David Passi

For other people named Halil Pasha, see Halil Pasha (disambiguation).

David Passi (fl. 1560s – fl. 1599), also known as Halil Pasha (Ottoman Turkish: خليل پاشا; Modern Turkish: Halil Paşa), was a Marrano who was Sultan Murad III's favourite, spy, adviser, and confidant.[1] Despite this, Passi was not loyal to any one monarch since he worked as an agent for the Ottoman Empire, England, Venice, and Spain, all at the same time. He later chose to only serve the Ottomans. It was because of the ease of how Jews travelled throughout the Ottoman Empire was Passi and many other Jewish double agents able to remain uncaught for a long time, sometimes never.[2]

David Passi
Kaptan-ı Derya
Pasha
Kapudan Pasha (Admiral)
In office
1595/6 – 1599
Preceded byCığalazade Yusuf Sinan Pasha
Succeeded byCığalazade Yusuf Sinan Pasha
Personal details
Bornfl. 1560s
Portugal or Spain
Diedfl. 1599
Istanbul, Ottoman Empire ?
RelativesMoses Hamon ?
Joseph de Segura ?
OccupationSpy, businessman
  1. ^ Arbel, Benjamin (2010). Stillman, Norman A. (ed.). "Passi, David". Encyclopedia of Jews in the Islamic World. Leiden: Brill: 43.
  2. ^ Burđelez, Ivana (1991). "The role of Ragusan Jews in the history of the Mediterranean countries". Mediterranean Historical Review. 6 (2). Tel Aviv University: Routledge: 194. doi:10.1080/09518969108569622.