Transcription and evaluation of the ceremonial register No. 7509 (AH 21/12/1214 – AD 27/07/1799)

This thesis focuses on the Ottoman ceremonial protocol system based on the transcription and analysis of the archival manuscript TS.MA.d.7509, located in the Topkapı Palace Museum Archives. The manuscript dates back to the year 1214 AH (1799 AD) and provides extensive information about the functioning of the Ottoman court protocol, ceremonial procedures, and palace life. It particularly highlights the activities and donations of Küçük Bilal Âğa, who served as the Daeüssade Âğa during the period and was later known as Halil Paşalı. The manuscript records a wide range of ceremonial and social practices, including gifts presented during religious celebrations such as the Mawlid (Mevlid-i Şerif), formal processions to the mosque and the Enderûn, offerings to the Old Palace, and presents distributed during Eid and Nowruz festivals. In addition to the ceremonial aspects, the document also offers valuable insights into the palace culinary culture, clothing traditions, breakfast customs, economic expenditures, and interactions beyond the palace. Through the detailed examination of this manuscript, the study provides a unique perspective on the ceremonial and administrative structures of the late Ottoman Empire, contributing to a deeper understanding of its socio-cultural and economic dimensions.