Biography of Rustem Pasha, son-in-law of Roksolany-Khurrem

In the wonderful television series "Magnificent Century" one can not ignore one figure, which played an important role in the fate of the Shah dynasty, as well as the entire Ottoman Empire. This is Rustem Pasha.

On the screen he was portrayed by the brilliant Turkish actor Ozan Güven, who had already starred before in several sensational films: "Balalaika", "Brave Ottomans", "Second Spring" and others. The audience, who watched with faltering heart Rustem Pasha's rapid career, repeatedly raised questions about what was shown in the series - the truth, and what - the creative fiction of the screenwriter?

Childhood and youth

Regarding this period in the life of the future son-in-law of Sultan Suleiman I, historical reality converges with the fictional fantasy in only one. Damat Opukovich was a Croat. He was born in 1500 in Skradin. The rest is true Biography Rustem-Pasha is very different from the one shown on the screen. The documents say nothing about his father-swineherd. Moreover, little Opukovich comes to Istanbul with his brother. Both of them are educated in the court madrasah.

Carier start

The film presents Rustem as a modest groom. The scriptist allows a psychological inconsistency: the noble spirit of the son-in-law Khurrem initially acts as a bandit choosing no means. So, in order to advance on the career ladder, he pruned the girth of a horse, which was circled by the manager of the Sultan's stables.

When he falls, the subordinate, instead of helping his boss, breaks his neck, giving out his death for an accident. The real biography of Rustem Pasha paints us a very different picture. The documents show that in the year of the Battle of Mohács the 26-year-old soldier became a squire, and after that he was appointed manager of the stables.

Service at Hürrem-Haseki-Sultan

This really took place. For devotion in especially difficult times Roksolana tried in every possible way to reward Rustem. His appointment: first governor of Diyarbakir, in 1538 by Anatolia Beylerbey, and a year later Third Vizier - initiated exclusively by the beloved wife of the Sultan. Rustem Pasha's biography and his involvement in the execution of Mustafa's chess team are not in vain. For this, the son-in-law of the Sultan paid disgrace, but soon again was called to the court, as Suleiman I He highly valued his advice in the field of finance.

Marriage on Mikhrim-Sultan

According to Turkish legends, Khurrem issued her only daughter for her protege, just the 12th birthday. And the groom allegedly at that time was over fifty. But the documented date of the wedding details in detail shows another: the newlyweds turned 17 and 39. In this sense, Rustem Pasha's biography is quite truthfully illustrated. But the historical sources keep silent about the feelings they had for each other. Therefore, we can fantasize that the young princess "slyla" by handsome Balibey. By the way, "history with lice" is by no means fiction. The historian Ali Efendi was told about by the same doctor who found the insect (for a find he received a decent reward). After the marriage, Rustem-Vizier had the nickname "Happy Lousy".

Conflicting data

Turkish historians of that era wrote that when Mustafa was executed, the need for Rustem at Hürrem fell away. Allegedly, she "threw back" on him an attempt on the Sultan, because of which the Vizier was executed. What a mysterious person is this Rustem-pasha: the biography, the cause of death and even her year in the popular rumor and sources do not coincide. In fact, the husband of Mikhrim died in 1561, on July 10, from dropsy. His ashes rest in the mosque of Shehzadeh.