The commander of the Ottoman fleet, the Kapudan Pasha, held a position of great importance in the Ottoman Empire, second only to that of the Grand Vezir. He held the rank of a Vezir of three Tugs, was a member of the Divan (the ruling imperial council) and was entitled to a Mehter, or military band, of 30 musicians.

At right, the Kapudan Pasha shown in his official dress of four-sleeved green pelice lined with brown fur. The boots and sash on his white cap are yellow.

While primarily a naval of ficer, it was not uncommon for the Kapudan Pasha to personally lead troops on land such as whenGazi Hasan Pasha led troops against the Russians during the War of 1787-92 or when Kuchuk Huseyin Pasha led the land forces cooperating with the British in Egypt in 1801.

To ensure a ready source of both manpower and materials for the fleet, the Kapudan Pasha had direct control of the Archipelago, a term which included numerous islands in the Aegean and Ionian seas and several coastal districts noted for their abundant and high-quality timber.

The largest island in this grouping was Cyprus. Nonisland districts included in the province were Gallipoli in Europe and the districts of Izmid, Kocaeli, Biga and Smyrna in Asia Minor.

The Arsenal

His main base of operations, though, was the Arsenal, the large naval base on the Golden Horn opposite Istanbul.

Describing the Arsenal in Istanbul, a British visitor said:

"The Arsenal itself terminates the long line of docks, warehouses, rope-walks and workshops, appertaining to the Imperial establishment, which extends from Galata for a mile and a half along the lip of the water; and which, in whatever point of view it is considered, must be admitted to be highly creditable to the government.... The vessels which are constructed ... are worthy of the Arsenal from which they emanate, being finely built, and perfectly equipped.... (Above stands) the palace of the Kapudan Pasha, looking more like the remains of an aqueduct than of a dwelling; and forming a long line of arches extremely picturesque in their effect."

The main source of the Kapudan Pasha's strength came from the approximately 40,000 naval officers, men and Marines under his direct command. Also under the command of the Kapudan Pasha was a small force of harbor police in Istanbul.

After the Janissaries, the navy constituted the main military force in and around the capital. The plotters seeking to overthrow Sultan Selim waited until the fleet had sailed off to fight the Russians before risking their uprising in 1807, and it was primarily the actions of the navy which saved Sultan Mahmud II from being overthrown in the second Janissary uprising in 1808.

Kapudan Pasha - (Lord Captain) also Kaptain, Kaptan, Capudan, Kapudan-i Derya, Qapudan Pasa.