From the Ottoman Palace to the Last Resting Place in Bosnia: Silahdar Mustafa Pasha’s Tomb and Career Path
Abstract
This article revisits the historical details of Silahdar (Perişan) Mustafa Pasha's tomb (died 1799) in Travnik, central Bosnia, and re-examines previously published information about his career. Mustafa Pasha held roles as governor and district governor in several Ottoman provinces (eyalets) and districts (sancaks). He also served as a deputy (ḳā’im-maḳām) for the Grand Vizier and was married to Beyhan Sultan, daughter of Mustafa III. Despite being a notable figure in the Ottoman administration in the late 18th century, little is known about his life and career. The existing literature on him includes many misunderstandings, from the dates of his appointments and death to the names he used during his lifetime. Although his gravestone’s inscription has been published multiple times, errors persist, and some key details were completely overlooked. A thorough edition of the inscription is needed to address these issues. This article offers a careful edition of the inscription along with historical research into the context of his burial and his career path from the Ottoman court to his final resting place in Bosnia. The study relies on epigraphic evidence and unpublished documents from Ottoman archives.
Keywords
- Ottoman epigraphic
- biographies of the power elite
- sepulchral culture
- Ottoman cultural heritage
- Bosnia.
Supporting Institution
Ethical Statement
References
- Devlet Arşivleri Başkanlığı Osmanlı Arşivi (BOA), Istanbul
- Bâb-ı Âsafî, Dîvân-ı Hümâyûn Sicilleri, Tahvil (Nişan) Kalemi Defterleri (A.NŞT.d): 16.
- Cevdet-i Dahiliye (C.DH): 15/743.
- Cevdet-i Maliye (C.ML): 227/90488.
- Topkapı Saray Müzesi Arşivi (TS.MA), Defterler (D): 21716.5
- University of California Library (UCLA Library)
- DR556.H13N [Nūrī Tāriḫī]
- Gazi Husrev-begova biblioteka (GHB), Sarajevo
Details
Primary Language
English
Subjects
Late Modern Ottoman History
Journal Section
Research Article
Authors
Fahd Kasumovic
*
0000-0003-3325-1845
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Publication Date
September 15, 2026
Submission Date
December 18, 2025
Acceptance Date
May 10, 2026
Published in Issue
Year 2026 Number: 30