MACARCA MEKTUPLARIYLA BUDİN BEYLERBEYİ SOKULLU MUSTAFA PAŞA (1566-1578)

Abstract

Sokullu Mustafa Pasha, who had been appointed as Beglerbeg of Budin in place of Arslan Pasha (1565-1566) after his execution during Szigetvar War in 1566, was the 12th beglerbeg of Budin after his duties in Temesvar, Fulek, Kilis, Szeged and Bosnia and there had been nobody who performed this duty as long as he did. He tried to achieve the economic development of Budin, especially protection of merchants even if they were foreigners and he tried to keep peoples of Budin away from all kinds of threats and dangers and also he worked for public improvement in Hungary during his duty as a beglerbeg. Although Mustafa Pasha who struggled to keep peace between Istanbul and Vienna faced with some difficulties due to some reasons such as delays of presents and taxes sent to Istanbul, problems, pillage and booty at border, he was able to cope with these problems since he was a good manager and politician. However, success of Mustafa Pasha had been destroyed with a big fire in 1578 in Budin and ruin of the city as the result of this fire. As a result of efforts against Mustafa Pasha carried out for a very long time and Sokullu Mehmed Pasha’s being unsuccessful to protect him and finally together with this big fire, Mustafa the Great of Budin was executed by the executioners sent from Istanbul on 30th of September, 1578. Mustafa Pasha had sent too many letters in Hungarian language to Vienna and Hungary during this duty in 1566-1578. These letters written via his clerks and translators indicate objectively his life in Budin, difficulties he faced with during his duty and his duty as a beglerbeg. By examining Sokullu Mustafa Pasha beglerbeg of Budin via his letters in Hungarian language in our study, we have the opportunity to listen to him by his own words and also to make an evaluation from a different and impartial perspective.