Ishak Pasha

Here, in this very place, lies Ishak Pasha, buried in this fragrant soil; he was originally from Antep. He was renowned for his vast knowledge across various fields and his exceptional intellect. He entered the service of the Ottoman Empire in the year 1251 and rendered many valuable services for the sake of his country and nation. As a result of his merit and loyalty to the Ottoman Empire, his rank rose step by step, and he attained the positions of Chief Doorkeeper and Beylerbey. Despite having attained such high positions, towards the end of the Hijri year 1276 (Gregorian year 1860), whilst preparing to return to Istanbul after stepping down from his post as Mutasarrıf of Cyprus, he passed away and departed for the eternal realm by the decree of Divine Will. May Allah’s mercy be upon him.

1276/M. 1860.

ISHAQ PASHA

Mutasarrif of Cyprus, Ottoman Statesman with the title of Beylerbey

1276 / M. 1859–1860

Ishak Pasha was the brother of the renowned Asım Efendi. He was the son of Emin Efendi, the deputy governor of the Nâkibu’l-Eşrâf in Antep, and was born in 1222/1808. Having come from Antep, he became treasurer to Çerkez Hafız Pasha in 1254/1838, and subsequently served as Kapıcıbaşı. He was promoted to the Istanbul rank. He subsequently served as kethüda to Mehmet Pasha of Cyprus. He became deputy governor of Damascus. In 1270/1854, he was appointed deputy governor of Izbornik as mîri mîrân (Beylerbey). In Shawwal 1272, he was appointed Mutasarrıf of Herzegovina with the Rumeli Pâye, and in Rabi’ al-Awwal 1274, he became Mutasarrıf (High Administrative Officer) of Cyprus. He is one of the figures about whom the gravestones in the document provide the most detailed information regarding his life and state career. According to his epitaph, he belonged to a family originally from Antep (Ayıntab). It is stated that he was knowledgeable in various fields of learning and was particularly renowned for his exceptional intellect. He entered the service of the Ottoman Empire in the Hijri year 1251 and held various posts over many years.

His epitaph directly attributes İshâk Pasha’s rise through the ranks of the state to his merit and loyalty. Over time, he attained important ranks and posts such as Chief Doorkeeper, Director of the Imperial Stables, Mir-i Miran and Beylerbey. These positions demonstrate that he was not merely an ordinary provincial official, but an experienced statesman who had attained significant ranks within the Ottoman administrative hierarchy.

In the final phase of his life, he held the post of Mutasarrıf of Cyprus. He stepped down from this post towards the end of the Hijri year 1276 and passed away in Cyprus whilst preparing to return to Istanbul. Thus, Cyprus, the final stop in his career, also became his final resting place. Ishak Pasha’s tombstone inscription is not merely a record of his death; it serves as a brief biography of a statesman who rose through the ranks of the Ottoman bureaucracy on the basis of merit, loyalty and service.