Hocazade Esad Efendi


Hocazade Esad Efendi was a Şeyhülislam of the Ottoman Empire from 1615 to 1622, and again in 1623 until his death in 1625.

Early life

Hocazade Esad Efendi was born in Istanbul, on 14 June 1570. He was the second son of Hoca Sadeddin Efendi. He had four brothers, Mehmed Efendi, Mesud Efendi, Abdülaziz Efendi, Salih Efendi. He was educated by his father and famous scholar Molla Tevfik Gialni.

Career

At first he attended the place as an apprentice officer, later in 1588, he took haseki rank and became the personal bodyguard of the Sultan. In 1590, he was designated to Süleymaniye School and in July, 1593 Darulhadise .
Later, he became the kadi  of Edirne by the time of Eğri campaign in 1596.
He was promoted in a short time, by his father’s influence in the Palace and he was designated to the Kazasker rank. After his father became the Şeyhülislam, he became the kadi of Istanbul.
Yemişçi Hasan Pasha was an ally of Esad Efendi and his elder brother Mehmed. However, in January 1603 he was dismissed from the position following the Jelali revolts.
On 2 July 1615, he replaced his elder brother Mehmed Efendi after his death, and became the Şeyhülislam, minister of Islamic Issues. On 21 May 1622, he resigned from the position. However, on 4 October 1623, he was reappointed to the position until his death in 1625.

Family

Esad Efendi was married to the daughter of Bostanzâde Mehmed Efendi, who had served as the chief mufti under Sultan Murad III, and his son Sultan Mehmed III. He had three sons named Ebusaid Mehmed Efendi, who also served as a Şeyhülislam, Arif Mehmed Efendi, and Ebussuud Efendi, and a daughter named Akile Hatun, who was married firstly to Sultan Osman II in March 1622, and after his death in May 1622, to Ganizade Nadiri Efendi.

Death

Esad Efendi died on 22 May 1625, and was buried beside his father in Eyüp Cemetery, Istanbul.

In popular culture

In 2015 Turkish historical non-fiction TV series
, Esad Efendi is portrayed by Turkish actor Halil Kumova.