An Ayan Family in the 18th Century: Hasançavuşzâdeler

One of the most significant outcomes of administrative and fiscal changes in the Ottoman Empire during the 17th and 18th centuries was the inclusion of the local notables known as âyân into the provincial administrative system. This group gained power and wealth and became involved in various milita...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Mehmet Yaşar Ertaş, Hacer Kılıçaslan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Istanbul University Press 2024-08-01
Series:Tarih Dergisi
Subjects:
Online Access:https://cdn.istanbul.edu.tr/file/JTA6CLJ8T5/1141BF194A6F48E58835758B9788D512
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Summary:One of the most significant outcomes of administrative and fiscal changes in the Ottoman Empire during the 17th and 18th centuries was the inclusion of the local notables known as âyân into the provincial administrative system. This group gained power and wealth and became involved in various military and administrative roles in the provinces, becoming partners of the government from the 17th century onwards. During this period, prominent families such as the Karaosmanoğulları, Çapanoğulları, Caniklizâdeler, and Pazvandoğulları wielded extensive power, while numerous smaller-scale households also asserted authority within districts and sub-districts. Among these, the Hasançavuşzâdes dominated the sancak (sub-province) of Menteşe throughout the 18th century. This article narrates the century-long story of this family, which emerged in Köyceğiz during a period of continued economic and social crisis following the 1683-1699 wars, and rapidly ascended to indispensable power in Menteşe through positions such as subaşı, serdengeçti ağası, yeniçeri serdarı and mütesellim. The chronological analysis based on Ottoman archival sources reveals the factors that enhanced the family’s military, political, and economic influence, the roles they undertook, their territorial expansion and involvement in regional competition, and their relations with the central government.
ISSN:2619-9505