Hersekzade or Hersekli Ahmed Pasha ("Ahmed Pasha, son of the Herzog"; Serbo-Croatian: Ahmed-paša Hercegović; Aхмед-паша Херцеговић; 1456 – 21 July 1517), born as Stjepan Hercegović, was an Ottoman Bosnian general and five-times grand vizier of the Ottoman Empire.
He was the youngest son of the Herceg Stjepan Vukčić. Between late 1473 and early 1474 he departed from Novi (today Herceg Novi) to Constantinople, where he adopted Islam along with the peculiar way of life of the Ottoman court, which made possible his advancement through the Ottoman government and military ranks, eventually occupying top offices of the Empire's government and military as a statesman and navy's grand admiral.
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Early life
Stjepan was born into the Kosača family in 1456. He was the third and youngest son of Herceg Stjepan Vukčić, at the time the most powerful Bosnian noblemen. Stjepan's half-siblings from his father's first marriage included Queen Katarina, wife of King Stjepan Tomaš, Vladislav Hercegović, and Vlatko Hercegović, their father's successor. Stjepan's family belonged to the Bosnian Church, but were "shaky Christians" like most of their countrymen. His half-sister, Catherine, converted to Roman Catholicism upon marriage and became pious follower of the church.
Stjepan himself left Novi and departed for Constantinople in early 1474, at the latest, where he adopted Islam and changed his name to Ahmed.
Career
After settling in Constantinople at Bayezid II's court, he assumed various high offices, and after marrying Bayezid II's daughter, Hundi Sultan, he reached the very top of the empire's government and military in a 40-year long career. Hersekli Ahmed Pasha was a five-time Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire and Grand Admiral to the sultan, serving five times as Grand Vizier between 1497 and 1515. He died on 21 July 1517 of natural causes, toward the end of the reign of Selim I.
Family
He married Hundi Sultan, a daughter of Sultan Bayezid II by his concubine Bülbül Hatun, in 1484. They had two sons and four daughters:
Sultanzade Musa Bey
Sultanzade Mustafa Bey
Kamerşah Hanımsultan
Hümaşah Hanımsultan
Aynışah Hanimsultan
Mahdümzade Hanimsultan