Activities of the Ottoman Regie Company in Diyarbekir province (1883-1925)

In this study, it is aimed to summarize the historical course of foreign borrowing, which is accepted as one of the most important events in the history of the Ottoman Empire, and to examine the activities of Düyun-ı Umumiye and the Reji Company affiliated to this administration and the effects of these activities on our social and economic life, in the light of archive documents in the province of Diyarbekir. After the establishment of the Düyun-ı Umumiye Administration, it was organized in the Ottoman lands and managed the most important sources of income. One of the most important income sources managed by the administration is duhan income. As a result of the inability of Düyun-ı Umumiye to manage tobacco income, the establishment of Reji Company was announced on 27 May 1883. Reji Company started its duty in April 1884 after it was established in Ottoman lands based on multinational and foreign capital. One of the most important centers where the company operates is Diyarbekir province. Due to its geographical location, Diyarbekir served as a bridge between Anatolia, Syria, Iraq, Iran and the Caucasus. Although it does not seem possible to determine exactly when and how tobacco farming started in the Diyarbekir region, when we look at the travellers' reports and the Diyarbekir Court Records, tobacco farming was widely practiced in the region since the mid-1600s. Tobacco, which was managed by various management units before the Reji Company, was grown intensively in centers different from each other in terms of climate and soil, especially Harput, Malatya, Mardin, Bitlis, Muş, Siirt, Silvan, Sason, Siverek and gained a financial value. It is quite easy to understand the economic value of tobacco in the region from the amount of tithe tax. Reji Company was immediately organized in centers such as Diyarbekir, Harput, Malatya, Mardin, Bitlis, Siirt and Muş since its establishment date in 1883. Tobacco grown in the region had a unique taste and aroma. Diyarbekir province was one of the main points of both tobacco and smuggling activities. In particular, the geography, which serves as a station for smuggling activities, has become an indispensable route for smugglers. Keywords: Diyarbakir, Regie Company, Tobacco, Elazig, Malatya, Bitlis.