Çandarlı Halil Pasha the Elder

Çandarlı Kara Halil Hayreddin Pasha
Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire
In office September 1364 – January 22, 1387
Monarch	Murad I
Preceded by	Sinanüddin Fakih Yusuf Pasha
Succeeded by	Çandarlı Ali Pasha
Personal details
Died	January 22, 1387
Religion	Sunni Islam

Çandarlı Kara Halil Hayreddin Pasha, also known as Çandarlı Halil Pasha the Elder, was the first Grand Vizier of Murad I's reign. He was also technically the first in Ottoman history who held the title "Grand Vizier" (although several before him held equivalent but differently named offices), the first who had a military background (his predecessors under Orhan I came from the class of learned men, the "ilmiye"), and the first member of the illustrious Çandarlı family to hold high office. His family was to mark the rise of the Ottoman Empire between 1360 and 1450.^[1]

He rose to the rank of grand vizier from the position of the chief military judge (kazasker) in September 1364 and held this top seat after the sultan until his death on January 22, 1387. As such, he became the grand vizier who had the longest term of administration, a record he would hold until the abolition of the position 535 years after his death in 1922. He was also notable for being the initiator of the "devşirme" system of recruitment in the Ottoman Empire. Çandarlı Kara Halil Pasha is not to be confused with his grandson, Çandarlı Halil Pasha the Younger, grand vizier under the reign of Murad II and during the first years of that of Mehmed II.

He was succeeded as grand vizier by his son Çandarlı Ali Pasha. His other son, Çandarlı Ibrahim Pasha the Elder, would also later serve as grand vizier.

See also

• Çandarlı family
• List of Ottoman Grand Viziers

References

1. Encyclopedia of the Ottoman Empire. Gábor Ágoston, Bruce Alan Masters. p.398