Gossip and rumor as a tool of determining politics and public opinion in the Ottoman Empire

In this study, the guiding and destructive effects of today's gossip and rumor phenomena on the Ottoman political world are discussed and their roles in shaping the government are tried to be determined.Although they do not receive the attention and value they deserve in the eyes of historians, these concepts, which are used as information sources in the absence of mass media, are among the basic forces and dynamics behind many developments that deeply affect the lives of the administration, the rulers and the people. Based on this impression, it is examined how the common equivalents in Ottoman literature, kîl ü kâl, güft ü gû, güft ü şînîd, nemîme and gîybet (gossip), as well as sâyia and erâcîf (rumor), directed an entire operation behind the scenes as the unknown aspects of known events - from a change of grand vizier to a major rebellion that concerned the entire society - and what kind of results they produced. Key Words: Ottoman political world, Political power, Reputation, Gossip, Kîl ü kâl, Güft ü gû, Rumor, Erâcîf, Şâyia, Rebellion, Public Opinion