Lala Mustafa Pasha

Lala Kara Mustafa Pasha (Lala Mustafa Pasha) (c. 1500 – 7 August 1580) was an Ottoman general and Grand Vizier from the Sanjak of Bosnia.

Life
He was born around 1500, apparently near the Glasinac Plateau in Bosnia, as the younger brother of Deli Husrev Pasha, who apparently helped him rise through the system's ranks more quickly.

Mustafa Pasha briefly served as kaymakam (acting governor) of Egypt Eyalet in 1549. He had risen to the position of Beylerbeyi of Damascus and then to that of Fifth Vizier. He commanded the Ottoman land forces during the conquest of previously Venetian Cyprus in 1570/71, and in the campaign against Georgia and Persia in 1578. In the final three months of his life, he was Grand Vizier from 28 April 1580 until his death.

It is notable that he was the tutor of Sultan Suleyman's son, Şehzade Bayezid. Apparently, he was in agreement with Bayezid's decision to rebel against his father, although he didn't openly support him in a financial or military way. He also had a long-standing feud with his cousin, Sokollu Mehmed Pasha.

The honorific "Lala" means "tutor to the Sultan"; he had been tutor to the Sultan's sons. Mustafa was known for his cruelty towards vanquished opponents, a reputation that was amply borne out by his treatment of Marco Antonio Bragadin, the Venetian defender of Famagusta, whom he had skinned alive.

He is buried in the courtyard of the Ayub Mosque in Istanbul. His tomb was designed by Ottoman architect Sinan.

Legacy
He has a street named after him in cities including Larnaca, Cyprus.