Stories like the one just told are common among the Turks. They clearly show how men are raised by fortune and just as quickly cast down. Nowhere else in the world does greatness appear to be so uncertain and unstable as it was in the Ottoman Empire. Honor and power could rise suddenly, but they could disappear just as fast.
This constant change made high office both attractive and dangerous. Glory was never secure, and even the most capable men could not rely on long success.
A Difficult Question in Ottoman Politics
A wise Prime Vizier once raised an important question as part of a discussion with several pashas. Among many matters of state, he asked a difficult and troubling question:
“What methods can be found,” he said, “by which a First Vizier may preserve his office, continue in power, and protect himself from the dangers and uncertainty that surround this position?”
He then spoke openly and honestly to them Customized Tours Istanbul.
Few Who Grow Old in Office
“You see clearly, my brothers,” he said, “how few men grow old in this office. Neither virtue, nor care, nor innocence can protect them. Some remain in power only a single day, some a week, some a month. A few last a year or two, but in the end they all fall.”
He compared their fate to an old proverb: they were like ants to whom God gives wings, not to save them, but to speed their destruction. Their rise only made their fall quicker and more painful.
Silence among the Pashas
After hearing these words, the pashas remained silent for a long time. They did not know how to answer such a difficult question. Each man understood the truth of what had been said, yet none could easily offer a solution.
The danger of the office was well known to all of them. Any answer might seem foolish or dishonest.
The Wisdom of Köprülü
At last, Köprülü, who was then the most senior pasha and perhaps the wisest among them, spoke. His later actions would prove the depth of his wisdom.
He said that in his opinion, the only way for a Prime Vizier to remain safe was to act with justice, restraint, and humility. He must avoid pride, refuse corruption, and not create unnecessary enemies. Above all, he must serve the Sultan faithfully, while never forgetting how fragile his position truly was.
A Lesson from Ottoman History
This discussion shows the deep understanding Ottoman statesmen had of power and its dangers. High office brought honor, but also fear and uncertainty. Even the wisest men knew that success depended as much on fortune as on skill.
Thus, the history of the Prime Viziers stands as a lesson: greatness is never secure, and power borrowed from another can never truly be owned.