THE YÖRÜKS of OTTOMAN WESTERN THRACE in the SIXTEENTH CENTURY a Ph.D. Dissertation by HARUN YENİ Department of History İhsan
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THE YÖRÜKS OF OTTOMAN WESTERN THRACE IN THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY A Ph.D. Dissertation by HARUN YENİ Department of History İhsan Doğramacı Bilkent University Ankara January 2013 To Seda THE YÖRÜKS OF OTTOMAN WESTERN THRACE IN THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY Graduate School of Economics and Social Sciences of İhsan Doğramacı Bilkent University by HARUN YENİ In Partial Fullfilment of the Requirements for the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY in THE DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY İHSAN DOĞRAMACI BİLKENT UNİVERSİTY ANKARA January 2013 I certify that I have read this thesis and have found that it is fully adequate in scope and in quality, as a thesis for the degree of the Doctor of Philosophy in History. ------------------------------- Prof. Dr. Halil İnalcık Supervisor I certify that I have read this thesis and have found that it is fully adequate in scope and in quality, as a thesis for the degree of the Doctor of Philosophy in History. ------------------------------- Prof. Dr. Özer Ergenç Examining Committee Member I certify that I have read this thesis and have found that it is fully adequate in scope and in quality, as a thesis for the degree of the Doctor of Philosophy in History. ------------------------------- Prof. Dr. Mehmet Öz Examining Committee Member I certify that I have read this thesis and have found that it is fully adequate in scope and in quality, as a thesis for the degree of the Doctor of Philosophy in History. ------------------------------- Asst. Prof. Evgeni Radushev Examining Committee Member I certify that I have read this thesis and have found that it is fully adequate in scope and in quality, as a thesis for the degree of the Doctor of Philosophy in History. ------------------------------- Asst. Prof. Berrak Burçak Examining Committee Member Approval of the Graduate School of Economics and Social Sciences ------------------------------- Prof. Dr. Erdal Erel Director ABSTRACT THE YÖRÜKS OF OTTOMAN WESTERN THRACE IN THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY Yeni, Harun Ph.D., Department of History Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Halil İnalcık January 2013 This study essentially questions the nature of the yörük population in Ottoman western Thrace through an examination of fiscal and military registers of the sixteenth century. Firstly, through a discussion of the terminology used for mobile social groups in other disciplines, such as anthropology and geography, it is revealed that there is no terminological consensus, but rather a variety within and among the terms used. In parallel with this theoretical background, it is argued that the concept of variety occupied an important role in yörüks’ ways of life in the region in question. This is also reflected in the manners in which they were registered, though a different manner of registration did not necessarily signify a different way of life. In this particular sphere, the yörük groups examined are those of the districts of Demürhisar, Drama, Yenice-i Karasu, and Gümülcine. Next, the military nature of these yörüks is analyzed. The origins and formation of the yörük organization in Rumelia are discussed through the case of iii western Thrace. Similarities with and differences from other auxiliary forces are also investigated in connection with the question of origins and formation. The regulations issued for the yörüks as a military group and the changes that occurred over time are looked at so as to be able to see any differentiation. The extent of militarization among the yörüks in the region is evaluated through the classical fiscal surveys and the yörük registers, with a revisional approach to the literature being taken. Within this scope, the nature of the yörük registers is questioned, and the correlation between registered and unregistered yörüks is revealed. Keywords: yörük, Ottoman Rumelia, western Thrace, eastern Macedonia, Demürhisar, Drama, Yenice-i Karasu, Gümülcine, the yörük organization, defter-i yörükân, nomadism, transhumance. iv ÖZET ONALTINCI YÜZYILDA OSMANLI BATI TRAKYASI YÖRÜKLERİ Yeni, Harun Doktora, Tarih Bölümü Tez Yöneticisi: Prof. Dr. Halil İnalcık Ocak 2013 Bu çalışma esas olarak onaltıncı yüzyıla ait mâli ve askerî kayıtlar üzerinden Osmanlı Batı Trakyası’ndaki yörüklerin mahiyetini sorgulamaktadır. İlk önce, antropoloji ve coğrafya gibi diğer disiplinlerde hareketli sosyal topluluklar için kullanılan kavramlar hakkındaki mevcut tartışmalar sunularak, terminoloji üzerinde bir uzlaşma olmadığı ve hem kavramların kendi içinde hem de kavramlar arasında bir çeşitliliğin mevcut olduğu ortaya konulmuştur. Bu teorik arka plana paralel olarak, çeşitlilik mefhumunun yörüklerin yaşam biçimlerinde önemli bir rol oynadığı savunulmaktadır. Bu durum yörüklerin kaydedilme biçimlerine de yansımakla beraber, her farklı kayıt biçimi farklı bir yaşam biçimi anlamına da gelmemektedir. Demürhisar, Drama, Yenice-i Karasu ve Gümülcine kazâlarındaki yörük varlığı bu bağlam içerisinde değerlendirilmiştir. Sonrasında, bu bölgelerdeki yörüklerin askerî boyutu irdelenmiştir. Batı Trakya örneği üzerinden Osmanlı Rumelisi’ndeki yörük teşkilatının kökenleri ve v kuruluşu meseleleri tartışılmıştır. Bu bağlamda teşkilatın çağdaş diğer yardımcı kuvvetlerle benzerlik ve farklılıkları da değerlendirilmiştir. Yörük teşkilatı için hâsıl olan kanunlar ile zamanla bu kanunlarda yapılan değişiklikler, süreç içerisinde teşkilatta meydana gelen değişmeleri görmek açısından ele alınmıştır. Askerîliğin bölgedeki yörükler arasındaki boyutları, tahrir kayıtları ve yörük defterleri üzerinden literatüre revizyonist bir yaklaşımla değerlendirilmiştir. Bununla bağlantılı olarak yörük defterlerinin yapısı sorgulanmış ve askerî olarak kaydedilen yörüklerle kaydedilmeyenler arasındaki ilişki ortaya konulmuştur. Anahtar Kelimeler: yörük, Osmanlı Rumelisi, Batı Trakya, Doğu Makedonya, Drama, Demürhisar, Yenice-i Karasu, Gümülcine, yörük teşkilatı, defter-i yörükân, göçebelik, transhumans. vi ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This research, while an individual work, has come into existence with the support of several people. First, I would like to express gratitude to my supervisor Prof. Halil İnalcık, with whom I had the chance to work since 2003. He exemplifies the high quality scholarship to which I, and all the Ottomanists, aspire. His intimate attention throughout the study motivated me for the better. His guiding suggestions and inspiring ideas contributed a lot to the development of this research. I would like to thank Prof. Evgeni Radushev with my whole heart for standing by me since my arrival at the department. My acquaintance with the primary sources as a M.A. student, which turned into a venture of years, was possible thanks to him. His valuable suggestions, attentive warnings, and insightful opinions played important roles at every stage of this study. It was his enthusiasm which encouraged me to complete this project. I am honored and lucky to feel that he was present whenever I needed him not only as a mentor but as a friend and as a father. I would also like to express my gratitude to Prof. Özer Ergenç, to whom I had the chance to consult whenever I needed. His immense knowledge in Ottoman social and economic history guided me when I was confused by kanunnâme excerpts. He was always kind enough to share his time generously. I am honored to have Prof. Ergenç in my jury. I am also grateful to Prof. Mehmet Öz, who was present vii from the first steps of this process. His valuable comments and criticism upon the sources, method, and the edition of the text led me to improve them. I was truly honored to have Dr. Berrak Burçak among my dissertation committee members. It was her courtesy to accept it. I would like to thank Dr. Oktay Özel, whose support I felt closely both as a professor and as a friend during my stay at Bilkent. He provided me with his guidance during this project by means of his valuable comments. Despite his busy agenda, he was kind enough to edit my article text. He was always present at my joys and sorrows. I would like to express gratitude to Dr. Paul Latimer, who generously spent his time in editing and shaping my article. It is not possible to give his dues in the finalization of the paper. I thank Dr. Evgenia Kermeli whose support I felt since M.A. years. I should also mention Dr. Mehmet Kalpaklı, Cadoc Leighton, David Thornton, Ahmet Simin, Akif Kireççi and Edward Kohn of the Department of History for their supports in various occasions. I am also indebted to Dr. Phokion Kotzageorgis for his constructive comments on my topic and for his valuable friendship. I have also received a great deal of help and support from some other institutions and individuals. I am deeply greatful to BDAGM. Osmanlı Arşiv Dairesi Başkanlığı and Cumhuriyet Arşivi Daire Başkanlığı, TKGM. Kuyûd-i Kadime Arşivi and their officers. I thank İ.D. Bilkent University for providing me various facilities and resources since 1999. Altın Koza [İpek] University together with its faculty and administrative personnel gave support to which I am indebted. I also thank Turkish Cultural Foundation for the fellowship I was granted in 2010. I am obliged to thank to Eser Berkel Sunar, Birsen Çınar, Ece Türk, Nebahat Öksüz, Funda Yılmaz, and Nimet Kaya for their sincere help as administrative assistants. viii My thanks are also due to a number of friends. Yakup Turali has always been a real brother with his constant support for around twentyfive years, and he has a great share in this dissertation, as well. Ali Erdurmuş and İlker Daştan, as my old friends, stood by me and gave me energy whenever I was exhausted. It is not actually possible to utter Neslihan Demirkol and Ayşegül Avcı’s shares adequately. They turned the writing process into a more bearable one and did their best to comfort and help me whenever I needed. I should also mention Fatma Gül Karagöz, who helped me a lot especially with some French texts together with Neslihan. Polat Safi and Fatih Durgun are two other precious friends who bore the burden of this study upon their shoulders together with me. Sessions of discussions, motivation, and scheduling with them lie beneath this dissertation. Elvin Otman, who was always at a distance of call and eager to help, made Bilkent days more enjoyable with her company.