List of Ottoman grand viziers

The grand vizier of the Ottoman Empire ( or Sadr-ı Azam (Sadrazam); Ottoman Turkish: or ) was the de facto prime minister of the sultan, with the absolute power of attorney and, in principle, removable only by the sultan himself in the classical period, before the Tanzimat reforms, or until the 1908 Revolution. He held the imperial seal and could summon all other viziers to attend to affairs of the state in the Imperial Council; the viziers in conference were called "kubbe viziers" in reference to their meeting place, the Kubbealtı ('under-the-dome') in Topkapı Palace. His offices were located at the Sublime Porte.

History

During the emerging phases of the Ottoman state, "vizier" was the only title used. The first of these Ottoman viziers who was titled "grand vizier" was Çandarlı Kara Halil Hayreddin Pasha (also known as Çandarlı Halil Pasha the Elder). The purpose in instituting the title "grand vizier" was to differentiate the holder of the sultan's seal from other viziers. The initially more regularly used title of vezir-i âzam was slowly replaced by sadrazam, both meaning grand vizier in practice. Throughout Ottoman history, the grand viziers have also been called sadr-ı âlî ('high vizier'), vekil-i mutlak ('absolute attorney'), sâhib-i devlet ('holder of the state'), serdar-ı ekrem ('gracious general'), serdar-ı azam ('grand general'), and zât-ı âsafî ('vizieral person') and başnazır, literally "prime minister" in Ottoman Turkish. The Office of the Grand Vizier was called the sadaret.

In the late periods of the Ottoman Empire, especially during and after the 19th century, the grand vizier began to hold a position almost identical to that of a prime minister in other European states. Reforms seen during and after the Tanzimat (1838), the First Constitutional Era (1876–1878), and the Second Constitutional Era (1908–1920) further brought the office of the grand vizier in line with the European standard, making the incumbent the head of a Cabinet of other ministers. During the two constitutional eras, the grand vizier also served as the speaker of the Senate, the upper house of the bicameral Ottoman Parliament. With the establishment of the Republic of Turkey in 1923, the Prime Minister of Turkey took on the roles of the former office.

Grand viziers were often replaced or resigned in rapid succession, frequently leading to political instability. In the final 10 years of the Empire alone, the office of the grand vizier changed hands 13 times between 12 men; some, such as Ahmed Izzet Pasha and Salih Hulusi Pasha, held office for less than a month.

Office of the Grand Vizierate

The Office of the Grand Vizierate was known as the Sadaret-i Uzma, or alternatively the Baş Vekâlet (The Prime Ministry), or Bâb-ı Âli (Literally the Sublime Porte, all the departments under the Vezierate). In 1839, this office included only included the Âmedi-i Divan-ı Hümayun (Office of the Imperial Council).

List of grand viziers

Chief viziers (1320–1439)

{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible" style="text-align:center"

! colspan="2" |Vizier

! colspan="3" |Term of office

! rowspan="2" |Sultan

! Portrait

! Name

! Took office

! Left office

! Time in office

| rowspan="2" |

| rowspan="2" |Kemaleddinoğlu Alaeddin Pasha

| rowspan="2" |1320

| rowspan="2" |1331

| rowspan="2" |11 years

|Osman I

111x111px

| rowspan="4" |Orhan

110x110px

|Mahmudoğlu Nizamüddin Ahmed Pasha

|1331

|1348

|17 years

|Mehmet Hacı Pasha

|1348

|1349

|1 year

| rowspan="2" |

| rowspan="2" |Sinanüddin Fakih Yusuf Pasha

| rowspan="2" |1349

| rowspan="2" | 1364 † '

| rowspan="2" |15 years

| rowspan="3" |Murad I

111x111px

Çandarlızade Halil Hayreddin Pasha

|1364

| 1387 † '

| rowspan="3" |

| rowspan="3" |Çandarlızade Ali Pasha

| rowspan="3" |1387

| rowspan="3" |1406 † '

| rowspan="3" |19 years

|Bayezid I 85x85px

|Süleyman Çelebi 83x83px

| Imamzade Halil Pasha

|1406

|1413

|7 years

| rowspan="2" |Mehmed I 122x122px

| rowspan="2" |

| rowspan="2" | Bayezid Pasha

| rowspan="2" |1413

| rowspan="2" | 1421 † '

| rowspan="2" |8 years

| rowspan="3" |Murad II 94x94px

|Çandarlızade Ibrahim Pasha the Elder

|1421

|1429 † '

|8 years

| Mehmed Nizamüddin Pasha

|1429

|1439

|10 years

Grand Viziers (1439–1839)

The position of grand vizier was established with Murad II's appointment of Çandarlızade Halil Pasha the Younger to such a position. In the 19th century, Mahmud II would abolish the title of Grand Vizier, and appointed Mehmed Emin Rauf Pasha as Başvekil, or Prime Minister. Upon Sultan Abdülmecid I's ascention to the throne, the Grand Vizierate was restored.

{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible" style="text-align:center"

! colspan="2" |Grand Vizier

! colspan="3" |Term of office

! rowspan="2" |Sultan

!Portrait

! Name

!Took office

!Left office

!Time in office

| rowspan="5" |

| rowspan="5" |Çandarlızade Halil Pasha the Younger

| rowspan="4" |1439

| rowspan="5" | 1453 † '

| rowspan="5" |

|Murad II 94x94px

|Mehmed II 85x85px

|Murad II 94x94px

| rowspan="9" |Mehmed II 85x85px

|Zaganos Pasha

|1453

|1456

|3 years

|96x96px

|Mahmud Pasha Angelović

|1456

|1468

|12 years

| Mehmed Pasha

|1468

|1469

|1 year

|Ishak Pasha

|1469

|1472

|3 years

|96x96px

|Mahmud Pasha Angelović

|1472

|1474 † '

|2 years

|Gedik Ahmed Pasha

|1474

|1477

|3 years

|Karamani Mehmed Pasha

|1477

| 1481 † '

|4 years

|Ishak Pasha

|1481

|1482

|1 year

| rowspan="10" |Bayezid II 103x103px

| Davud Pasha

|1482

|1497

|15 years

|Hersekzade Ahmed Pasha

|1497

|1498

|1 year

|Çandarlızade Ibrahim Pasha the Younger

|1498

|1499 † '

|1 year

|88x88px

|Mesih Pasha Palaiologos

|1499

| 1501 † '

|2 years

| Ali Pasha

|1501

|1503

|2 years

|Hersekzade Ahmed Pasha

|1503

|1506

|3 years

| Ali Pasha

|1506

| 1511 † '

|5 years

|Hersekzade Ahmed Pasha

|1511

| Mustafa Pasha

|1511

|1512 † '

|1 year

|Hersekzade Ahmed Pasha

|1512

| 1514

| rowspan="6" |Selim I 94x94px

|Dukakinzade Ahmed Pasha

| 1514

| 1515 † '

|Hersekzade Ahmed Pasha

| 1515

| 1516

| Sinan Pasha Borovinić

| 1516

| 1517 † '

|81x81px

|Yunus Pasha

| 1517

| 1517 † '

| rowspan="2" |106x106px

| rowspan="2" | Mehmed Pasha

| rowspan="2" | 1518

| rowspan="2" | 1523

| rowspan="2" |

| rowspan="10" |Suleiman I 82x82px

|84x84px

| İbrahim Pasha

| 1523

| 1536 † '

|95x95px

|Ayas Mehmed Pasha

| 1536

| 1539 † '

|85x85px

| Lütfi Pasha

| 1539

| 1541

|70x70px

| Süleyman Pasha

| 1541

| 1544

|150x150px

| Rüstem Pasha

| 1544

| 1553

|112x112px

| Ahmed Pasha

| 1553

| 1555 † '

|150x150px

| Rüstem Pasha

| 1555

| 1561 † '

|Semiz Ali Pasha

| 1561

| 1565 † '

| rowspan="3" |118x118px

| rowspan="3" | Mehmed Pasha

| rowspan="3" | 1579 † '

| rowspan="3" |

| 1565

|Selim II 101x101px

| rowspan="12" |Murad III 100x100px

|Semiz Ahmed Pasha

| 1579

| 1580 † '

|84x84px

| Mustafa Pasha

| 1580

| 1580 † '

|105x105px

| Sinan Pasha

| 1580

| 1582

| Siyavuş Pasha

| 1582

| 1584

|86x86px

|Özdemiroğlu Osman Pasha

| 1584

| 1585 † '

| Mesih Pasha

| 1585

| 1586

| Siyavuş Pasha

| 1586

| 1589 '

|105x105px

| Sinan Pasha

| 1589

| 1591

|94x94px

|Serdar Ferhad Pasha

| 1591

| 1592

| Siyavuş Pasha

| 1592

| 1593

| rowspan="2" |105x105px

| rowspan="2" | Sinan Pasha

| rowspan="2" | 1593

| rowspan="2" | 1595

| rowspan="2" |

| rowspan="13" |Mehmed III 87x87px

|94x94px

|Serdar Ferhad Pasha

| 1595

|105x105px

| Sinan Pasha

| 1595

|99x99px

| Mehmed Pasha

| 1595

| 1595 † '

|105x105px

| Sinan Pasha

| 1595

| 1596 † '

| Ibrahim Pasha

| 1596

|95x95px

|Cığalazâde Yusuf Sinan Pasha

| 1596

| Ibrahim Pasha

| 1596

| 1597

| Hasan Pasha

| 1597

| 1598 † '

| Mehmed Pasha

| 1598

| 1599

| Ibrahim Pasha

| 1599

| 1601 † '

| Hasan Pasha

| 1601

| 1603 † '

| rowspan="2" |

| rowspan="2" |Malkoç Yavuz Ali Pasha

| rowspan="2" | 1603

| rowspan="2" | 1604 † '

| rowspan="2" |

| rowspan="7" |Ahmed I 113x113px

| Sokolluzade Mehmed Pasha

| 1604

| 1606 † '

| Derviş Mehmed Pasha

| 1606

| 1606 † '

|70x70px

| Murad Pasha

| 1606

| 1611 † '

| Nasuh Pasha

| 1611

| 1614 † '

|105x105px

| Mehmed Pasha

| 1614

| 1616

| rowspan="3" |99x99px

| rowspan="3" | Halil Pasha

| rowspan="3" | 1619

| rowspan="3" |

| 1616

|Mustafa I 121x121px

| rowspan="6" |Osman II 118x118px

|105x105px

| Mehmed Pasha

| 1619

| 1619 † '

| Ali Pasha

| 1619

| 1621 † '

| Hüseyin Pasha

| 1621

|Dilaver Pasha

| 1621

| 1622 † '

| Hüseyin Pasha

| 1622

| 1622 † '

| Davud Pasha

| 1622

| 1622 † '

| rowspan="3" |Mustafa I

121x121px

| Hüseyin Pasha

| 1622

| rowspan="2" |

| rowspan="2" | Mustafa Pasha

| rowspan="2" | 1622

| rowspan="2" |

| rowspan="14" |Murad IV 105x105px

| Mehmed Pasha

| 1622

| 1623

| Hüseyin Pasha

| 1623

| Ali Pasha

| 1623

| 1624 † '

| Mehmed Ali Pasha

| 1624

| 1625 † '

| Müezzinzade Ahmed Pasha

| 1625

| 1626

|99x99px

| Halil Pasha

| 1626

| 1628

| Ekrem Hüsrev Pasha

| 1628

| 1631

| Müezzinzade Ahmed Pasha

| 1631

| 1632 † '

| Recep Pasha

| 1632

| 1632 † '

| Mehmed Pasha

| 1632

| 1637

| Bayram Pasha

| 1637

| 1638

| Mehmed Pasha

| 1638

| 1638 † '

| rowspan="2" |

| rowspan="2" | Mustafa Pasha

| rowspan="2" | 1638

| rowspan="2" | 1644 † '

| rowspan="2" |

| rowspan="5" |Ibrahim 126x126px

|Sultanzade Mehmet Pasha

| 1644

| 1645

| Salih Pasha

| 1645

| 1647 † '

| Musa Pasha

| 1647

| Ahmet Pasha

| 1647

| 1648 † '

|83x83px

| Mehmed Pasha

| 1648

| 1649 † '

| rowspan="20" |Mehmed IV 118x118px

| Murat Pasha

| 1649

| 1651

| Ahmed Pasha

| 1651

| Siyavuş Pasha the Elder

| 1651

|111x111px

| Mehmed Pasha

| 1651

| 1652

| Ahmed Pasha

| 1652

| 1653 † '

| Dervish Mehmed Pasha

| 1653

| 1654

|İpşiri Mustafa Pasha

| 1654

| 1655 † '

| Murat Pasha

| 1655

| Suleyman Pasha

| 1655

| 1656

| Hüseyin Pasha

| 1656

|Zurnazen Mustafa Pasha

| 1656

|4 hours

| Siyavuş Pasha the Elder

| 1656

| 1656 † '

| Mehmed Pasha

| 1656

|95x95px

| Mehmed Pasha

| 1656

| 1661 † '

|87x87px

|Köprülüzade Fazıl Ahmed Pasha

| 1661

| 1676 † '

|108x108px

| Mustafa Pasha

| 1676

| 1683 † '

|100x100px

| İbrahim Pasha

| 1683

| 1685

| Süleyman Pasha

| 1685

| 1687 † '

| rowspan="2" |

| rowspan="2" | Siyavuş Pasha the Younger

| rowspan="2" | 1687

| rowspan="2" | 1688 † '

| rowspan="2" |

| rowspan="4" |Suleiman II

151x151px

| İsmail Kemalettin Pasha

| 1688

| Mustafa Pasha

| 1688

| 1689

| rowspan="2" |

| rowspan="2" | Köprülüzade Fazıl Mustafa Pasha

| rowspan="2" | 1689

| rowspan="2" | 1691 † '

| rowspan="2" |

| rowspan="5" |Ahmed II 94x94px

| Bahadırzade Ali Pasha

| 1691

| 1692

| Çalık Ali Pasha

| 1692

| 1693

| Mustafa Pasha

| 1693

| 1694

| rowspan="2" |

| rowspan="2" | Ali Pasha

| rowspan="2" | 1694

| rowspan="2" | 1695

| rowspan="2" |

| rowspan="5" |Mustafa II

117x117px

| Mehmed Pasha

| 1695

| 1697 † '

|70x70px

|Amcazade Köprülü Hüseyin Pasha

| 1697

| 1702

| Mustafa Pasha

| 1702

| 1703 † '

|Rami Mehmed Pasha

| 1703

| 1703 '

| Kavanoz Ahmed Pasha

| 1703

| rowspan="14" |Ahmed III 87x87px

| Hasan Pasha

| 1703

| 1704

| Ahmed Pasha

| 1704

|70x70px

| Mehmed Pasha

| 1704

| 1706

|100x100px

| Ali Pasha

| 1706

| 1710

|Köprülüzade Numan Pasha

| 1710

|70x70px

| Mehmed Pasha

| 1710

| 1711

| Yusuf Pasha

| 1711

| 1712

| Süleyman Pasha

| 1712

| 1713

|

| 1713

| 1713 † '

|70x70px

| Ali Pasha

| 1713

| 1716 † '

| Halil Pasha

| 1716

| 1717

|

| 1717

| 1718

|89x89px

| Ibrahim Pasha

| 1718

| 1730 † '

|

| 1730

| 1731

| rowspan="16" |Mahmud I 97x97px

|

| 1731

|70x70px

| Osman Pasha

| 1731

| 1732

|Hekimoğlu Ali Pasha

| 1732

| 1735

|

| 1735

|

| 1736

| 1737

|

| 1737

|

| 1737

| 1739

|İvazzade Mehmed Pasha

| 1739

| 1740

|91x91px

| Ahmed Pasha

| 1740

| 1742

|Hekimoğlu Ali Pasha

| 1742

| Hasan Pasha

| 1742

| 1746

|

| 1746

| 1747

| Abdullah Pasha

| 1747

| 1750

| Mehmed Emin Pasha

| 1750

| 1752

| rowspan="2" |

| rowspan="2" | Bahir Mustafa Pasha

| rowspan="2" | 1752

| rowspan="2" | 1755

| rowspan="2" |

| rowspan="7" |Osman III 113x113px

|Hekimoğlu Ali Pasha

| 1755

|Naili Abdullah Pasha

| 1755

|

| 1755

| 1755 † '

|96x96px

|Yirmisekizzade Mehmed Said Pasha

| 1755

| 1756

| Bahir Mustafa Pasha

| 1756

| rowspan="2" |

| rowspan="2" | Mehmet Ragıp Pasha

| rowspan="2" | 1757

| rowspan="2" | 1763 † '

| rowspan="2" |

| rowspan="10" |Mustafa III 105x105px

|

| 1763

| Bahir Mustafa Pasha

| 1763

| 1765 † '

|92x92px

|

| 1765

| 1768

|

| 1768

|

| 1768

| 1769 † '

|

| 1769

|İvazzade Halil Pasha

| 1769

| 1770

|

| 1770

| 1771

| rowspan="2" |92x92px

| rowspan="2" |

| rowspan="2" | 1771

| rowspan="2" | 1774 † '

| rowspan="2" |

| rowspan="11" |Abdul Hamid I

98x98px

|İzzet Mehmed Pasha

| 1774

| 1775

|

| 1775

| 1777

|

| 1777

| 1778

|

| 1778

| 1779

|

| 1779

| 1781 † '

|İzzet Mehmed Pasha

| 1781

| 1782

|

| 1782

|103x103px

|Halil Hamid Pasha

| 1782

| 1785 † '

|

| 1785

| 1786

| rowspan="2" |98x98px

| rowspan="2" | Yusuf Pasha

| rowspan="2" | 1786

| rowspan="2" | 1789

| rowspan="2" |

| rowspan="10" |Selim III

122x122px

| Hasan Pasha

| 1789

| 1790

|126x126px

| Hasan Pasha

| 1790

| 1790 † '

|Çelebizade Şerif Hasan Pasha

| 1790

| 1791 † '

|98x98px

| Yusuf Pasha

| 1791

|1792

| Melek Mehmed Pasha

|1792

| 1794

| İzzet Mehmet Pasha

| 1794

| 1798

|75x75px

| Yusuf Ziyaüddin Pasha

| 1798

| 1805

|

| 1805

| 1806

| rowspan="2" |

| rowspan="2" |

| rowspan="2" | 1806

| rowspan="2" | 1807

| rowspan="2" |

| rowspan="2" |Mustafa IV

85x85px

|

| 1807

| 1808

|80x80px

| Mustafa Pasha

| 1808

| 1808 † '

| rowspan="18" |Mahmud II

146x146px

| Memiş Pasha

| 1808

|118x118px

| Ali Pasha

| 1808

| 1809

|75x75px

| Yusuf Ziyaüddin Pasha

| 1809

| 1811

| Aziz Ahmed Pasha

| 1811

| 1812

|105x105px

|Hurşit Ahmed Pasha

| 1812

| 1815

|98x98px

|Mehmed Emin Rauf Pasha

| 1815

| 1818

|

| 1818

| 1820

|

| 1820

| 1821

| Ali Pasha

| 1821

| 1821 † '

|

| 1821

| 1822

| Abdullah Pasha

| 1822

| 1823

|

| 1823

|Mehmed Said Galip Pasha

| 1823

| 1824

|Mehmed Selim Pasha

| 1824

| 1828

|90x90px

| İzzet Mehmed Pasha

| 1828

| 1829

|93x93px

|Reşid Mehmed Pasha

| 1829

| 1833

| rowspan="2" |98x98px

| rowspan="2" |Mehmed Emin Rauf Pasha

| rowspan="2" | 1833

| rowspan="2" | 1839

| rowspan="2" |

| rowspan="2" |Abdulmejid I 95x95px

|84x84px

| Hüsrev Mehmed Pasha

| 1839

! colspan="6" |Proclamation of the Gülhane Edict

Tanzimat (1839–1876)

The Gülhane edict was announced soon after Abdul Mecid's sword girding, ushering in the Tanzimat period, a time of major bureaucratic and administrative reform.

{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible" style="text-align:center; width:95%"

! colspan="2" |Grand Vizier

! colspan="4" |Term of office

! rowspan="2" |Sultan

!Portrait

! Name

! colspan="2" |Took office

!Left office

!Time in office

|84x84px

| Hüsrev Mehmed Pasha

|•

| 1839

| 1841

| rowspan="22" |Abdulmejid I 95x95px

|98x98px

|Mehmed Emin Rauf Pasha

| 1841

|90x90px

| İzzet Mehmed Pasha

| 1841

| 1842

|98x98px

|Mehmed Emin Rauf Pasha

| 1842

| 1846

|86x86px

| Mustafa Reşid Pasha

| 1846

| 1848

|81x81px

|İbrahim Sarim Pasha

|•

| 1848

|86x86px

| Mustafa Reşid Pasha

| 1848

| 1852

|98x98px

|Mehmed Emin Rauf Pasha

| 1852

|86x86px

| Mustafa Reşit Pasha

| 1852

|99x99px

|Mehmed Emin Âli Pasha

| 1852

|86x86px

| Mehmed Ali Pasha

|•

| 1852

| 1853

|84x84px

|Mustafa Naili Pasha

| 1853

| 1854

|96x96px

| Mehmed Emin Pasha

| 1854

|86x86px

| Mustafa Reşid Pasha

| 1854

| 1855

|99x99px

|Mehmed Emin Âli Pasha

| 1855

| 1856

|86x86px

| Mustafa Reşid Pasha

| 1856

| 1857

|84x84px

|Mustafa Naili Pasha

| 1857

|86x86px

| Mustafa Reşid Pasha

| 1857

| 1858 † '

|99x99px

|Mehmed Emin Âli Pasha

| 1858

| 1859

|96x96px

| Mehmed Emin Pasha

| 1859

|88x88px

| Mehmed Rüşdi Pasha

| 1859

| 1860

| rowspan="2" |96x96px

| rowspan="2" | Mehmed Emin Pasha

| rowspan="2" |3

| rowspan="2" | 1860

| rowspan="2" | 1861

| rowspan="2" |

| rowspan="16" |Abdulaziz 82x82px

|99x99px

|Mehmed Emin Âli Pasha

| 1861

|94x94px

|Keçecizade Mehmed Fuad Pasha

| 1861

| 1863

|99x99px

|Yusuf Kamil Pasha

|•

| 1863

|94x94px

|Keçecizade Mehmed Fuad Pasha

| 1863

| 1866

|88x88px

| Mehmed Rüşdi Pasha

| 1866

| 1867

|99x99px

|Mehmed Emin Âli Pasha

| 1867

| 1871 † '

|101x101px

|Mahmud Nedim Pasha

| 1871

| 1872

|96x96px

|Ahmed Şefik Midhat Pasha

| 1872

|88x88px

| Mehmed Rüşdi Pasha

| 1872

| 1873

|84x84px

|Ahmed Esat Pasha

| 1873

|96x96px

|Şirvanizade Mehmed Rüşdi Pasha

|•

| 1873

| 1874

|112x112px

|Hüseyin Avni Pasha

|•

| 1874

| 1875

|84x84px

|Ahmed Esat Pasha

| 1875

| 1875 † '

|101x101px

|Mahmud Nedim Pasha

| 1875

| 1876

| rowspan="3" |88x88px

| rowspan="3" | Mehmed Rüşdi Pasha

| rowspan="3" |4

| rowspan="3" | 1876

| rowspan="3" |

| 1876

|Murad V 96x96px

|Abdul Hamid II 92x92px

! colspan="7" |Promulgation of Constitution

First Constitutional Monarchy (1876–1878)

Under pressure from constitutionalist ministers which overthrew his relatives Abdülaziz and Murad V, Abdülhamid II promulgated a constitution and parliament upon his ascension to the throne.

{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible" style="text-align:center; width:95%"

! colspan="2" |Grand Vizier

! colspan="4" |Term of office

! rowspan="2" |Legislature

! rowspan="2" |Title

! rowspan="2" |Sultan

!Portrait

! Name

! colspan="2" |Took office

!Left office

!Time in office

|- bgcolor="#ffffff"

|96x96px

|Ahmed Şefik Midhat Pasha

| 1876

| 1877

| rowspan="2" |—

|Grand Vizier

| rowspan="6" |Abdul Hamid II 92x92px

| rowspan="3" |87x87px

| rowspan="3" |İbrahim Edhem Pasha

| rowspan="3" |•

| rowspan="3" | 1877

| rowspan="3" | 1878

| rowspan="3" |

| rowspan="3" |Grand Vizier

|- bgcolor="#e5e5e5"

|I (1876)

| rowspan="3" |II (1877)

|- bgcolor="#ffffff"

|82x82px

|Ahmed Hamdi Pasha

|•

| 1878

|Grand Vizier

|- bgcolor="#e5e5e5"

|93x93px

|Ahmed Vefik Pasha

| 1878

| 1878

|Prime Minister

! colspan="9" |Constitution suspended

Hamidian viziers (1878–1908)

Abdul Hamid II suspended the constitution and parliament in the aftermath of the 1877–1878 Russo Turkish war, and ruled the Ottoman Empire for the next three decades in a personal dictatorship. Opposition politicians dubbed this era of Ottoman history as the era of İstibdat (despotism). Abdul Hamid revived the use of the title Başnazır, or Prime Minister, though he eventually settled on his government chiefs being called Sadr-ı Azam, or Grand Vizier.