Mehmed Nafiz Paşa

Born in Kastamonu in 1240 in the Hijri calendar (1824-1825), Mehmed Nafiz Paşa was the son of Kelekzâde Ahmed Ağa. After attending the primary school, he studied at the Military Academy and learned Arabic and French in addition to Turkish official writing.

Nafiz Paşa began his military career in 1850 as a cavalry lieutenant and over time rose to the ranks of miralay, or colonel, and ferik, or staff lieutenant general. In the Fifth Army, he held posts such as Musul kol ağalığı, command of the Bâb-ı Askerî, and governor of Ammâre sanjak, and was later appointed commander of the Necid army.

One of the most important events that brought Mehmed Nafiz Paşa’s name to prominence was the Ahsa/Necid expedition carried out in 1871 during Midhat Paşa’s governorship of Baghdad. Commanding the Ottoman forces sent from Basra, Nafiz Paşa restored Ottoman administration in Ahsa and its surroundings despite harsh conditions such as hunger and disease. For the courage he showed in this campaign, he was rewarded with a valuable sword.

Nafiz Paşa’s duty was not limited to military operations; after the campaign, he also became the first governor of the newly established Necid/Lahsa sanjak.

Mehmed Nafiz Paşa, whose final post was President of the Muhakemat, died on 12 Rabi al-Akhir 1312 (13 October 1894). His body was covered with the Ottoman banner and buried in the Fatih Mosque Cemetery.