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Köprülü

(Encyclopedia)Köprülü köprülüˈ [key], family of humble Albanian origin, several members of which served as grand vizier (chief executive officer) in the Ottoman Empire. The name is also spelled Kiuprili, Kop...

Murad V

(Encyclopedia)Murad V, 1840–1904, Ottoman sultan (1876), son of Abd al-Majid. He came to the throne of the Ottoman Empire (Turkey) when his uncle, Abd al-Aziz, was deposed, but he was soon declared insane and was...

Mustafa I

(Encyclopedia)Mustafa I mo͝ostäfäˈ [key], 1591–1639?, Ottoman sultan (1617–18, 1622–23), brother and successor of Ahmed I to the throne of the Ottoman Empire (Turkey). Set aside for incompetence, he was s...

pasha

(Encyclopedia)pasha päshˈə, păshˈə, pəshäˈ [key], highest honorary title in official usage in the Ottoman Empire and with slight variation in the states formed from its territories, where it is sometimes s...

Janissaries

(Encyclopedia)Janissaries jănˈĭsârˌēz [key] [Turk.,=recruits], elite corps in the service of the Ottoman Empire (Turkey). It was composed of war captives and Christian youths pressed into service; all the rec...

Mustafa III

(Encyclopedia)Mustafa III, 1717–73, Ottoman sultan (1757–73), son of Ahmed III. He succeeded his cousin Osman III to the throne of the Ottoman Empire (Turkey). The chief event of his reign was the war of 1768�...

Central Powers

(Encyclopedia)Central Powers, in World War I, the coalition of Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, and the Ottoman Empire. ...

Murad II

(Encyclopedia)Murad II, 1403–51, Ottoman sultan (1421–51), son and successor of Muhammad I to the throne of the Ottoman Empire (Turkey). He was opposed at his accession by a pretender, Mustafa, who rapidly gain...

Stephen the Great

(Encyclopedia)Stephen the Great, d.1504, prince of Moldavia (1457–1504). A great military and political leader, Stephen consolidated princely authority, furthered economic prosperity, and reorganized the army, th...

Lepanto, battle of

(Encyclopedia)Lepanto, battle of lĭpănˈtō [key], Oct. 7, 1571, naval battle between the Christians and Ottomans fought in the strait between the gulfs of Pátrai and Corinth, off Lepanto (Návpaktos), Greece. T...