This paper analyzes the establishment by the Ottoman Empire of the
Yurtluk ve Ocaklik and the
hükûmet in eastern Anatolia and their historical development.
After the Ottoman Empire took the eastern Anatolia under its control in the 16th century, it examined the situation of the land tenure and the distribution among the power of Kurdish
amirs (chieftain) who had governed the area. This was aimed at merging eastern Anatolia into its local administration system. Thereafter
amirs received
sancaks (subdivision of a province) as a
yurtluk ve ocaklik (hereditary holding) which authorized them to keep inherited privileges. The Ottoman Empire called the
sancaks of powerful
amirs eyalets (semi-autonomous sancak), but the distinction remained vague. At the end of 16th century when the word
hükûmet started to be commonly used instead of
eyalet, the
sancaks of powerful
amirs were designated
hükûmets accordingly. The establishment of the
hükûmet played a decisive role in differentiating the more and less powerful
amirs by naming them separately.
Hükûmet means the exemption from the land survey and the
timar (fief) system, and where all the tax income belonged to the
amir. The definition of
hükûmet changed over time. In some
hükûmets the privileges of
amirs were gradually undermined. On the other hand, the
amirs who ruled
hükûmets remained powerful, obtaining the title of
han (
khan) instead of
bey at the end of 17th century.
The establishment of
hükûmet exemplified the real nature of the Ottoman governing system. The Ottoman Empire introduced the Ottoman governing system, which embraced traditional political and social order into eastern Anatolia. In other words, the establishment of the
yurtluk ve ocaklzk and the
hükûmet represents one aspect of the reconstitution of traditional order by the Ottoman Empire.
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