The Consulate General of Ottoman State in Tbilisi (1879-1914)

Tbilisi Tbilisi was conquered by Lala Mustafa Pasha (1578) and came under the Ottoman rule during the reign of Murat. Tbilisi, remaining under Ottoman rule for some time after this date, was rebuilt for nearly ten years between 1723 and 1735. It was ruled by the Ottoman State. Aside from these years, it was administered by the Iranian State until the Russian occupation in 1801. It came under the rule of Russia throughout the 19th century and in the first quarter of the 20th century, in other words, from 1801 until the Russian Revolution (1917). The Ottoman State, suffering heavy losses in the Ottoman-Russian War (1877-1878), which is also called the 93 War, experienced a great loss of land, especially in the Balkans. After this date, the Ottoman State was obliged to pay heavy war reparations to Russia. Also, after this war, most of the Muslims were forced to migrate from the Caucasus and the Balkans because of the persecution and oppression. Like the immigrants coming from the war zones today, the Ottoman State settled the immigrants from the Caucasus in different parts of the country in those years. The Consulate General's Office established in Tbilisi in 1851 continued its activities after the Ottoman-Russian War. From this war to the First World War, many events took place in and around Tbilisi. The Ottoman State was informed about these events through the Tbilisi Chief Consulate. This study aims to discuss the military, social and political events in Tbilisi among the mentioned periods (1879-1914).