İstanbul’un Asayişine ve Taşraya Dair Yazılı Emirler
Authors: Özcan Abdülkadir , Sevinç Nurten 
Published: December 2023

"Between 1718 and 1730, known as the Tulip Era in the Ottoman Empire, a door opened to the west and brought the lifestyle of that world with it. The revolution of thought that started in many areas, particularly in architecture, and especially in social life, left its mark on daily life. Although the Western-style mansions in Kağıthane were destroyed during the revolution led by Patrona Halil, the change in lifestyle continued later. It is noteworthy that in the magazine we are working on, orders and prohibitions are mostly issued regarding this issue. The orders, most of which were issued during the reign of Sultan Mahmud I, state, in summary and meaning, that coach cars with internal curtains and windows for women to ride in Istanbul should be used according to the determined order; women, especially young girls, in bazaars and markets; preventing them from walking around the squares of Süleymaniye, Fatih, Beyazıt and Şehzadebaşı mosques with their faces uncovered on Fridays; If they must go out, they should dress modestly and wear their large abayas and return home immediately after completing their work; The sultans were asked not to be outside on Fridays and on short-term excursions with horses and boats, called riding. Likewise, when spring comes, women are prevented from dressing up on picnics and riding on swings and toys with their faces uncovered, mixed with men; Women are ordered not to leave their homes during the holidays, and boatmen are ordered not to take anyone from the nisa group into their boats during the holidays. Again, on holidays, women use cradles, swings, etc. in places such as Sultanahmet, Hagia Sophia, and Cündi Square. There are orders issued to the certified authorities to prevent them from riding such toys. The second majority of the orders in the magazine is about the uncontrolled migrations from Rumelia and Anatolia to Istanbul. Immigration, which has increased rapidly since the end of the XVI. century, filled the city and its suburbs and became a problem that had to be solved. Although orders were issued from time to time to prevent these migrations, they could not be stopped. These unemployed people who came to Istanbul were not only disrupting the public order of the city, they were also showing what potential danger they posed by participating in the riots. Sultan Mahmud I, who ascended to the throne as a result of a rebellion, was aware that most of those involved in the 1730 Patrona Rebellion were immigrants in Istanbul. Due to the rebellion attempts made several times later, Sultan Mahmud was closely interested in the immigration issue and made frequent inspections in the city. In addition, since these stray people could carry epidemic diseases, attempts were made to control entry and exit to the city, but uncontrolled migration could not be prevented. Despite everything, during the reign of Sultan Mahmud I, an attempt was made to prevent the immigration issue by sending orders to the head of armorer and head-gardener, who were responsible for the public order in Istanbul, especially the janissary agha and the judges of Istanbul and Bilâd-ı Selâse. Also in the magazine, under the title of “Kavânîn﻿”, some of the hunters of the palace, such as çakırcı (cakir falcon) and falconers, and has bahçe emektarları (private garden veterans) were given the rank of sipahilik (cavalrymen), müteferrikalık﻿ (muteferrika) and çavuşluk (sergeant); Every year on Nevruz, it is ordered to give 14 silver coins each to twelve of the veterans and hassa saddlers in the Has stable, Vefa and Şadırvan stables, and 12 silver coins each to their students. Likewise, there are also orders in the magazine regarding the daily wages of sipah and armourer bouncers. Some of the orders in the magazine are about keeping taverns closed during Eid days for the sake of public order in Istanbul, preventing some people from being with young boys during Ramadan, and keeping commercial establishments closed after tarawih prayers except cook shops. Since the provision of Istanbul was the most important issue in every period, some orders stated that the ships bringing grain here should return immediately; It is requested that the merchants who bring sheep from Anatolia not be oppressed, that the Karaman sheep coming from Anatolia should be sold only to traveling butchers called çeyrekçi (quarterer), but that they should not be interested in the curly sheep coming from Rumelia to be distributed to the butchers. The subjects of the other orders are briefly as follows: The transportation of barley from the Gulf of Thessaloniki should be carried out in accordance with the procedure; performing the ball festival in front of Kurşunlu Mahzen and Maiden’s Tower; Egypt revenue comes to Kartal every year and is transported from there to Istanbul by uçurma gemileri (flyboats) and two çektirme/çektiri (ship); The surra, which is also sent to Mecca and Medina every year, is transported to Üsküdar﻿ by uçurma and using a çektiri; Prohibiting the entry of two sails and a boat, çekeleve﻿ (chekeleve), şayka﻿ and other ships into the Golden Horn; Preventing the operation of unregistered boats so that boatmen are not victimized; Orders were also issued not to use cemeteries as pastures, based on the belief that the grass on Muslim graves would be a blessing for those buried there. In another interesting order, since it is known that the Surah Ahqaf is effective in fighting off the plague epidemic, which is divinely ordained, this sura is requested to be read as a prayer in the mosques and masjids of Istanbul."