''Serasker'', or ''seraskier'' ( ota, سرعسكر; ), is a title formerly used in the

Ottoman Empire The Ottoman Empire, * ; is an archaic version. The definite article forms and were synonymous * and el, Оθωμανική Αυτοκρατορία, Othōmanikē Avtokratoria, label=none * info page on book at Martin Luther University) ...

for a

vizier A vizier (; ar, وزير, wazīr; fa, وزیر, vazīr), or wazir, is a high-ranking political advisor or minister in the near east. The Abbasid caliphs gave the title ''wazir'' to a minister formerly called ''katib'' (secretary), who was a ...

who commanded an army. Following the suppression of the

Janissaries A Janissary ( ota, یڭیچری, yeŋiçeri, , ) was a member of the elite infantry units that formed the Ottoman Sultan's household troops and the first modern standing army in Europe. The corps was most likely established under sultan Orhan ( ...

in 1826, Sultan

Mahmud II Mahmud II ( ota, محمود ثانى, Maḥmûd-u s̠ânî, tr, II. Mahmud; 20 July 1785 – 1 July 1839) was the 30th Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1808 until his death in 1839. His reign is recognized for the extensive administrative, ...

transferred the functions of the old

Agha of the Janissaries The Agha of the Janissaries or Janissary Agha () was a top Ottoman military official and courtier, and the commander of the Janissary corps. Apart from the commander-general of the entire corps, the title of "Agha of the Janissaries" was also bor ...

to the ''serasker''. The latter now became a distinct office at the head of the Ottoman military, combining the functions of a commander-in-chief and a

minister of war A defence minister or minister of defence is a cabinet official position in charge of a ministry of defense, which regulates the armed forces in sovereign states. The role of a defence minister varies considerably from country to country; in som ...

. He also took over the Janissary Agha's former duties regarding the upkeep of order in

Istanbul Istanbul ( , ; tr, İstanbul ), formerly known as Constantinople ( grc-gre, Κωνσταντινούπολις; la, Constantinopolis), is the List of largest cities and towns in Turkey, largest city in Turkey, serving as the country's economic, ...

. Indeed, as the police system developed and expanded with the empire's progressive centralization, it became one of the main duties of the ''serasker'' until 1845, when policing became a separate agency. The seat of the ''serasker'' and his department (''bab-i seraskeri'', or ''serasker kapısı''—"Gate of the ''serasker''") initially was in the

Eski Saray Eski Saray ( Turkish for "Old Palace"), also known as Sarây-ı Atîk-i Âmire, was a palatial building in Constantinople during the period of Ottoman rule, and it was the first such palace built in the city following the conquest of 1453. It was ...

, but these functions transferred to dedicated buildings in 1865. In 1879 the office was renamed to Ministry of War (''Harbiye Nezareti'') until 1890, when it reverted to its old name; it was finally renamed again to Ministry of War in 1908. Notable ''seraskers'' included: * Admiral

Koca Hüsrev Mehmed Pasha Koca Hüsrev Mehmed Pasha (also known as Koca Hüsrev Pasha; sometimes known in Western sources as just Husrev Pasha or Khosrew Pasha;Inalcık, Halil. Trans. by Gibb, H.A.R. ''The Encyclopaedia of Islam'', New Ed., Vol. V, Fascicules 79–80, p ...

(1769–1855) *

Lala Mustafa Pasha Lala Mustafa Pasha ( – 7 August 1580), also known by the additional epithet ''Kara'', was an Ottoman Bosnian general and Grand Vizier from the Sanjak of Bosnia. Life He was born around 1500, near the Glasinac in Sokolac Plateau in Bosnia to ...

( 1500 – 1580) *

Mehmed Namık Pasha Mehmed Emin Namık Pasha (1804 – 1892) was a prominent Ottoman statesman and military reformer, who is considered to be one of the founding fathers of the modern Ottoman Army. He served under five Sultans and acted as counsellor to at least fou ...

Sinaplı, Ahmet Nuri. "Şeyhül Vüzera, Serasker Mehmet Namık Paşa". İstanbul: Yenilik Basımevi, 1987. (1804-1892) *

Pargalı Ibrahim Pasha Pargalı Ibrahim Pasha ("Ibrahim Pasha of Parga"; c. 1495 – 15 March 1536), also known as Frenk Ibrahim Pasha ("the Westerner"), Makbul Ibrahim Pasha ("the Favorite"), which later changed to Maktul Ibrahim Pasha ("the Executed") after his ex ...

( 1495 – 1536) * Damat Rüstem Pasha ( 1500 – 1561) *

Mehmed Riza Pasha Mehmed Riza Pasha or Serasker Riza Pasha (; 1844–1920) was an Ottoman- Turkish military commander. He reached the rank of Serasker, which was the highest military rank of the Ottoman Empire. He participated in the Russo-Turkish War (1877� ...

(1844–1920)

References

Government of the Ottoman Empire Military ranks of the Ottoman Empire {{mil-rank-stub