An influential family of able administrators who through the office of vizier dominated Ottoman affairs for half a century. Muhammad (1656–61) crushed internal discord and bolstered the war effort against Venice. His son Ahmed (1661–76) ended the conflict successfully, acquiring Crete, and also won Podolia from Poland. Mustafa (1689–91) died in a counter-offensive in the lengthy war (1683–99) against Austria. Hüseyn (1697–1702) ended that conflict by the Peace of Carlowitz (1699), ceding many territories. By their energy the Köprülü had arrested the decay of the empire, but their demise saw it enter its long decline from greatness.