Life and political career of Abdurrezzak Bahir Pasha (1730?-1781)

This dissertation is a biographical study which constructed on the career of Abdurrezzak Bahir Efendi/Pasha (1730?-1781), served Ottoman Empire as a head of chancery at the end of the 18th century, in 1772-1774 and 1779. Numerous events and other historical figures in primary sources overshadowed his presence although he was an active historical figure in his time. Because of that, this study aims to remove the shadow on him and examine the turbulent years symbolizes the end of the 18th century within the perspective of one of the active witness of the era. He was born in 1730? in the centre of the Empire as son of an Ottoman bureaucrat and followed the career line of his father. Like his father, he was appointed as head of chancery two times too. 1768-1774 Russo-Turkish War became a turning point for Pasha who had not experienced war for a great part of in his half century old life (1739-1768). He experienced war, not only negotiated with enemy as skilful diplomat but also fought with them as a "bureaucrat" commander. He was reckless enough to question sultan's decision in the presence of him but at the same time interestingly feared of the names close to the sultan too. In addition to this, he was a cunning diplomat did not inform his sultan occasionally both peace negotiations in battleground and triple alliance plan in Istanbul. Reisulkuttap Pasha represents the transformation of Ottoman diplomacy with the career of typical in one aspect whereas extraordinary in another aspect.