Transcription and Analysis of the Major Hayreddin Bey's Work "Harb-i Bahri San'atı"

In this thesis study, the primary objective was to translate and analyze the work titled Harb-i Bahrî San'atı – Mülâzımlara Mahsus, which was originally written in Ottoman Turkish and obtained from the Seyfettin Özege Rare Works Collection at Atatürk University in Erzurum. The work, a rare source on naval warfare from the late Ottoman period, focuses on the science and art of naval battles. Each chapter of the original text has been evaluated under separate headings to enhance its comprehensibility and increase its scholarly value. The work consists of 119 pages and provides detailed information on the technological evolution of naval warfare, strategic approaches, and warship technologies. The Ottoman Turkish text was transcribed into modern Turkish using key reference dictionaries such as Şemsettin Sami's Kamus-ı Türki and Ferit Develioğlu's Ottoman-Turkish Encyclopedic Dictionary. The book contains 18 main chapters and various subheadings, offering a rich and multifaceted content on maritime history. Binbaşı (Major) Hayreddin Bey's experiences as the Commander of the Black Sea Naval Forces and as the Chief of Staff of the Ottoman Navy significantly enhance the source value of the text. In addition to a historical overview of Ottoman naval history from its early stages to the Republican era, the work also provides a comprehensive analysis of shipyard activities, transformations in naval technology, and significant sea battles (such as Çalıbey, Lepanto, Çeşme, and Navarino). Furthermore, the study discusses modernization efforts during the 19th and 20th centuries, the transition from ironclads to submarines, and the role of the Ottoman Navy League (Donanma Cemiyeti). The technical sections of the work shed light on naval strategies of the time by addressing topics such as ship types, armor systems, weapons, and fleet maneuvers through a scientific lens. By bringing this unique and underexplored primary source to light, this work aims to contribute to the academic literature and deepen the understanding of Turkey's maritime heritage.