Institution of Naqîb al-Ashrâf Qaimaqamship in Ottoman Anatolia: 1750 - 1850

Office of Naqîb al-Ashrâf was a governmental institution in Ottoman State and was responsible for sayyids and sharifs who were descendants of prophet Mohammad and were a privileged social group. Head of this office was named naqîb al-ashrâf who had a high position in the governmental hierarchy and he had to be a sayyid. This institution was first founded in the capital and over time it spread to kazâs (provinces) of the state. In the kazâs this institution was represented by nakîb al-ashrâf qaimaqams who were appointed by grand naqîb al-ashrâf in the capital. Duties of these naqîb al-ashrâf qaimaqams were to protect and control the sayyids and sharifs in their jurisdiction. Aim of this study is to discuss the importance of these qaimaqams and to find out how these qaimaqams were appointed and dismissed and what were their duties. Thus, institution of naqîb al-ashrâf qaimaqams will be examined in the cases of Adana, Sivas, Kayseri and Tokat kazâs in Ottoman Anatolia.