The Eyes and Ears of Kings in the Old Babylonian Period: Spies and Espionage Activities

Abstract

This article aims to examine spies and espionage activities in the Old Babylonian Period (~1894-1595 BC) by utilizing the written documents of the period. Ancient and modern sources are utilised on this subject, which have been only superficially covered in the Turkish literature. In our study, topics such as spies and other news bringers, information gathering techniques, transmission of intelligence and disinformation in the Old Babylonian Period are examined together with the written texts of the contemporary kingdoms of the period. Spies are referred to in written documents as the eyes and ears of kings. In the 2nd millennium BC, vassals, ambassadors, queens, princesses and merchants also gathered information and transmitted it to kings, in addition to those whose profession was espionage. There are also records that information, whether written or oral, was transmitted to the king after being checked for accuracy in various ways. It is also observed that espionage activities were carried out both in times of war and peace, and that even kings who had a friendly relationship with each other tried to obtain information about each other through their spies, which after a while turned their alliance into enmity. The execution of these activities efficiently and the consequent gathering of information led to political and military success. Espionage activities, the first traces of which date back to the written documents of the 3rd millennium BC and which took on an almost institutionalized structure in the 2nd millennium BC, continue today; and this fact reveals that the profession has a long history.

Keywords

• Old Babylonian Period
• spy
• espionage
• intelligence system
• disinformation

Eski Babil Dönemi’nde Kralların Gözü - Kulağı: Casuslar ve Casusluk Faaliyetleri

Abstract

Bu makalede Eski Babil Dönemi’ndeki (~MÖ 1894-1595) casuslar ve casusluk faaliyetlerinin dönemin yazılı belgelerinden yararlanılarak incelenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Türkçe literatürde çok az işlenen bu konuyla ilgili antik ve modern kaynaklardan da yararlanılmıştır. Çalışmamızda Eski Babil Dönemi’ndeki casuslar ve diğer haber getirenler, bilgi toplama teknikleri, istihbaratın iletilmesi ve dezenformasyon gibi konular dönemin çağdaş krallıklarının yazılı metinleri ile birlikte ele alınarak incelenmiştir. Casuslar yazılı belgelerde kralların gözleri ve kulakları olarak geçmektedir. MÖ 2. binyılda mesleği casusluk olan kişilerin yanı sıra vassallar, elçiler, kraliçeler, prensesler ve tüccarlar da bilgi toplayıp krallara iletmişlerdir. Yazılı ya da sözlü olarak getirilen bilgilerin doğruluğunun çeşitli yollarla kontrol edildikten sonra krala iletildiğine ilişkin kayıtlar da vardır. Casusluk faaliyetlerinin hem savaş hem de barış dönemlerinde yürütüldüğü, aralarında dostluk ilişkisi olan kralların bile casusları aracılığıyla birbirleri hakkında bilgi edinmeye çalıştıkları ve bir süre sonra müttefikliklerinin düşmanlığa dönüştüğü de görülmektedir. Bu faaliyetlerin iyi bir şekilde yürütülerek bilgilerin toplanması, siyasi ve askeri alanda başarılı olunmasını sağlamıştır. MÖ 3. binyıl yazılı belgelerinde ilk izlerine rastladığımız ve MÖ 2. binyılda neredeyse kurumsal bir yapıya bürünen casusluk faaliyetlerinin günümüzde de devam etmesi, bu mesleğin! uzun bir geçmişe sahip olduğunu ortaya koymaktadır.

Keywords

• Eski Babil Dönemi
• casus
• casusluk
• istihbarat sistemi
• dezenformasyon

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