Serasker Mehmet Rıza Pasha

This study consists biography of Serasker(Minister of War) Rıza Pasha(1845-1920), who is one of the important soldier and stateman of Abdulhamit II era. Rıza Pasha *was born in 1845 at Koca Musatafa Pasha district. He was matriculated to Military High School in 1857 and graduated from Harbiye in 1866. Rıza Pasha started his governmental duty as a first lieutenant at Shumen. His first major success was at Crete riot in 1866 and this draw the attention of commanders. In 1888, he solved the problem between Arab and Albanian soldiers, who is responsible for the defense of Yildiz Palace. Thus, by gaining confidence of Abdulhamit II, he promoted as a Commander of Second Legion, which is responsible for the defence of Yildiz Palace. In 1891, his rank was increased as Marshalship and become Serasker. After starting his new mission, he worked on the enhancement of army in logistics. In 1897 by a very critical decision, he started Ottoman-Greek war by persuating the Abdulhamit II and get succes in the end. The succes of this war gave him a great reputation. During his Serasker mission he followed the events of Anotolia and Rumelia closely and made many studies on security and public order. In addition, he wrote articles about finance, education, development etc. In 1908, two days before the declaration of 2nd Constitutional Monarchy, he left outside of the cabinet becuse of the problems with the Grand Vizier Sait Pasha. New management send him into exile to the Island of Lesbos. After returning from exile in 1920 he went to France and died there. From 1866 to 1908 his studies are important because it throws light on the military, social, economic and political history of Ottoman Empire in the second half of XIX century. The main sources of this study are the archival documents and his works ?Hülasa-i Hatırat and Hatırat. Beside that, periodicals, memories of his son Sureyya Ilmen, related books and articles are also among the sources of this study. Keywords: Riza Pasha, Seraskerlik (Ministry of War), Abdulhamit II, 1897 Ottoman-Greek War, Treasury of Nizamiye.