A Study on the Candarlı Family of the Ottoman Empire

Studies on the remarkable expansion of the Ottoman Empire have primarily focused on the achievements of its rulers. Consequently, analyses of bureaucrats and influential families who assisted the sovereigns in governing the state remain insufficient. Therefore, this study aims to examine the role played by the Çandarlı family, which was active during the formative period of the Ottoman Empire. The Çandarlı family was a Turkish noble lineage that, across several generations, held the offices of vizier and grand vizier during the Empire’s transition from a principality to a centralized imperial state. They reformed, developed, and administered the Ottoman government. Particularly during the Interregnum that followed the death of Bayezid I, they actively intervened in the struggle for succession to prevent the fragmentation of the Empire, exerting political influence as “kingmakers.” However, over time, their authority grew to the point of threatening the sovereignty of the ruler. In response, following the conquest of Constantinople in 1453, Mehmed II executed Çandarlı Halil Pasha and reestablished absolute sultanic authority. The execution led to the downfall of the Çandarlı family and the reconfiguration of the imperial power structure. By examining the Çandarlı family, this study seeks to provide a more multidimensional understanding of state formation and power structures in the Ottoman Empire. It further anticipates the expansion of research that re-evaluates the roles of bureaucratic elites and noble families beyond the rulers in the political history of the Ottomans.