Portraying himself as "the real power behind the Ottoman Empire", Ibrahim used a variety of tactics to negotiate favorable deals with the leaders of the Catholic powers. On the diplomatic front Ibrahim's work with Western Christendom was a complete success. Built according to a design which is unmistakably defensive in concept (he had fearsome rivals), his palace is the only residence built by someone outside the Ottoman dynasty that deserves to be designated as a palace.
Attribution of Slavic, Italian (more precisely Genoese) or even Albanian or Jewish origins to this accomplished polyglot, mainly of speculative value, have been put forth, but many clues referring to his period of power, such as the fact that he chose to build his palace in immediate view of Atmeydani (today Sultanahmet Square) in Istanbul (the famed Hippodrome of the Byzantine emperors, facing Saint Sophia), clearly indicate that he was Greek. His magnificent palace still standing in Istanbul is called Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum. Yet another name given by his contemporaries was "Makbul Maktul (loved and killed) Ibrahim Pasha". He is usually referred to as "Pargali Ibrahim Pasha" or "Frenk (the European) Ibrahim Pasha" due to his tastes and manners. Amongst many titles, he was also unofficially known as "the most beautiful man in the empire" (a pity that we do not have a portrait of him).Īlthough he married Suleyman's sister and was as such a bridegroom to the Ottoman dynasty (Damat), this title is not frequently used in association with him, possibly in order not to confuse him with other illustrious grand viziers who were namesakes Damat Ibrahim Pasha (a Bosniak) and Nevsehirli Damat Ibrahim Pasha (Turkish). Later, after being appointed Grand Vizier, he continued to receive many gifts from the sultan, and his power in the Ottoman Empire was absolute, just as his master's. Pleased with this display of modesty, Suleyman purportedly swore that he would never be put to death during his reign. He was so rapidly promoted that at one point he begged Suleyman to not promote him too rapidly for fear of arousing jealousy. There he befriended Suleyman who was of the same age, and later, upon Suleyman's accession, was awarded various posts, the first being falconer to the Sultan. He was sold as a slave at the age of six to the Ottoman palace for future sultans situated in Manisa in Western Anatolia.
Ibrahim Pasha was born in the town of Parga and was Albanian by birth. Below is a short biography (taken from Wikipedia). Our hotel is named after the neighbouring 16th century Ottoman palace (now the Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum) built by Ibrahim Pasha, the most popular Grand Vizier of Ottoman history. Life and death of Suleyman the Magnificent’s childhood friend and Grand Vizier, Ibrahim Pasha
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