from campaign. This meeting most probably took place around 1514. Iskender Pasha's family was very influential, so it is not surprising that they could met with the prince during his stay in Edirne. It is not known that Ibrahim and Suleiman were simply became friends in Edirne, so he held his departure with Suleiman; or the family of Iskender Pasha gave the talented and educated Ibrahim to the prince as a gift.

Either way, Ibrahim went with Prince Suleiman to his Manisa province, where their long and close friendship developed over time. They were both ambitious, intelligent youngsters, so they certainly woven their dreams together about the future of the empire. Suleiman lived difficult times as a prince, in vain was he the only heir, his father watched him with sly eyes, waiting for his son to made some mistake. The young prince desperately needed a trustworthy and understanding friend. It may have been this vulnerable period and interdependence that led to such a close friendship between them. Ibrahim’s salary at this time was 3 asper for a day according to one of the Manisa records. He is listed in this record as the fifth slave, “Ibrahim the Albanian”.

The friend of Sultan Suleiman

When Suleiman ascended the throne in 1520, all positions were filled in the divan by his father's old pashas. This did not make it easy for Suleiman to start his own reign, as the pashas did not accept the young man as a monarch. Previously for years, Suleiman had to hide his interest in politics and desire to the throne in order to survive, which is why the pashas thought he was not capable to rule. In the meantime, however, Suleiman and Ibrahim very cleverly devised how they could take control of the empire. Suleiman was not strong enough to simply dismiss the pashas he didn't like, so he took advantage of the fight between them, disintegrating them from within.

Meanwhile, he appointed Ibrahim as the head of his quarters, who could thus have been with the sultan on a permanent basis. It is likely that Suleiman relied heavily on his friend in this early period, and they certainly discussed together the current political situation. In addition, Suleiman publicly acknowledged and introduced his friend, with whom he shared everything. The Venetian ambassador then wrote of Ibrahim that he is like the heart and breath of the Sultan. Moreover he reported Ibrahim’s appearance also: “Ibrahim was a thin man, with small face, pale, not very tall, and graceful”.

In June of 1523, Suleiman was finally able to dismiss Piri Pasa, the Grand Vizier, who caused him the most trouble. Everyone expected Suleiman to appoint Ahmed Pasa, who he otherwise liked, to replace Piri Pasa, but to everyone’s astonishment, Ibrahim Aga was appointed to hold the highest office in the empire.

The new Grand Vizier

Ibrahim had been a close friend and confidant of Suleiman but his appointment was clearly due to Suleiman's desire to get rid of his father's old pashas so he could play by his own rules. Suleiman was also fed up with the political struggles within the divan, as the battles between the pashas were at the expense of the rise of the empire. Ibrahim's rise prevented members of the political elite - which Suleiman hated so much - from getting close to the sultan at all. Not only did all the pashas lose their special status - thus becoming equal to the others - but they could no longer share their thoughts and views directly with the sultan, but could only communicate with the ruler through Ibrahim. By making Ibrahim his liaison, Suleiman hoped to be able to isolate himself from the political games between the pashas and at the same time make the figure of the sultan even more formidable and inaccessible.

Nevertheless, Ibrahim was a unprecedented Grand Vizier in many other ways. First, the relationship between the Grand Vizier and the Sultan has been only formal since Mehmed II. Especially after the creation of the new palace (Topkapi), the meeting of the two became even more ceremonial. Because Mehmed's new palace further increased the distance between the Sultan and his men. The second court was the one that accommodated the divan council, so the pashas could enter there under the leadership of the Grand Vizier, but the third, innermost court was the private area of the Sultan, and no official of the council could enter, not even the Grand Vizier. Council members could meet with the sultan in a separate room only at the border of the two courtyards, on certain days after council discussions. In contrast, after Ibrahim's appointment, he was still free to enter to the inner court, to the sultan's private territory, just as previosuly, when he was in charge of the sultan's residence.

However, Ibrahim's appointment was also unusual in other respects. Ibrahim had not previously held any military or administrative duties, so he rose to the highest position without any experience. Although he took part in Suleiman's first two campaigns, he never held any responsible position, be it logistical, strategic or military, he was only with Suleiman during the campaign as his close friend. Since it was essential until the early 16th century that all positions could only be worn by experienced, fit people, Ibrahim’s sudden rise was shocking. Although surprising appointments have been made in the past too, they have always been preceded by marriage. If the sultan wanted to elevate a relatively low-ranking pasha to a high rank, he married off one of his sisters or daughters to the man. Ibrahim's rise in this aspect was also exceptional. He became a Grand Vizier, without a dynastic marriage. Never before had there been a Grand Vizier who won the position solely and exclusively for the love of the Sultan. It is precisely for this reason that the appointment of Ibrahim was sharply criticized by both the common people and the elite, and was even regarded as a bad and fatal omen for the Ottoman House. Suleiman could not let people to think like this, so he devised a clever plan to made them accept Ibrahim as his grand-vezir.

The contradictory marriage of Ibrahim Pasha

Suleiman’s ingenious plan consisted in preparing a marriage for Ibrahim that would force people to accept him as a Grand Vizier and as member of the political elite. The way to do this could not be to marry one of his sisters to Ibrahim. This would only have further increased the hatred of the people towards Ibrahim. That is why - and of course for other reasons - the theory that Ibrahim married to Hatice Sultan, Suleiman's sister is not true. This misunderstanding may be due to the fact that the wedding was followed by a very lavish ceremony that lasted for two weeks in Hippodrome Square. The event was also honored by the Sultan himself. Suleiman, his personal entourage, his court and the Janissaries were all present, and the whole city celebrated Ibrahim’s wedding. The splendor that characterized the wedding and the personal presence of the Sultan, prompting modern historians to believe that Ibrahim had married one of Suleiman’s sisters. However, for today this theory has been 100% refuted. So the reason for the huge celebration was not a princess bride, but the persuasion of the people.

The selection of the bride was also done with great care. Suleiman eventually chose a woman named Muhsine Hatun, who was none other than the granddaughter of Iskender pasha. Muhsine was the daughter of Mihrişah Hatun's sister. Mihrişah was who raised Ibrahim. So the two youngsters must have known each other long before the wedding. Because of this, of course, the question also arose in many people's minds that perhaps the two fall in love in their youth? And maybe Ibrahim finally get a good rank, so he could marry his beloved woman? The answer is a clear no. If there would have been love between the two, Suleiman would have arranged the marriage immediately after his accession to the throne, since Ibrahim already had great wealth and palaces, even before his appointment as Grand Vizier. On the other hand, there is evidence that Muhsine did not agree to the marriage at first. It was degrading for her to marry a former slave of her family. Eventually, of course, they convinced the woman that the wedding would bring great glory to their family, so in October 1523 the wedding was announced. At the same time, preparations began, for example, Suleiman ordered a huge amount of sugar from Cyprus for the ceremony.

So it seems that the wedding was planned from the first minute as a grand event and was deliberately held in the spring, as the weather by then certainly allowed to celebrate at outside venue, so the people of Istanbul could celebrate with them. The fact that the wedding was planned with such immense public attention, as well as the exceptional splendor that characterized the entire wedding, and the dynasty’s so committed support for it all suggest that Ibrahim’s marriage was a huge event of political significance.

But why was this marriage so needed for Ibrahim?

Because Iskender Pasha’s family had tremendous political influence. Thus, the acceptance of such an influential family clearly indicates that Ibrahim is worthy to be a member of the political elite. So the wedding became one of the most important days of Ibrahim’s life and by then maybe Muhsine’s heart had softened towards her future husband. Ibrahim's happiness was heightened by the fact that his parents and two siblings could also be present at his wedding, as he brought them to Istanbul after his appointment as Grand Vizier. This act was considered relatively novel, but later several pashas acted in a similar way: they brought their families to Istanbul where they converted Islam.

After the bride’s first rejection, Ibrahim and Muhsine’s marriage eventually turned into a love marriage over the years. The phrases in their letters, such as “my dear, my love,” and “your lover Ibrahim, who is yearn for you,” all suggest that a sincere, loving relationship has finally developed between them. They also had a child, Mehmedşah. The couple remained married until the execution of the pasha. Contrary to legends, Suleiman did not execute the little son of Ibrahim Pasha, the child died of an illness a few years after his father, in 1539. Muhsine lived the rest of her life as a widow. She had a small mosque built in the Kumkapi district of Istanbul, known as the “Mosque of Ibrahim Pasa’s wife”.

Ibrahim Pasha, the Grand Vizier

Soon after his wedding, Ibrahim had to embark on a long journey to Egypt, where Ahmed Pasha, the beylerbey rebelled against the sultan and declared himself the sultan of Egypt. There was also a personal contrast between Ibrahim and Ahmed, as everyone expected Ahmed to be appointed grand-vezier after Piri Pasha's retirement. Certainly the rebellion was caused by the fact that Ibrahim became the Grand Vizier instead of Ahmed. Eventually, Ibrahim triumphed and executed Ahmed's pasha. However, he did not go home immediately, but traveled across the province, reforming the very backward military and administrative system of the province. Thus Ibrahim essentially modernized the Egyptian province.

As Grand-Vezier, Ibrahim was very open to Western culture and sought to reach a peaceful agreement with Western states. Because of this, a great many have condemned the pasha and suspected that in vain he had converted to Islam, he never denied his roots. This was certainly the case, but it is a fact that the interests of the empire coincided with those of Ibrahim. The empire was not in such a material, military, or political position that it should have been at war with the Western states. Of course, the common people did not understand this and extremely hated Ibrahim for it.

Ibrahim had an extraordinary yearly income: 150 000 ducat and Suleiman increased this over the years. With this money he could easily do building projects. He built mosques, schools, dervish lodges, hamams all over the Empire from Mecca to the Balkan. He had a special talent for architecture. One of Suleiman’s first activities as Sultan was to order the renovation of Topkapi Palace. In this, Ibrahim in particular took part and most of the renovation was carried out on the basis of his ideas. Moreover as a very cultured man he was devoted to arts, this is why he was the patron of poets and writers.

Ibrahim could not keep himself out from the fight between the mothers of Suleiman's sons. Since his relationship with Hürrem, Suleiman's favorite consort, was notoriously bad, it was clear that he supported Mahidevran Hatun and her son against Hürrem and her children. As a close friend of Suleiman, he already knew Mahidevran from Manisa, and he was also present in the times around the birth of Mustafa, and was involved in the education of the prince. It was natural that he was on Mustafa's side. However, the alliance between the two was not always clear. As a child, Mustafa was extremly jealous on Ibrahim for spending so much time with his father. There is a known case when the Sultan first gave a spoon to Ibrahim at a communal meal, which made Mustafa furious. According to another story, the sultan sent a seddle with jewels to Ibrahim, but Mustafa also loved it, so he ordered Ibrahim to make the same seddle for him. Ibrahim, understanding the situation, gifted the saddle to the prince. The Grand Vizier's excellent situational awareness and intelligent conflict management softened Prince Mustafa and eventually their relationship was settled. It is difficult to say whether this alliance was also politically active. It was quite natural that, as Grand Vizier, Ibrahim sought to maintain a close relationship with the eldest prince.

Downfall

Ibrahim was never really popular, but after a while no one dared to speak out against him because they saw how much the Sultan liked him. As early as 1525, during a Janissary revolt, his palace was also targeted. And in 1526, this was repeated, but then, in addition to the Janissaries, simple people also revolted against him for placing bronze statues from Buda, which was forbidden in Islam, in the garden of his palace. He regularly gave more and more examples of his love and admiaration for Western culture. In addition, it was constant during his Grand-Vezirate that someone accused him of secretly continuing to live as a Christian.

Unfortunately, Ibrahim thought he was on an equal footing with the sultan. He regularly referred to himself in diplomatic meetings as "the real power behind the Ottoman Empire." Also, despite Ibrahim's best efforts, he was unable to fill the imperial treasury sufficiently, but rather he emptied it. In addition Hürrem Sultan, who already the wedded wife of the Sultan, the mother of six of his children, certainly sought to make the sultan aware of all Ibrahim's mistakes. The sultan may have had a hard time recognizing the situation and seeing what his loyal friend had become, so he was probably complaining about it to his wife, who was trying to convince him that Ibrahim had no place in the political life of the empire anymore.

We do not know what was the last drop in Sultan Suleiman’s glass, but finally in 1536, during Ramadan, he invited Ibrahim to a feast. The pasha unsuspectingly accepted the invitation. He wanted to return home to his palace after the dinner, however, Suleiman persuaded him to stay in his old room in Topkapi Palace that night. Ibrahim agreed. Soon after, the executioners went into his room and strangled him. This method of execution was a custom for members of the dynasty, the pashas were not usually executed in this way, but by beheading. Suleiman must wanted to execute Ibrahim quietly, quickly and, as an old friend, he gave him "clean" death.

Ibrahim's body was secretly taken away from the palace and was buried in an unmarked grave, probably near a dervish lodge. This is how the Sultan's old friend, his ally died. The man for whom, Suleiman broke several traditions.

Used sources: E. Turan - Marriage of Ibrahim Pasha; L. Peirce - The Imperial Harem; C. Imber - The Ottoman Empire 1300-1650; S. Faroqhi - The Ottoman Empire and the world around it; L. Peirce - Empress of the East

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A sok különösen színes egyéniség közül, akik I. Szulejmánt vették körül, a „makbul” (kedvenc) és „maktul” (kivégzett) becenevekkel jelzett Ibrahim Pasa volt az egyik legérdekesebb karakter.

Eredete és korai élete rabszolgaként

Ibrahim nagyjából egyidős lehetett Szulejmánnal, 1495 körül születhetett Parga-ban, a mai Északkelet-Görögország területén. Valószínű azonban, hogy nem görög volt, hiszen egy a horváthoz közeli szláv dialektust beszélt. Ez nem meglepő, ugyanis a területen rengeteg szláv kisebbség élt, így az is lehet, hogy Ibrahim közülük származott, vagy kevert családból. Egyes források szerint albán volt. Családi hátteréről nem tudunk sokat, csupán annyit, hogy édesapja halász vagy tengerész volt.

Az, hogy mikor és hogyan szakították el családjától a mai napig vitatárgyát képezi. Vannak régi legendák, melyek erősen tartják magukat, pedig semmi bizonyíték nincs rájuk. Az egyik ilyen történet szerint török kalózok ejtették fogságba (esetleg a devsirme rendszeren keresztül), majd a rabszolgapiacon találta magát. Ott egy maniszai özvegyasszony vette meg, majd kiemelkedő oktatásban részesítve felnevelte és megtanította hangszeren játszani. Hamarosan Szulejmán herceg az erdőben sétálva meghallotta Ibrahim hegedűjátékát és azonnal elcsábult tőle, összeismerkedett a hasonló korú fiúval és magával vitte hercegi udvartartásába. Ott aztán idővel szoros barátság szövődött a két fiatal között. Bár igen kedves történet, valószínűleg nem igaz.

Van egy másik történet, mely sokkal hihetőbb és több közvetett bizonyíték is utal erre. Eszerint Ibrahim Bayezid szultán uralkodása alatt egy háború során (valamikor 1499 és 1502 között) esett török fogságba, nem máséba, mint a bosnyák beglerbég, Iszkender pasa fogságába. A pasa később lányainak adta a fiút, akik felnevelték és megfelelő oktatásban részesítették szolgájukat. A pasa lánya, Mihrişah, becenevén Haci asszony volt az, aki felnevelte Ibrahimot. Ibrahim későbbi leveleiben is gyakran utal az asszonyra szeretettel: „a jócselekedetek koronája és a jó dolgok végtelensége, tisztasága tartson az ítélet napjáig”. A nő végül 1527-ben hunyt el, Ibrahim pedig rengeteg imát mondatott a lelki üdvéért.

Szulejmán herceg barátjaként

Ibrahim élete fenekestül felfordult, amikor - feltehetőleg 1514-ben - találkozott Szulejmán herceggel Edirnében. Ibrahim éppen Iszkender pasa lányának kíséretében tartózkodott Edirnében, míg Szulejmán herceget apja küldte oda, hogy vigyázza a birodalom nyugati határát, amíg ő keleten háborúzik. Iszkender pasa családja igen befolyásos volt, így nem meglepő, hogy találkoztak a herceggel edirnei tartózkodása idején. Azt nem tudni, hogy Ibrahim és Szulejmán egyszerűen barátságot kötöttek e Edirnében, ezért tartott távozásakor Szulejmánnal; vagy Iszkender pasa családja ajándékként adta a tanult és művelt Ibrahimot a hercegnek.

Akárhogyan is, Ibrahim, Szulejmán herceggel tartott annak manisai tartományába, ahol hosszú és szoros barátságuk idővel kialakult. Mindketten ambíciózus, intelligens fiatalok voltak, így minden bizonnyal együtt szövögették álmaikat a birodalom jövőjéről. Szulejmán nehéz időket élt hercegként, hiába volt egyetlen örökös, apja árgus szemekkel figyelte, fia mikor követ el valamilyen hibát. A fiatal hercegnek nagy szüksége volt egy megbízható és megértő barátra. Ez a kiszolgáltatott időszak és egymásrautaltság lehetett az, amelynek következtében ilyen szoros barátság alakulhatott ki közöttük. Ibrahim fizetése ebben az időben 3 asper volt egy napra az egyik maniszai jegyzőkönyv szerint. Ebben a jegyzőkönyvben úgy szerepel, mint az ötödik rabszolga, “Ibrahim az albán”.

Szulejmán szultán barátjaként

Amikor Szulejmán 1520-ban trónra lépett, minden pozíciót apja öreg pasái töltöttek be a divánban. Ez nem tette egyszerűvé a hatalomátvételt Szulejmán számára, hiszen a pasák nem fogadták el a fiatalt, mint egyeduralkodó. Szulejmánnak ugyanis éveken keresztül el kellett rejtse érdeklődését a politika és trón iránt, hogy életben maradhasson, emiatt pedig a pasák alkalmatlannak gondolták. Mindeközben azonban Szulejmán és Ibrahim nagyon okosan kitervelték, hogyan vehetik át az irányítást a birodalom fölött. Szulejmán nem volt elég erős ahhoz, hogy egyszerűen elküldje a neki nem tetsző pasákat, emiatt kihasználta a közöttük lévő ellentétet, ezzel belülről bomlasztva őket.

Mindeközben Ibrahimot kinevezte lakrészének fejévé, aki így állandó jelleggel a szultán mellett lehetett. Valószínűleg Szulejmán ebben a korai időszakban nagyban támaszkodott barátjára és minden bizonnyal közösen tárgyalták meg az éppen aktuális politikai helyzetet is. Emellett Szulejmán nyilvánosan is elismerte és bemutatta barátját, akivel mindenét megosztotta. A velencei követ úgy írt ekkor Ibrahimról, mint a szultán szíve és lélegzete. Emellett beszámolt Ibrahim külleméről is: “Ibrahim vékony, alacsony ember, kis arccal, igen sápatag”.

1523 júniusában végül Szulejmán képes volt nyugdíjazni Piri Pasát, a nagyvezírt, aki a legtöbb gondot okozta számára. Szulejmántól mindenki azt várta, hogy az általa egyébként kedvelt, Ahmed Pasát fogja kinevezni Piri Pasa helyére, azonban mindenki megdöbbenésére Ibrahim Agát nevezte ki a birodalom legmagasabb hivatalának betöltésére.

Az új nagyvezír

Ibrahim közeli barátja és bizalmasa volt Szulejmánnak hercegsége óta és kinevezése egyértelműen annak volt köszönhető, hogy Szulejmán szabadulni akart apja embereitől és saját szabályai szerint játszani. Szulejmánnak emellett elege volt a divánon belül dúló politikai harcokból, hiszen a pasák egymással való csatározása a birodalom felemelkedésének rovására ment. Ezért meg akarta állítani a versengést, Ibrahim felemelkedése pedig meggátolta, hogy az elit tagjai egyáltalán a szultán közelébe juthassanak. Ezzel nem csak, hogy minden pasa elveszítette a kegyenci státuszát – ezzel egyenlővé válva a többiekkel –, de a gondolatait, nézeteit sem oszthatta meg többé közvetlenül a szultánnal, hanem Ibrahimon keresztül tudott csupán kommunikálni az uralkodóval. Azzal, hogy Ibrahimot tette meg kapcsolattartójává, Szulejmán azt remélte, hogy el tudja magát szigetelni a pasák közti politikai játszmáktól és ugyanakkor még félelmetesebbé és elérhetetlenebbé teheti a szultán figuráját.

Mindazonáltal sok más szempontból is formabontó nagyvezír volt Ibrahim. Először is, a nagyvezír és a szultán kapcsolata II. Mehmed óta csupán formális volt. Főleg az új palota (Topkapi) létrehozása után vált még ceremoniálisabbá a két személy találkozása. Mehmed új palotája ugyanis még tovább növelte a távolságot a szultán és emberei között. A második udvar volt az, mely helyt adott a tanácsnak, így ide a nagyvezír vezetése alatt beléphettek vezírei is, ám a harmadik – legbelső – udvar a szultán privát területét képezte, ide pedig a tanács egyetlen hivatalnoka sem léphetett be, még a nagyvezír sem. A tanács tagjai egy külön szobában találkozhattak csupán a szultánnal a két udvar határán, bizonyos napokon a tanács megbeszélések után. Ezzel szemben Ibrahim nagyvezírsége után, továbbra is szabadon bejárhatott a belső udvarba – a szultán privát területére –, épp úgy, mint kinevezése előtt a szultán lakrészének felelőseként.

Azonban Ibrahim kinevezése más szempontból is rendhagyó volt. Ibrahimnak nem volt korábban semmilyen katonai vagy adminisztratív feladata, így minden tapasztalat nélkül emelkedett a legmagasabb pozícióba. Részt vett ugyan Szulejmán első két hadjáratán, de sosem viselt semmilyen felelősségteljes pozíciót, legyen az logisztikai, stratégiai vagy hadászati, csak Szulejmán mellett volt a hadjárat alatt, mint közeli barátja. Mivel a kora 16. századig alapvető volt, hogy minden pozíciót csak tapasztalt, rátermett emberek viselhettek, Ibrahim hirtelen felemelkedése sokkoló volt. Ugyan korábban is történtek meglepő kinevezések, ezeket mindig megelőzte egy házasság. Ha a szultán egy viszonylag alacsony rangú pasát akart magas rangra emelni, hozzáadta a férfihoz valamely lánytestvérét vagy lánygyermekét. Ibrahim felemelkedése e téren is kivételes volt. Egyenesen a lakrész felügyelőből lett nagyvezír, dinasztikus házasság nélkül. Korábban soha nem volt nagyvezír, aki csak és kizárólag a szultán szeretete miatt nyerte el a pozíciót. Ibrahim kinevezését éppen emiatt mind a köznép, mint az elit élesen kritizálta, sőt rossz és végzetes ómenként tekintettek rá az Oszmán Ház szempontjából. Ezt nem hagyhatta Szulejmán, így fondorlatos tervet eszelt ki Ibrahim elfogadtatására.

Ibrahim Pasa ellentmodásokkal teli házassága

Szulejmán zseniális terve abból állt, hogy olyan házasságot készít elő Ibrahim számára, amivel az emberek kénytelenek lesznek őt elfogadni, mint nagyvezír. Ennek módja nem lehetett az, hogy egyik testvérét adja Ibrahimhoz. Ez csak tovább növelte volna az emberek gyűlöletét Ibrahim irányába. Épp ezért - és természetesen más okok miatt is - az az elmélet, miszerint Ibrahim Hatice szultánát vette volna feleségül, nem igaz. Ez a félreértés abból eredhet, hogy az esküvőt nagyon pazar ünnepség követte, mely két hétig tartott a Hippodrom téren. Az eseményt maga a szultán is megtisztelte jelenlétével, egy, az Ibrahim Hippodromon lévő palotájában külön neki épített kioskból figyelve azt. Ott volt Szulejmán, személyes kísérete, udvara és a janicsárok, valamint az egész város, így mindenki Ibrahim esküvőjét ünnepelte. A pompa, mely az esküvőt jellemezte, az, hogy a szultán személyesen is jelen volt rajta, a modern történészeket arra buzdította, hogy azt higgyék, Ibrahim Szulejmán egyik testvérét vette el nőül. Azonban mára ez 100%-ban megcáfolódott. A hatalmas ünnepség oka tehát nem egy hercegnői menyasszony volt, hanem az emberek meggyőzése.

A menyasszony kiválasztása is nagy gonddal zajlott. Szulejmán végül egy Muhsine Hatun nevű nőt választott, aki nem volt más, mint Iszkender pasa - Ibrahim elfogójának - unokája. Muhsine az Ibrahimot felnevelő Mihrişah asszony testvérének lánya volt. Így a két fiatal minden bizonnyal ismerte egymást, már jóval az esküvő előtt. Emiatt természetesen felmerült sokakban az a kérdés is, hogy talán még fiatalkorukban szerelem szövődhetett kettejük között? Ibrahim pedig végre a megfelelő rang birtokában feleségül kérhette őt? A válasz egyértelmű nem. Ha szerelem lett volna kettejük között, Szulejmán trónralépése után azonnal elrendezte volna a házasságot közöttük, hiszen Ibrahim már nagyvezíri kinevezése előtt is nagy vagyonnal, palotákkal rendelkezett a szultán jóvoltából. Másrészről pedig bizonyítékok vannak arra, hogy Muhsine eleinte nem egyezett bele a házasságba. Degradált ugyanis neki, hogy egy korábbi rabszolgájukhoz menjen nőül. Végül természetesen meggyőzték a nőt, hogy az esküvő nagy dicsőséget fog hozni a családjuknak, így 1523 októberében bejelentették az esküvőt. Ezzel együtt pedig az előkészületek is megkezdődtek, így például Szulejmán hatalmas mennyiségű cukrot rendelt Ciprusról az ünnepségre.

Úgy tűnik tehát, hogy az esküvő az első perctől kezdve grandiózus eseménynek volt tervezve és szándékosan tavasszal került megrendezésre, hiszen az időjárás ekkorra biztosan megengedte a külső helyszínen való ünneplést, így pedig Isztambul népe velük együtt ünnepelhetett. Az, hogy ilyen hatalmas nyilvános odafigyeléssel zajlott az esküvő tervezése, valamint a kivételes pompa, ami jellemezte az egész esküvőt, illetve az, hogy a dinasztia ilyen elkötelezetten támogatta azt, mind mind arra utalnak, hogy Ibrahim házassága egy hatalmas, politikai jelentőséggel bíró esemény volt.

Na de miért volt jó Ibrahimnak ez a házasság?

Azért, mert Iszkender Pasa családja hatalmas politikai befolyással rendelkezett. Így az, ha egy ilyen befolyásos család elfogadja Ibrahimot vejeként, egyértelműen jelzi, hogy Ibrahim méltó arra, hogy a politikai elit tagja legyen. Az esküvő Ibrahim életének egyik legfontosabb napja lett tehát és addigra talán Muhsine szíve is megenyhült leendő férje irányába. Ibrahim boldogságát tetézte, hogy szülei és két testvére is jelen lehetett az esküvőjén, őket ugyanis nagyvezírré való kinevezése után Isztambulba hozatta, ahol áttértek az iszlámra. Ez a cselekedet viszonylag újszerűenek számított, később azonban több pasa is hasonló módon járt el.

A menyasszony első elutasítása után végül Ibrahim és Muhsine házassága az évek alatt szerelmi házassággá alakult. A leveleikben előforduló szófordulatok, mint a „kedvesem, szerelmem” és a „szeretőd Ibrahim, aki epekedik érted”, mind mind arra utal, hogy végül őszinte, szerető kapcsolat alakult ki közöttük. Egy gyermekük is született, Mehmedşah. A pár házas maradt egészen a pasa kivégzéséig. A legendákkal ellentétben, Szulejmán nem végeztette ki Ibrahim Pasa kisfiát, a gyermek néhány évvel később, 1539-ben betegségben hunyt el. Muhsine asszony özvegyként élte le élete hátralévő részét. Muhsine asszony egy kis mecsetet építtetett Isztambul Kumkapi kerületben, mely mecset úgy ismert, mint „Ibrahim Pasa feleségének mecsete”, és épp azon a környéken van, amelyet később róla neveztek el.

Ibrahim Pasa, a nagyvezír

Esküvője után Ibrahimnak hamarosan hosszú útra kellett indulnia, ugyanis Egyiptom beglerbégje, Ahmed pasa fellázadt a szultán ellen és kinvezte magát Egyiptom szultánjává. Ibrahim és Ahmed között személyes ellentét is húzódott, hiszen mindenki Ahmed pasa kinevezésére számított Piri pasa nyugdíjazása után. Minden bizonnyal az a tény okozta a lázadást, hogy Ahmed helyett Ibrahim lett a nagyvezír. Végül Ibrahim győzedelmeskedett és kivégeztette Ahmed pasát. Azonban nem indult haza azonnal, hanem körbeutazta a tartományt, megreformálta az igen elmaradt katonai és adminisztrációs megoldásokat. Így Ibrahim lényegében korszerűsítette az egyiptomi tartományt.

Ibrahim nagyvezírsége alatt igen nyitott volt a nyugati kultúrára és igyekezett békés megállapodást kötni a nyugati államokkal. Emiatt nagyon sokan elítélték a pasát és azzal gyanúsították, hogy hiába tért át az iszlámra, sosem tagadta meg gyökereit. Ez minden bizonnyal így is volt, ám tény, hogy a birodalom érdekei egyeztek Ibrahim érdekeivel. Nem volt olyan anyagi, katonai és politikai helyzetben a birodalom, hogy háborúskodnia kellett volna a nyugati államokkal. A közemberek azonban természetesen ezt nem így látták és rendkívül gyűlölték Ibrahimot ezért.

Ibrahim rendkívüli éves jövedelmet tudhatott magáénak: 150 000 ducatot, melyet Szulejmán évente emelt. Ennyi pénzzel könnyedén tudott építkezési projekteket végrehajtani. Többek között építtetett mecseteket, iskolákat, dervis szállásokat, fürdőket a birodalom egész területén Mekkától a Balkánig. Különös tehetsége volt az építészethez, melyet jövedelmeztetni tudott Isztambulban is. Szulejmán egyik első tevékenysége szultánként az volt, hogy parancsot adott a Topkapi Palota felújítására. Ebben pedig Ibrahim különösen kivette részét és a felújítás nagyrésze az ő ötletei alapján valósult meg. Emellett mint igen művelt férfi, különösen elkötelezett volt a művészetek iránt, így a költők és írók támogatójának is számított.

Nagyvezírsége alatt nem tudott kimaradni a Szulejmán fiainak anyjai között dúló harcokból sem. Mivel Hürremmel, Szulejmán kedvencével köztudottan rossz volt a viszonya, egyértelmű volt, hogy vele és gyermekeivel szemben Mahidevran Hatunt támogatta. Szulejmán közeli barátjaként már Manisából is ismerhette Mahidevrant, emellett jelen volt a Musztafa születése körüli időkben is, részt vett a herceg nevelésében. Természetes volt, hogy Musztafa pártján volt. Azonban kettejük szövetsége nem volt mindig egyértelmű. Gyermekként Musztafa kifejezetten féltékeny volt Ibrahimra, amiért az olyan sok időt tölt apjával. Ismert egy eset, amikor egy közös étkezésnél a szultán Ibrahimnak nyújtott először kanalat, ettől Musztafa feldühödött. Egy másik történet szerint pedig a szultán egy díszes, ékköves nyerget küldött Ibrahimnak, ami Musztafa tetszését is igen elnyerte. Musztafa herceg megparancsolta Ibrahimnak, hogy csináltasson számára egy ugyanilyet. Ibrahim megértve a helyzetet, a nyereget a hercegnek ajándékozta. A nagyvezír remek helyzetfelismerése és intelligens konfliktuskezelése meglágyította Musztafa herceget és végül viszonyuk rendeződött. Nehéz megmondani, hogy politikailag is aktív volt-e ez a szövetség. Az ugyanis teljesen természetes volt, hogy nagyvezírként Ibrahim igyekezett közeli viszonyt fenntartani a legidősebb herceggel.

A hanyatlás

Ibrahim sosem volt igazán népszerű, egy idő után senki sem mert szót emelni ellene, mert látták a szultán mennyire kedveli, azonban továbbra sem szerették. Már 1525-ben is egy janicsár lázadás során palotája is a célkeresztbe került. 1526-ban pedig ez megismétlődött, ekkor azonban a janicsárok mellett egyszerű emberek is fellázadtak ellene, amiért az iszlámban tiltott Budáról származó bronz szobrokat helyezett ki palotájának kertjében. Túlzott nyugatiasságára rendszeresen adott újabb és újabb példákat. Emellett pedig nagyvezírsége alatt állandó volt, hogy megvádolta valaki, miszerint titokban továbbra is keresztényként él, az iszlám vallástcsupán alcaként vette fel.

Sajnálatos módon úgy gondolta, hogy egyenrangú a szultánnal. A diplomáciai találkozókon rendszeresen úgy hivatkozott magára, mint a "valódi hatalom az Oszmán Birodalom mögött". Valamint, Ibrahim legnagyobb igyekezete ellenére sem tudta kellőképpen megtölteni a birodalmi kincstárat, inkább ürítette azt. Emellett minden bizonnyal Hürrem szultána, aki eddigre már a szultán hites felesége volt, hat gyermekének anyja, is igyekezett elérni, hogy a szultán Ibrahim minden ballépéséről tudomást szerezzen. A szultánnak nehéz lehetett felismerni a helyzetet és látnia, hogy hűséges barátja mivé lett, így valószínűleg nejének panaszkodott erről, aki igyekezett őt meggyőzni arról, hogy Ibrahimnak nincs helye tovább a birodalom politikai életében.

Nem tudhatjuk, hogy mi volt az utolsó csepp Szulejmán szultán poharában, de végül 1536-ban, a Ramadán idején magához hívta Ibrahim pasát lakomázni. A pasa gyanútlanul elfogadta a meghívást, majd a vacsora után haza kívánt térni palotájába. Szulejmán azonban meggyőzte, hogy maradjon régi szobájában aznap éjjel. Ibrahim beleegyezett. Nemsokkal később a kivégzők bementek szobájába és megfojtották. Ez a kivégzési mód a dinasztia tagjai számára volt szokás, a pasákat általában nem ilyen módon végezték ki, hanem lefejezéssel. Szulejmán minden bizonnyal csendben, gyorsan akarta kivégeztetni Ibrahimot és mint régi barátnak megadta neki a "tiszta" halált.

Ibrahim testét titokban vitték el a palotából és temették el egy jelöletlen sírban, valószínűleg egy dervis szállás közelében. Így végezte tehát a szultán régi barátja, szövetségese, aki miatt több tradíciót is megtört.

Felhasznált források: E. Turan - Marriage of Ibrahim Pasha; L. Peirce - The Imperial Harem; C. Imber - The Ottoman Empire 1300-1650; S. Faroqhi - The Ottoman Empire and the world around it; L. Peirce - Empress of the East

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