Khalidiyya in Istanbul (1811-1876)

This thesis examines the impact of the Khalidiyya branch of the Naqshbandi order on Istanbul's social, cultural, and political life between 1811 and 1876. Beginning with a brief biography of Mevlâna Halid-i Bağdadî, it analyzes the process of the Khalidiyya's entry into Istanbul, the Sufi environment of the period, and the early representatives of the Khalidi order. Key events during the reign of Sultan Mahmud II, such as the abolition of the Bektashi order in 1826 and the Khalidi exile in 1828, are explored in detail. The study also examines the support and patronage provided to the Khalidiyya by the palace and bureaucracy during the reign of Sultan Abdülmecid, highlighting the involvement of high-ranking Halidi bureaucrats and scholars whose seals appeared on the memorandum of the Consultative Assembly that prepared the Tanzimat Edict. The 1859 Kuleli Incident is analyzed as a case study, focusing on the roles of prominent Khalidi figures in the event and its outcomes. During the reign of Sultan Abdülaziz, the thesis investigates the relationship between the Khalidiyya and the Ottoman central administration, as well as the impact of the establishment of the Meclis-i Meşayih (Council of Sheikhs) on the order. Topics such as the connections between Halidi sheikhs and the state, donations, appointments, salaries, food allocations, and their cultural contributions are analyzed in depth. The study also briefly examines the Khalidi tekkes representing the order in the Ottoman capital and highlights notable Khalidi sheikhs of these tekkes. In this context, the research aims to comprehensively reveal the role of the Khalidiyya order in the political and social life of the Ottoman Empire.