Öküz Mehmed Pasha

Öküz · Kara · Kul Kıran · Damat
Mehmed
Statue of Öküz Mehmed Pasha in Kuşadası next to the caravanserai named after him.
Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire
In office
18 January 1619  23 December 1619
MonarchOsman II
Preceded byDamat Halil Pasha
Succeeded byGüzelce Ali Pasha
In office
17 October 1614  17 November 1616
MonarchAhmed I
Preceded byNasuh Pasha
Succeeded byDamat Halil Pasha
Ottoman Governor of Egypt
In office
1607–1611
MonarchAhmed I
Preceded byYemenli Hasan Pasha
Succeeded bySofu Mehmed Pasha
Personal details
BornIstanbul, Ottoman Empire
Died1621
Aleppo, Ottoman Empire
NationalityOttoman
Spouse
(m. 1612)
ChildrenSultanzade Fülan Bey
Military service
AllegianceOttoman Army
RankSilahdar

"Öküz" Mehmed Pasha ("Mehmed Pasha the Ox"), also known as Kara Mehmed Pasha ("the Black") or "Kul Kıran" Mehmed Pasha ("the Disciple-breaker"), was an Ottoman Turkish statesman, administrator, and military figure of the early 17th century. He served as Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire twice: October 17, 1614 – November 17, 1616 (during the reign of Sultan Ahmed I), and January 18, 1619 – December 23, 1619 (during the reign of Osman II). He also served as the Ottoman governor of Egypt from 1607 to 1611.

Öküz Mehmed's nickname, "Kul Kiran" (disciple-breaker), came from his success in crushing the mutiny in Egypt during the early 1600s. Soldiers were often known as a kul, meaning disciple or acolyte in the Ottoman military context.