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Mehmed Köprülü (1575/1578/1583 – October 31, 1661) was the Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire from 1656 until his death. He was also the founder of the Köprülü noble family.
He was born in Rojnik, near Berat in Albania. He was recruited as a part of the devshirmeh system and was trained in the palace school. He eventually rose to the rank of governor (beylerbey) of the Province of Trebizond in 1644. His rule was extended to include Eğri in 1647, Karamanid in 1648, and Anadolu in 1650. He served as vizier of the divan for one week in 1652 before being dismissed due to the constant power struggle within the palace. He retired to an estate in the small town of Köprü in northern Anatolia which he inherited from his father-in-law. Köprü became the seat of his family, that went under the name Köprülü, meaning 'from Köprü'.
He was appointed Grand Vizier by Sultan Mehmed IV in 1656 and were given the title pasha. As the Grand Vizier, Mehmed Köprülü was very successful. The victory against Venice in the Battle of the Dardanelles on July 19, 1657 allowed him to regain some of the Aegean islands, including Bozcaada (Tenedos in Greek; September 4) and Lemnos (November 15).
In 1658 he made a successful campaign in Transylvania where he defeated the illoyal vassal prince, George II Rákóczi (György Rákóczi), and had him replaced. He also annexed Yanova (Jenö) on August 1, 1660 and Várad on August 27. From 1670 to 1674, Mehmed campaigned in Poland, and at one point the Ottoman rule was close to extending into Podolia and Ukraine. Mehmed also crushed several rebellions, most notably the revolt of Abaza Hasan, the ruler of Aleppo, in 1658–1659.
When Mehmed died in Edirne on October 31, 1661, the Empire had regained some of its former prestige and power. Mehmed's victories in Transylvania would push the Ottoman border closer to the Austrian, however, and this would prove to be fatal. He was succeeded as Grand Vizier by his son, Ahmed Köprülü.