IBRAHIM PASHA: A CHRISTIAN HERO IN THE OTTOMAN PALACE

Abstract

The article examines the representation of the Turkish pioneer personage called Ibrahim Pasha (1493–1536) in Elkanah Settle’s “Ibrahim the Illustrious Bassa” (1677). He is known as the Westerner born a Christian, and the favourite to Sultan Soliman the Magnificent (1494–1566) who viciously executed him. But in Settle, the conspiracy to slay Ibrahim failed. The Turkish grand vizier Ibrahim is symbolic in Restoration Age for the terrific abuse of friendship by the Ottoman Sultan. Settle envisages Ibrahim Pasha with admiration for his success as well as his dramatic fate to encounter the Turkish tyranny. The author meticulously portrays the Christian born Ibrahim’s fidelity against the Turkish Soliman’s infidelity. However, Settle articulates his allure in the confrontation between Europe and Turkey in the Ottoman palace of Constantinople to amuse the English audience.

Keywords

• ibrahim pasha
• sultan soliman
• isabella
• christian
• roxolana
• ottoman