From the Ottoman Empire to Lesbos: The Captivating Story of the Sarlıca Family

History sometimes hides in the most unexpected places. A small and modest settlement nestled between the lush hills and the sea of Lesbos Island: Sarlıca Village…

An family migrated from Kütahya and was known as “Kütahyalızâde” took root here. Over time, they took their name from the village they lived in: The Sarlıca Family.

One day, a child born in this small village would rise to the highest office of the Ottoman Empire.

🔹 A Baby in Sarlıca: The Birth of Grand Vizier Hüseyin Hilmi Pasha

In 1855, a child was born in Sarlıca Village: Hüseyin Hilmi.

No one knew that he would one day become the “grand vizier” of the Ottomans. His childhood was spent amidst medrese lessons, mosque courtyards, the scent of the sea, and the business-oriented life of his father, Kütahyalızâde Mustafa Efendi.

Working at the tahrirat office at a young age marked the beginning of a process that would transform him into a disciplined, dignified, and solution-oriented statesman.

🔹 A Statesman from Sarlıca to Rumelia

Hilmi Pasha’s duties quickly spread throughout the empire.

Governorship of Adana

Governorship of Yemen

Inspector of Rumelia

And finally…

In 1909, he became the grand vizier of the Ottoman Empire.

His simple attire, knowledge of French, and diplomatic skills garnered attention even in the European press. He rose to the palace, but in his mind, he always carried the scent of Lesbos and the stone streets of Sarlıca.

🔹 Sarlitza Palace: The Great Legacy Left by the Family on the Island

The famous Sarlitza Palace in the Thermi region is one of the most magnificent structures in Lesbos.

While there are differing opinions about its direct connection to the family, most local sources state that it was built by Hasan Efendi Molla Mustafa, a close relative of Hilmi Pasha.

This thermal hotel, constructed by French architects, was once a frequent stop for both European aristocrats and Ottoman notables.

Today, it stands silently, waiting for restoration, an echo of its former grandeur.

And it still whispers the same surname: Sarlıca.

🔹 Hilmi Pasha’s Last Years

Hilmi Pasha continued his public service as the Ambassador to Vienna.

When he passed away in 1922, he left behind a noble story stretching from Anatolia to the Aegean and then to the Ottoman palace, rather than wealth.

Although their surname may gradually fade, they still resonate in archives, on gravestones, and along the streets of Lesbos:

Kütahyalızâde – Sarlıca Family

🔹 Today in Sarlıca Village

If you find yourself in the Thermi region, you might feel like you hear an old name carried by the wind:

“Sarlıca… Hilmi Pasha…”

On the surface of a stone, on the roof of a ruin, or in a corner of a postcard…

The story of this family continues to live on in the winds of Lesbos.

🔹 This Story is Still Ongoing

About the Sarlıca Family:

• Old deeds

• Foundation records

• Letters

• Photographs

• Archive documents

research is still ongoing.

Perhaps one day, behind a wall in Lesbos or from the family graveyard, these lines will emerge:

“Owner: Kütahyalızâde Mustafa Efendi – Midilli Sarlıca Karyesi”