Koca Davud Pasha

Early life

Davud Pasha was probably a converted Muslim and formerly Christian Albanian, who during his childhood lived in Istanbul and was conscripted in the system in the ranks of the Ottoman army (in which he was sent by his own family to make career), where he was converted to Islam.

Military campaigns

In 1473, as Beylerbey of the Anatolian Eyalet, he was one of the commanders of the Ottoman army in the decisive victory against Ak Koyunlu in the Battle of Otlukbeli. In 1477, Sultan Mehmed II placed him in command of the army advancing toward Shkodër in Albania, directing him to besiege Krujë first. Davud Pasha managed to capture the fortress, which was the last stronghold of the League of Lezhë, thus ending the Ottoman–Albanian Wars. In 1479, he became governor (sanjakbey) of the sanjak of Bosnia and as the commander of large force of akıncı cavalry carried out extensive attacks and raids against the Kingdom of Hungary.

As grand vizier, he led the Ottoman army in the 1487 campaign of the Ottoman–Mamluk War. Initially, Davud Pasha planned an all-out offensive expedition against the Mamluks, but his plan was cancelled by Bayezid II, who assigned him to attack the Turgutlu and Varsak tribes. When Davud Pasha reached the Turgut and Varsak territories, the Varsak leaders, including the chief of the tribe, submitted to him and swore allegiance to the Ottoman Empire.

He died in Didymoteicho on 20 October 1498, leaving behind a large estate, with which several public works were constructed.

Public works

Davud Pasha's public works are mainly found in the Forum Arcadii area of modern Istanbul. In that area he built a mosque with 108 shops around it, a madrasa, a school, a hospice, a soup kitchen for the poor population and a public fountain dating to 1485. The whole neighborhood was consequently named after him as the Davutpaşa neighborhood, part of the Fatih district in modern times. In the Yenikapı neighborhood he built a palace, a landing stage, eleven shops and public baths. His other public works include a bedestan in Bitola and shops in Skopje and Bursa. Davud Pasha's baths in modern Skopje are the largest baths in the Balkans; in modern times they are used as an art gallery.

References

References

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