The Ottoman Grand Vizier Who Built an Empire

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the life and legacy of Sokollu Mehmed Pasha, the Grand Vizier who effectively ruled the Ottoman Empire from 1565 to 1579. Born a Christian Serb, taken through the devşirme, and rising to become the empire's most powerful administrator, Sokollu oversaw the conquest of Cyprus, the building of the great mosque in Edirne, and the construction of the Drina Bridge in Bosnia. They discuss his role in the siege of Szigetvár, his patronage of Mimar Sinan, and his attempts to forge alliances with Spain and Russia. The episode also examines how his death marked the end of an era of stable governance and the beginning of the Sultanate of Women. #SokolluMehmedPasha #GrandVizier #OttomanEmpire #Devshirme #MimarSinan #SelimiyeMosque #Edirne #Cyprus #DrinaBridge #Szigetvár #SuleimanTheMagnificent #SelimII #1565 #1579 #History #FexingoHistory #OttomanHistory #EarlyModern Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo