Ferhad Pasha Sokolović

Ferhad Pasha Sokolović (Gazi Ferhad-paša Sokolović) (died 1586) was an Ottoman general and statesman from Bosnia and Herzegovina of Bosnian origin.

Biography
Ferhad Pasha was born into the famous Bosnian family, which among others, also gave the Ottoman Grand Vizier Mehmed Pasha Sokolović. Ferhad Pasha was governor of the sanjak of Klis between 1566 and 1574. Then he moved back to Bosnia, and was one of the founding fathers of Banja Luka, the second largest city in modern Bosnia and Herzegovina. There, he built over 200 buildings ranging from artisan and sales shops to wheat warehouses, baths and mosques. Among more important commissions were the Ferhadija and Arnaudija mosques during which construction a plumbing infrastructure was laid that served surrounding residential areas.

Siege of Gvozdansko
Ferhad Pasha Sokolović with 10,000 soldiers organized three major assaults and tried to take Gvozdansko Castle in the Kingdom of Croatia in the Habsburg Monarchy. Finally, when the Ottomans entered the castle gates, all the defending forces were already dead of wounds, hunger and cold. The Siege of Gvozdansko ended with an Ottoman victory on 13 January 1578. Ferhat Pasha was so moved by their bravery that they were conceded a Christian burial and the local population freed from taxes.