The new Turkish historical series The Magnificent Century stirred up a wave of unprecedented interest in the history of the Ottoman Empire (modern Turkey). To a large extent this was facilitated by the magnificent work of the decorators, costumers, actors and cameramen involved in this film. The harem of Sultan Suleiman I appears before the viewer in the image of a Garden of Eden, full of fabulous birds - the concubines of the Sultan. But behind the external beauty and harmony lies the full life of intrigues and dangers of the life of a female team fighting for the location of one man.
Not the last role in the "harem intrigues" is played by the sultan's vizier - Rustem Pasha. In the series, he is played by Turkish actor Ozan Gyuven. Who was Rustem Pasha? The biography of this prominent statesman is full of events and in itself is worthy of an adaptation.
Rustem Pasha (1500–1561) is a Croatian by nationality, but as a child he got to Istanbul with his brother. There is a version that he was a slave, but then it remains a mystery how he managed to get an education in a madrasah (Muslim secondary and higher school) at the palace. And he received it.
Then graduate Rustem Pasha went to war. His biography was replenished with a series of career ups in this field. As a result, he went from a squire to the head of the stables of the Sultan, and then became the staple of Suleiman I himself (an extremely honorable post).
Upon returning to peaceful life, Rustem Pasha, whose biography can serve as an excellent example of the “Turkish dream,” became governor, then the Third Vizier of Suleiman I and a member of Divan (the “government” under the Sultan).
In 1539, Rustem married the only daughter of the Sultan and his wife Alexandra Anastasia Lisowska - Mirimakh Sultan. And after 5 years he took the post of Great Vizier, that is, the chief adviser to the Sultan Suleiman. Not bad for a person from nowhere, is it?
And the child understands that you need to have outstanding qualities in order to complete such a take-off. Contemporaries note that Rustem Pasha (the biography of the Great Vizier is noted by references to this) was smart, perceptive, restrained and recklessly devoted to his ruler.
Of course, such a track record could not go unnoticed by enemies. Unrest was raised on unfounded charges, and the Sultan removed Rustem Pasha from the post of Great Vizier for two years. After everything had calmed down, the latter again took the same place. Suleiman I highly appreciated the financial and diplomatic abilities of his son-in-law and always relied on his opinion in resolving relevant issues.
This outstanding statesman lived to be 61 years old, after which he died of dropsy in abundance and respect. Such is the real life story of a man named Rustem Pasha. A biography, a photo of him (more precisely, the actor who embodied the historical image on the screen) is contained in our article.
In the series, Rustem Pasha is represented by the henchman Alexandra Anastasia Lisowska Sultan (wife of the Sultan) and the performer of her evil will. He took part in a conspiracy against Mustafa, as a result of which the latter was executed. After Rustem himself turned out to be "waste material", he was also executed right in the palace.
This is how the life of the Great Vizier and Rustem Pasha himself (biography) appear before the audience. The actor who played this role, Ozav Güven, is well known in Turkey for his work in TV shows and films.
He was born in West Berlin in 1975, then studied at the National Conservatory at the University of Istanbul, in the modern dance department. He was married to the Turkish actress Turkan Deray, but in 2010 their marriage broke up.
Ozav Guven starred in several TV shows and movies. For his role in the film "Balalaika", released in 2000, received critical acclaim and spectators. But the actor brought the world success to the role of Rustem Pasha in the series "The Magnificent Century."