Köprülü family

The Köprülü family (Turkish: Köprülü ailesi, pronounced [ˈcœp.ɾy.ly], Albanian: Kypriljoti or Qypërli) was a noble family of Albanian origin in the Ottoman Empire. The family hailed from the town of Roshnik (near Berat) in the Sanjak of Vlora and provided six Grand Viziers of the Ottoman Empire (including Kara Mustafa Pasha, who was adopted), with several others becoming high-ranking officers. The era during which these grand viziers served is known as the Köprülü era of the Ottoman Empire. They were historically the most influential family in the Ottoman Empire after the House of Osman.

Another notable member of the family was Köprülü Abdullah Pasha (1684–1735), who was a general in Ottoman-Persian wars of his time and acted as the governor in several provinces of the empire. Modern descendants include Mehmet Fuat Köprülü, a prominent historian of Turkish literature. Members of the family continue to live in Turkey, the Maghreb, and the United States.

In his novel The Palace of Dreams, Albanian author Ismail Kadare offers a reflection on power, politics, and family dynamics, drawing inspiration from various elements of Ottoman history, including the powerful Köprülü family. The novel explores the intertwining of personal ambition and state affairs, which resonates with the legacy of the Köprülü grand viziers who played a pivotal role in shaping the Ottoman Empire.