Iron mining and blacksmithing in the Ottoman Dtate: Samakov Iron Mine

The utilisation and processing of iron ore plays a decisive role in determining the position of states in economic, military and industrial competition. Samakov, a place in the Balkans, probably founded by Saxon miners in the XIIIth and XIVth centuries, was known for its iron mines. Samakov was within the expansion area of the Ottoman Empire in the XIVth century and was conquered during the reign of Murat I. Within the Ottoman administrative structure, it was an administrative unit of the kaza under the Sofia Sanjak of the Rumelia Province. Blacksmithing activities started before the Ottoman conquest and continued after the conquest. The production took place in iron workshops called samakov and vigne. These workshops receive the power of movement from the rivers, which enables the processing of iron through a system of wheels.The iron produced in the XVIth and XVIIth centuries responded to the demands of Ottoman institutions such as Tersane-i Amire, Tophane-i Amire and Cebehane-i Amire. Again, iron products were sent from Samakov to different places within the Ottoman borders to be used for various purposes. In times of war, Samakov was among the places where the demand for iron for various needs was met. The transport of the iron produced was provided by land and sea vehicles within a certain system. The Ottoman Empire tried to control the iron works in Samakov through officials called the Mühimmat Nazırı. Throughout the XVI and XVII centuries, the Samakov Mukataa was operated by the "emanet" method. Iron production in Samakov continued throughout the Ottoman rule.