The Life and Waqfs of Muhsinzade Mehmed Pasha

The Ottoman Empire took control of some lands in the continents of Asia, Europe and Africa and ruled these lands for centuries. One of the basic elements of Ottoman rule in the world is the fact that the statesmen raised in this Empire are competent, capable, decent and moral. One of the important statesmen raised by the Ottomans was Muhsinzâde Mehmed Pasha. In this study; some information about his life, administrative duties and grand viziers is given, and also his waqfs and charities are examined. The scope of the study is generally limited to the life and works of Muhsinzâde Mehmed Pasha. This study consists of an introduction and two parts. In the introduction part, the sources used in the study are introduced, the concepts of waqf and deeds of waqf are emphasized and the aim, importance and limitations of the thesis are given. In the first part of the study, information about the life of Muhsinzâde Mehmed Pasha is given. In addition, in order to understand the reasons for establishing waqfs and leaving charities, firstly archival documents and related studies have been used. He participated in various campaigns with his father Muhsinzâde Abdullah Pasha and served as a vizier for nearly thirty years; Muhsinzâde Mehmed Pasha, who had come to the Grand Vizier twice, was a farsighted and experienced statesman. The administrative duties, personality and death of Muhsinzâde Mehmed Pasha and the time period that he spent his life are examined in this section. In the second part of the study, the waqfs and charities of Pasha have been examined based on the foundations and other documents belonging Muhsinzâde Mehmed Pasha. Muhsinzade Mehmet Pasha who established waqfs and charity activities in some cities of the Balkans such as Shumen, Anabolu, Travnik and Vodina is a statesman who has remained in the forefront of his time with charity works and the waqfs that he established, besides his administrative duties. Keywords: Muhsinzâde Mehmed Pasha, Ottoman Empire, Waqf, XVIII. century.