# Serasker

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{{Short description|Ottoman Empire military rank}}
{{Italic title}}
{{wikt | seraskier}}
[[File:Mehmed Riza Pasha.jpg|thumb|''Serasker'' [Mehmed Riza Pasha](/source/Mehmed_Riza_Pasha) (1899)]]
'''''Serasker''''', or '''''seraskier''''' ({{langx|ota|سرعسكر}}; {{IPA|tr|ˈseɾaskeɾ}}), is a title formerly used in the [Ottoman Empire](/source/Ottoman_Empire) for a [vizier](/source/vizier) who commanded an army.

Following the [suppression](/source/Auspicious_Incident) of the [Janissaries](/source/Janissaries) in 1826, Sultan [Mahmud II](/source/Mahmud_II) transferred the functions of the old [Agha of the Janissaries](/source/Agha_of_the_Janissaries) to the ''serasker''. The latter now became a distinct office at the head of the Ottoman military, combining the functions of a [commander-in-chief](/source/commander-in-chief) and a [minister of war](/source/minister_of_war).<ref name="EI2">{{cite encyclopedia | title = Bāb-i Serʿaskeri | first = Bernard | last = Lewis | authorlink = Bernard Lewis | encyclopedia = The Encyclopedia of Islam, New Edition, Volume I: A–B | publisher = BRILL | location = Leiden and New York | year = 1986 | isbn = 90-04-08114-3 | page = 838 | url = http://referenceworks.brillonline.com/entries/encyclopaedia-of-islam-2/bab-i-seraskeri-SIM_0972 }}</ref>  He also took over the Janissary Agha's former duties regarding the upkeep of order in [Istanbul](/source/Istanbul). Indeed, as the police system developed and expanded with the empire's progressive centralization, it became one of the main duties of the ''serasker'' until 1845, when policing became a separate agency.<ref name="EI2"/>

The seat of the ''serasker'' and his department (''bab-i seraskeri'', or ''serasker kapısı''—"Gate of the ''serasker''") initially was in the [Eski Saray](/source/Eski_Saray), but these functions transferred to dedicated buildings in 1865. In 1879 the office was renamed to the [Ministry of War](/source/Ministry_of_War_(Ottoman_Empire)) (''Harbiye Nezareti'') until 1890, when it reverted to its old name; it was finally renamed again to Ministry of War in 1908.<ref name="EI2"/>

Notable ''seraskers'' included:
* Admiral [Koca Hüsrev Mehmed Pasha](/source/Koca_H%C3%BCsrev_Mehmed_Pasha) (1769–1855) 
* [Lala Mustafa Pasha](/source/Lala_Mustafa_Pasha) ({{circa}} 1500 – 1580)
* [Mehmed Namık Pasha](/source/Mehmed_Nam%C4%B1k_Pasha)<ref>Sinaplı, Ahmet Nuri. "Şeyhül Vüzera, Serasker Mehmet Namık Paşa". İstanbul: Yenilik Basımevi, 1987.</ref> (1804-1892)
* [Pargalı Ibrahim Pasha](/source/Pargal%C4%B1_Ibrahim_Pasha) ({{circa}} 1495 – 1536)
* [Damat Rüstem Pasha](/source/R%C3%BCstem_Pasha) ({{circa}} 1500 – 1561) 
* [Mehmed Riza Pasha](/source/Mehmed_Riza_Pasha) (1844–1920)

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

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Category:Government of the Ottoman Empire
Category:Military ranks of the Ottoman Empire

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Serasker](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serasker) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serasker?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.