Transcription and evaluation of the Anatolia and Rumelia Hafaya Register dated 1242/1826–1827

From the early 19th century onwards, significant changes took place in the administrative structure of the Ottoman Empire. These changes not only affected the functioning of institutions but also transformed the way bureaucratic documentation was organized within the state. In particular, the Ayniyat registers kept at the Grand Vizierate ensured systematic documentation of correspondence between the central authority and the provinces during this period. The register studied in this research is catalogued as number 326 in the Bab-ı Ali Evrak Odası Ayniyat Defterleri (BEOAYN.d) collection of the Ottoman Archives, and is officially titled the Anatolian and Rumelian Hafaya Register. It covers the years 1242–1243 AH (1826–1827 CE), a period which witnessed considerable administrative and social developments following the abolition of the Janissary Corps. The register includes reports on developments in Rumelia, rebellions in Anatolia and Syria, and events in the South Caucasus. The documents contained in the register are of particular importance for understanding the Ottoman center's approach to events in the provinces. They shed light on the transmission of administrative decisions, the appointment of officials, petitions from the populace, and various social problems within the state. In this regard, the register provides valuable insight not only into the mechanisms of governance but also into the needs, complaints, and local dynamics of provincial society, and how these were communicated to the central administration. Within the framework of this study, the transcriptions of the documents written by scribes evidently well-versed in Arabic and Persian have been completed. Moreover, in order to enhance understanding of the content, detailed summaries of the documents and contextual explanations of selected events have also been provided.