An Inventory of Ottoman Sultans' Farmans and Correspondences of Algeria’S Pashas in the Ottoman Period (Sea and Trade 1516-1830)

An inventory of Ottoman Sultans' Farmans and correspondences of Algeria’s Pashas in the Ottoman period (Sea and Trade 1516-1830)

Dr. Leila Kheirani Associate Professor (Doçent) University of Algiers 2

The Algerian National Library keeps an abundant number of documents that belong to the Ottoman period. However, a lot of these documents were lost and stolen in the Colonial period. The remained documents are considered as a real cabinet to preserve the Algerian society heritage and memory. They include: Treaties, Internal Correspondences between local administrators and External Correspondences such as mutual letters between “The Sublime Door” and the intermediates of Algeria in the Ottoman and European regencies as well as kings of Europe and their ministers.

In this paper we will define 32 documents we found in the series number 3190 in the archives of the National Library most of which are correspondences sent to Pasha of Algeria from “The Sublime Door” and their Intermediates. These documents dated between (1748- 1830) and most of them belong to the period of Dey Hussein Pasha who was the last Dey in Algeria in that period. All these documents were translated into Arabic, and were composed by Ottoman people who used to work in the Ottoman government in Algeria. The documents were written in Maghrebi script mixed with Ottoman Language, some of them were translated into French. Hence, we noticed in these documents the relationship between “The Sublime Door” as the Centre of the State and Algeria as a Regency of the Ottoman State in the Maritime and Trade sides. Moreover, there were many Sultans’ Farmans. 1 We also found these documents in the scientific index introduced by Pr. Dr. Khelifa

1 - For Ottoa docuets’ defiitio see : خليفة حماش، كشاف ثائق تاريخ الجزائر في العد العثماني بالمكتبتين الطنيتين الجزائرية التنسية، نميديا للطباعة النشر التزيع، الجزائر، ، ص ص - 5.

Hammache in the National Library inventory of the Ottoman documents in his book 2 “the inventory of Algerian history documents in the Ottoman period” .

Therefore, what did these documents contain? Did they have any links with Trade Sea? Who were their parties? And what were the goods the two parties used to exchange?

1- Documents of “Hatt-Humayun” in the National Archives centre of Algeria:

We mean by these documents the Sultans’ orders and instructions that the Pashas of Algeria received, including the topics that dealt with sea and trade between the two countries. As well as their original copies written in Ottoman language and the Arabic version translated by Dr. Ahmad Tawfik Al-madani and Dr. Fikri Tona. Therefore, this translation facilitated the selection of the documents and how to look for the ones we need for our research.

 Document one: It was in the period of Mahmud 2nd Sultan and Omer Pasha in Algeria in 1230 H. it contains an envoy from Algeria informing the Sultan that the country was living in security and luxury and they are ready to both send a gift to the Sultan and reconcile with the Flamink.

 Documents two: It was in the period of Abdulhamid 1st Sultan and Mahmud Ibn Othman Pasha in 1203 H. A gift sent to Pasha of Algeria with Mashafs( Quran Books) and objects for charity.

2 - Pr.Dr. Hammache book is considered as a main reference through which the researcher is able to set an inventory of the Ottoman documents that the National Library of Algeria possesses. Therefore, it is an index where Pr.Dr. Hammache classified all the documents with their originals and their copies translated into Arabic or French, he then kept their numbers and gave them titles to help the researchers find the topic they would like to treat.

 Document three: It was in the period of Mahmud 2nd Sultan and Hussein Pasha of Algiers. Algeria sent 10 pieces of the Algerian navy with an English Admiral and a French captain.

 Document four: In the period of Mahmud 2nd Sultan and Hussein Pasha in 1246 H, a letter informing the status of the single Turk soldiers who were sent back to Turkey after the French colonisation of Algeria.

 Documents five:

In the period of Mahmud 2nd Sultan and Hussein Pasha in 1240 H, a letter from Hussein Pasha informing the imminent arrival of the Algerian Navy and to thank the Sultan about the nomination and the goods.

2- Different documents from the National library of Algeria :

 Document one:  A letter from Haj Khalil Mufti of Algeria in Izmir to Hussein Pasha, asking for his help to repair some taps because they were not working and water was cut off. He also reminded him of the good reward he would receive and the good deeds he would be praised for.

 Document two:  A letter from Ahji Pasha Haj Hussein the intermediate of Waqf in Algeria to the Dey of Algeria, informing him that he hired a ship from The French in order to carry a number of volunteer soldiers to Algeria, there were 50 soldiers and he paid 4 thousand Doro. He also informed him that the cost was very expensive. Therefore, he did not find another choice and no one could ensure the safety of the Ottoman soldiers except this French Captain.

 Document three:  A letter from Mohamed Kabodan Deria to Ahmed Pasha informing him with the designation of Mustapha Agha Pashi as a Khaznadar (the Treasurer), and sending him the symbols of Algeria: a Kuftan and a Faraman.

 Document four:  A letter from Selim Tabit Afendi “The Sublime Door” intermediate of Waqf in Algeria to Hussein Pasha, informing him that “The Sublime Door” agreed on his order to send the bricks needed for constructing the House of War Industry in Algeria (House of Copper). As well as sending a specialized engineer in order to manage it, they also need other 20 thousand pieces of bricks to build the oven.

 He gave a permission to mobilize 70 volunteer soldiers.

 He commanded to respect the Algerians who visit their relatives in the Ottoman Regencies and perform Haj (go on pilgrimage).

 He ordered the exemption of Algerians from customs at ports and commanded not to open and ransack their boxes.

 Document five:  A Farman letter from the Director of the War Industry House in Istanbul to Hussein Pasha, informing him that “The Sublime Door” designated Mahmoud Afandi who is specialized in war industry in order to send him to Algeria. At the request of the Dey and also asked Hussein Pasha to look after him.

 Document six:  Same letter confirming his recommendation for looking after the engineer in Algeria.

 Document seven:  A letter from Selim Mohamed one of the employees of “The Sublime Door” to Hussein Pasha about his request to send him 20 thousand pieces of bricks in order to construct the War Industry House in Algeria (build an oven in the cooper house) and designate a specialized engineer to manage it. It also contained the mobilization of new volunteer soldiers in Algeria.

 Document eight:  A letter from Mister Hussein In Istanbul to the responsible of Horses in Algeria Mustapha asking him to send some personal things such as food and tools for writing, a piece of furniture, a box with copper in it, a big Tray, 4 pieces of confection, 2 jars of jam, 1 candy, 1 mortar, 100 kg of Pomegranate, a bag or a big plate filled with dried Buffalo horns and an inkwell.

 Document nine:  A letter from Mister Hussein in one of the Ottoman regencies to Hassan Pasha saying that he received the Gift sent to him by the Pasha which is pistol of gold, as well as informing him that intermediates in Algeria could ask for his help in any matters.  Document ten:  A letter from Bey Hussein a housekeeperin Izmir to the Dey of Algeria Hussein Pasha, informing him that he received wheat from the ship coming from Algeria to Izmir. He also informed him that it is impossible to sell wheat with 10 Kurus for one measurement because a big part of this wheat was gone off and there is still wheat in city. Therefore, he asked him to reduce the price to sell it.

 Haj Khalil Mufti Algeria went to Bayndar to visit Ahmed Bey in order to buy Silk.

 Document eleven:  Letters from Haj Hussein in Izmir to Hussein Pasha, asking him for finance help from the Dey of Algeria in order to visit the regency.

 Document twelve:  A letter from Haj Khelil Mufti Algeria to Hussein Pasha, informing him with the corruption of Haj the former treasurer when dealing with trade accounts. As well as the benefits and privileges he used to have such as exempting from customs.

 Document thirteen:  A letter from Haj Khelil Mufti of Algeria in Izmir to Hussein Pasha, informing him with the existence of foodstuffs coming from Egypt to Istanbul and the shipment was unloaded in the area of Algeria in Izmir, the ship were pirated by Russian ships while waiting to be carried on mules and camels backs in order to transfer the foodstuffs to Istanbul.

 Document fourteen:  A letter from Haj Khelil Mufti of Algeria in Izmir to Hussein Pasha informing him that Ahmed Agha one of Hussein Pasha relatives came to Algeria with 4 volunteer soldiers from Manisa to Izmir, he also got some news about the state of Algeria area in Izmir.

 He also informed him with the case of customs imposition in Ottoman ports, a small percentage on Algerian goods, for example they took 85 Kurush from Haj Ahmed in Izmir on the guns.

 Document fifteen: A list of the name and price of the things they were bought from one of the Ottoman regencies such as: Raisins, sugar, opium, Mashaf (Quran Book), paper, writing tools, leather and sweets.

 Document sixteen: Yusuf Khoja sent a sculpting tool, some gypsum, a cooker, and a pan on a French ship.

 Document seventeen: From Dey of Izmir to Haj Otman the gift: was a small box with a piece of cup inlaid with gold, a stoned ring, a captive and two camels for cordiality. A ship fills with 380 soldiers.

 Document eighteen: One young Arab boy and five Algerian made Hayaks designed with fur and beautiful flowers (white piece of material that was worn by women and it covers all their body).

 Document nineteen: The gift was: A young black slave with five Algerian made Hayaks designed with fur and beautiful flowers (white piece of material that was worn by women and it covers all their body), a pleasure of grace letter containing the news of Algeria.

 Document twenty: The gift was a big bag with small silk bags filled with gold coins from Egypt and 10 Beni Abbas made Hayaks.

 Document twenty-one: Keribat and Maaloum had prepared some cannons and some care and charity missions were given as well as the permission of Waqf in Algeria had been granted.

 Document twenty- two: Do not oppose them and do not shirk their duty of Haj, this document was addressing to people in Cairo, Alexandria, Al-Rachid and Domiat.

 Document twenty-three: A letter informing that four small ships, loaded with Karasa were received. However, big ships were needed for the transportation of these Karasa

7 because they were heavy and big. The cost was 1460 kurush. Therefore, the chairs still on the sea shore until reception of big ships.

 Document twenty-four: A letter informing that 85 organized soldiers holding rifles were received.

 Document twenty-five: A letter with a recommendation for buying some war machines and four small ships with Karasa were loaded and sent. Other two big ships and a sum of 18460 kurush and some change were also sent.

 Document twenty-six:

 1 coppered billy  1 coppered pot  3 Coffee pots inlaid with gold.  2 Bbernus made of linen and embroidered with gold.  1 golden Chandelier  1 sculpted water jug.

 Document twenty-seven: A letter informing that 85 new soldiers were needed to be sent.

 Document twenty-eight: A letter informed that 105 new soldiers need to be immediately sent.

 Document twenty-nine: A letter informed that one beautiful Kaftan and luxurious Attire will be sent.

 Document thirty: A letter informed that 148 new soldiers were sent in an English ship under the supervision of the commander in chief.

 Document thirty-one: A letter informing that two Arab servants aged between 3 and 15 years were sent.

 Document thirty two: A letter informing that a box of different things, a box of sweets, a box of thick big raisins, 1 mortar, 2 boxes of Lokum and 145 new soldiers were sent.

Conclusion:

The most important result we could reach from our accurate and precised study of the content of these correspondences is to know the strong bonds that linked the Ottoman state and Algeria its Regency. Therefore, we noticed a great keenness on writing and mentioning the meticulous details of all the imported and exported goods and merchandises as well as the delegations of soldiers, craftsmen, and reciprocal presents sent from both sides. Hence, these details contributed to let the two countries get closer despite the long distance between them. Thus, we shall not forget the huge role played by the Intermediates and their constant contact with the Beys and the Deys of Algeria throughout the Ottoman State until late Ottoman period.