The prominent Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire, Mohammad Pasha Sokolovich

Compiled By: Syed Ali Shahbaz
On June 30, 1579 AD, the prominent Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire, Mohammad Pasha Sokolovich, was assassinated at the age of 73. He was a Serb by birth who converted to Islam at an early age and raised among the special Jan-Nsari Corps.
He rose through the ranks of the Ottoman imperial system, eventually holding positions as head of the imperial guard, High Admiral of the Navy, Governor-General of Rumelia, Third Vizier, Second Vizier, and as Grand Vizier, which position he held for over 14 years under three Sultans: Suleiman, Selim II, and Murad III. In addition to his native Serbo-Croat, he was fluent in Turkish, Persian, Arabic, and Venetian-Italian.
He had taken part in wars against Safavid Iran as head of a force of Serbs and Greeks, but later, due to Shah Tahmasp's diplomacy and proposal of a lasting peace accord, he advised the Ottoman Sultan to accept it. He was a great builder and constructed many mosques, schools, musafer-khanas and bridges in Istanbul, Belgrade, Sarajevo, and Mecca.