KARA MUSTAFA PASA, MERZIFONLU

born 1634, Merzifon, Ottoman Empire [now in Turkey] died Dec. 25, 1683, Belgrade, Serbia Ottoman grand vizier (chief minister) in 167683, who in 1683 led an unsuccessful Ottoman siege of Vienna. During the grand vizierate (166176) of his brother-in-law Kprl Fazil Ahmed Pasa, Kara Mustafa Pasa served as captain of the fleet, vizier in the State Council, and deputy grand vizier. Succeeding Fazil Ahmed Pasa as grand vizier, he led unsuccessful campaigns against Poland and then Russia. Meanwhile, a Hungarian revolt against Habsburg rule in 1678 allowed Kara Mustafa Pasa to move against Austria. The Ottoman army, under his command, laid siege to Vienna (July 17Sept. 12, 1683) but was defeated by the Austrian-Polish army under John III Sobieski, king of Poland. Kara Mustafa Pasa was beheaded at Belgrade that same year on orders from the sultan, and his head was brought to the sultan on a silver dish.