Summarized transcription and assessment of the Muhimme Register, Number 191

In the Ottoman Empire, one of the most important foundations of central organisation was Divan. (council of state). In Divan (council of state), political, military, economic and social subjects of the state were discussed and decided. The decisions in court were recorded on the Muhimme Register after the Emperor's approval. Headed by Reis al- kuttab, the Muhimme Register was written by clerks in Beylikçi Kalemi. The Register consisted of 114 pages and 416 dictums. For this reason, the Muhimme Registeres are priceless documents that include precious informations for its age. For this reason; the Muhimme Register, with numbered 191, which covers the time frames of 1202-1206 (H) /1788-1791 (A.D.) it holds a unique treasure which is able to enligten the era. The Muhimme Register with numbered 191, includes the last years of sovereignty of Abdülhamid the First and the first years of sovereignty of Selim the Third. Therefore it contains very important informations about these periods of time The prominent events of the period were the battles between the Ottoman Empire, the Austria Empire and the Rusian Empire, including intermittent political events. Especially the capture of the Özi Castle by the Russians and the masaccre of the civil people in the last years of Abdülhamid the First's period of sovereignty saddened him, ultimately leading to his death. When the next emperor, Selim the Third acceded to the throne, the Ottoman Empire was in a war with the Russian Empire and the Austria-Hungarian Empire. Selim the Third who had turned his direction to the west, was known as a personality who was innovative and open to reformation. He fully understood that the army was weak during this period and further realised that new innovations and improvemets had to be made to the failed aspects of the army. This started a base of reforms aimed at the future Nizam-i Cedid army. Moreover, the decreasing tendency of the central authority to increase the number of bandit events are among the problems that occupied the Ottoman Empire Keywords: Muhimme register, Muhimme of Rikab, Selim the Third