THE LAST SENATOR: ALI PASHA RIZVANBEGOVIĆ

• Main Author: ZAFER GÖLEN
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Osmanlı Mirası Araştırmaları Dergisi 2019-03-01
• Series: Journal of Ottoman Legacy Studies
• Subjects: ottoman empire; bosna province; herzegovina; montenegro; ali pasha rızvanbegović
• Online Access: http://www.osmanlimirasi.net/dergi//the-last-senator-ali-pasha-rizvanbegovi-262-pp-243-25520190367a6d91.pdf

Muslims were subjected to privileged treatment since the conquest in Bosnia-Herzegovina. They became a part of the Ottoman system and acted as its most powerful supporters by transforming into governors, landowners, notables, sipahis or janissaries. In response, the state did not interfere with their autonomous structure. Bosnia-Herzegovina acted merely as an autonomous province in its internal affairs. The governors sent from the capital were treated only as respectable guests. One of them was Ali Pasha Rizvanbegović. Ali Pasha supported Istanbul during the independence war of Hussein Pasha Gradasević and played an important role in his defeat. Istanbul appointed him as the Mutasarif of Herzegovina for this service. From 1832 to 1851, Ali Pasha became the sole ruler of Herzegovina. He built roads and water channels for the development of Herzegovina and signed important trade agreements with Austrians. He prevented the development of Montenegro which was the biggest problem of the Ottomans in the region. He hindered the Serbian independence. However, when the Tanzimat was proclaimed in 1839, Ali Pasha opposed the implementation of the Tanzimat reforms in Bosnia, with the concern that it would lead to the end of Ottoman rule in Bosnia. The Ottoman government tolerated this situation until 1849. When the Tanzimat was implemented in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1849, Ali Pasha and all the Bosnians opposed it with all their power. Unfortunately, this time Istanbul was ruthless and the famous general Omer Pasha Latas, known for his hatred for the Bosnians, was sent to Bosnia. Pasha showed no mercy in Bosnia. Eventually, Ali Pasha was defeated. He suffered uncalled-for insults and was finally killed. His family and surviving children were forced to live in Istanbul. In this paper, the works of Ali Pasha during the nineteen years, between 1832 and 1851, which he ruled in Herzegovina, will be examined in the light of the Ottoman Archive documents.