Rumelian nomads and Naldöken nomad group in sixteenth century and seventeenth century

Ill ABSTRACT Rumelian Nomads And Naldöken Nomad Group in Sixteenth Century And Seventeenth Century The Rumelian nomad society, that had importance in social structure of Ottoman State, achieved a different military and legal status in relation to Anatolian nomads by having been organized as "ocak" in Rumelia. As a consequence of the missions and services which they had undertaken through this status, they made crucial contributions in Turkifying the region. The nomads, who started coming to the region especially right after the conquest of Rumelia, had both become support in spreading the conquests forward and had been actually in charge in expeditionary forces and various military services Furthermore these nomadic people, who had been in habited in the new conquered places, undertook important roles not only in making desolate places inhabited and prasperous but also in constituting new settlement places. The censuses of the nomads settling within six groups in Rumelia except Ofçabolu Nomads, had been done in 1543 for the first time. After these first censuses, the censuses of Tanrıdağı, Vize and Kocacık Nomads, not being regularly, had been taken until the mid of 17 th century. A census document belonging to these Rumelian nomad groups hadn't been drawn up after this one. As a matter of fact, the results received in 17 th century censuses indicate that "ocak" organization had been in the process of corruption. The first and last census of Ofçabolu Nomads was done in 1543. Naldöken Nomads are the only one group among these nomad groups which has the most census documents and which has been regularly drawn up until the beginning of 17 th century. In this study; the spreading areas, censuses and missions of Rumelian Nomad groups from the mid of 16 th century until the midof 17 th century have been investigated depending on census document. Naldöken Nomads have been dealt in detail among these groups. Naldöken Nomands "ocak" organizations, administrators, zeamet incomes, taxes, settlement areas in Rumelia, regions of commander-in chiefs, social status and the population in each census period are investigated by taking the six census documents relating to this nomad group as basis.