The City of Countless Names- Heads of State

The Sultan

In theory, the Sultan Abdulmejid rules the Ottoman Empire (like all Ottoman sultans before him) as an absolute monarch, responsible to no one but the Heavenly Host and the faith of the Nithamiyeen. In reality, Ottoman sultans have been deposed 11 times, since the start of their dynasty, and the combined power of the religious authorities, military establishment, and provincial rulers scattered through the empire, kept most Sultans in line. Because of the reforms and “disruptions” during Mahmud II’s reign, his son, Abdulmejid has more power and responsibility than an Ottoman Sultan has had in a long time. The Sultan (or Padishah, as the Turks call him) resides at Topkapu Palace, although he spends every spare moment checking the progress on the construction of his new palace in Beshiktash.

After the Sultan, the two most powerful men in the Ottoman Empire are his closest advisors: the Grand Vizier and the Grand Mufti.

The Grand Vizier

The Grand Vizier handles affairs of state, and directs the governance of the empire, turning the Sultan’s will into action (much like a Prime Minister). While some Grand Viziers acted as the real power behind the throne, the current Grand Vizier, Mehmed Emin Ali Pasha, believes in the modern reforms of the Sultan. In 1854, Mehmed Emin Ali came out of retirement to guide his Sultan through the War with Russia and the unrest in the Empire. The Grand Vizier keeps office in the palace known as the Sublime Port. 

The Grand Mufti 
Because the Ottoman Empire bases its laws and governance on the six pillars of the Nithamiyeen, the Grand Mufti, Meşrepzade Mehmet Arif Efendi, is the highest judicial authority. As the Sultan’s appointed ruler of all religious institutions, the Grand Mufti also holds a great deal of power over magical practices. Most practitioners in the Ottoman Empire are Turkish clergy or dervishes, and until the reforms of 1853 only followers of the Nithamiyeen faith could learn Thaumaturgy.

 Ministers 
The Council of Ministers meets in the in the Sublime Port. Other members of the council include the Grand Mufti, (lead by the Grand Vizier), and the Ministers of the Empire. They meet to coordinate their governance, to advise the Sultan and to implement his will. As any group of powerful men, infighting and the political maneuvering of its members plagues the Council of Ministers.  Among the Ministers are:
 

The Serasker Pasha or Minster of War, Hasan Rıza Pasha, commander of the Ottoman Army (possibly the fourth most powerful man in the Empire)

The Topdji Pasha or Master of Artillery, commander of the Empire’s fortresses and the artillery

The Capitan Pasha or Minister of Marine, admiral of the Ottoman Navy, and governor of a few Islands in the Aegean Sea

The Sader Azam Musteyshari or Minister of Interior, a close advisor to the Grand Vizier

The Hariciye Nezareti or Minister for Foreign Affairs,  a role of growing importance in a time of war

The Cavus Basi, or Minister of Justice, responsible for implementing and enforcing the Empire’s laws

Kadis

Most local governing falls to the Kadis, local judges in charge of towns, villages, and suburbs. In addition to their judicial responsibilities, Kadis collect taxes, conscript soldiers for the army, serve as notaries, and keep official records (such as marriages, births, property ownership etc.). They rule with some autonomy, but require higher authority (such as a governor) to implement their judgments. The Sublime port can remove a Kadi from power just as easily as it can appoint one.

Pashas and Beys

The title Pasha is an honorific bestowed by the Sultan (similar in prestige to the British knighthood) showing a high rank in the Ottoman hierarchy. Governors, ministers, military leaders, members of the Sultan’s family, influential friends of the Sultan, and even foreign dignitaries could be pashas. The only persons ineligible to the title were religious leaders.  The title comes after the owner’s name, (such as the Grand Vizier, Mehmed Emin Ali Pasha).

Pashas became a catch all term for the Empire’s higher orders, usually with great power and prestige. While many of the Pashas under Sultan Abdulmejid are honorable, in many eyes pashas have a reputation as a dishonorably corrupt class of wealthy criminals. Some pashas embezzle the government funds entrusted to them, work with corrupt Kadis to throw business rivals in jail, or pocket a portion of their subordinate’s wages. While the Sultan’s reforms limit the thier opportunities to misuse their authority, such activity runs rampant in the military, economic, and civic administrations.

A little lower in rank is the title “Bey”. Although, it originally referred to tribal chieftains, the title now belongs to the lieutenants, or subordinates, or sons of a Pasha. Bey can also be used as an honorific when talking to a person of higher standing, much like “mister” or “sir”.  Like Pasha, Bey always follows the owner’s name.