Arşiv Belgeleri Işığında Osmanlı Dönemi Erzurum Hapishane Projesi
Abstract
Osmanlı Devleti’nin Doğu Anadolu’daki stratejik vilayetlerinden biri olan Erzurum’da, 19. yüzyılın ortalarına kadar modern anlamda bir hapishane mimarisi bulunmamaktadır. Bu döneme dek Taşhan gibi mevcut tarihî yapılar geçici hapishane işlevi görmüştür. Tanzimat Fermanı’nın ilanıyla birlikte tutukluların daha sağlıklı koşullarda cezalarını çekmeleri, suç türlerine göre sınıflandırılmaları ve cezaların adalet ilkeleri çerçevesinde uygulanması yönünde reformlar hayata geçirilmiştir. Bu doğrultuda Osmanlı Devleti, ekonomik ve siyasî imkânları ölçüsünde yeni hapishaneler inşa etmeye başlamış; özellikle merkez vilayetler öncelikli konumda olmuştur. Erzurum’daki hapishanelere ilişkin mevcut çalışmalar 1904, 1914 ve öncesindeki geçici nitelikli yapılarla sınırlı kalmaktadır. Öte yandan bölgenin en kapsamlı hapishanesine yönelik girişimler 1869 yılında ortaya çıkmış olmasına rağmen, bu konuda herhangi bir araştırma yapılmamıştır. Dolayısıyla bu çalışma, söz konusu hapishane üzerine gerçekleştirilen ilk kapsamlı incelemeyi sunmaktadır. Araştırmada öncelikle arşiv belgeleri taranmış, elde edilen belgelerin transkripsiyonu yapılarak değerlendirilmiştir. Elde edilen veriler ışığında hapishanenin hangi tarihte, nerede ve hangi ihtiyaçlar doğrultusunda inşa edileceği ortaya konulmuş; ayrıca yapının planı ve mimarisi ayrıntılı biçimde analiz edilmiştir. Çalışmada Erzurum hapishanesi, Anadolu’daki ve Osmanlı dışındaki benzer örneklerle karşılaştırmalı olarak ele alınarak Osmanlı hapishane mimarisi içerisindeki yeri tartışılmıştır.
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The Erzurum Prison Project in the Ottoman Period in the Light of Archival Documents
Abstract
Erzurum, one of the most strategically important provinces of the Ottoman Empire in Eastern Anatolia, has historically played a critical role both militarily and administratively. Its geographical position, situated on the routes leading to the Caucasus and Iran, rendered Erzurum a strategic frontier city for the Ottoman administration. Consequently, Erzurum functioned not only through its military fortifications but also via its administrative institutions and judicial mechanisms, representing the Empire’s eastern border. The city’s location made it a region that required constant oversight and regulation by the Ottoman authorities. However, until the mid-19th century, Erzurum did not possess a purpose-built modern prison. During this period, criminals and detainees were mostly confined in inns, caravanserais, or various spaces within the fortress. Historical structures such as Taşhan served as temporary detention facilities, yet these buildings fell short of meeting contemporary architectural and functional standards. This situation necessitated the introduction of new solutions, reflecting the broader modernization of the Empire’s justice and security policies.
The proclamation of the Tanzimat Edict in 1839 marked the beginning of comprehensive reforms not only in administrative and financial spheres but also in the fields of justice and law. During this period, the penal system was reorganized with the aim of ensuring that prisoners served their sentences under healthier conditions, were classified according to the nature of their crimes, and that punishments were administered in accordance with principles of justice. Inspired by contemporary European prison models, the Ottoman administration introduced measures to support the social rehabilitation of inmates. Accordingly, the Ottoman state began constructing new prisons within the limits of its economic and political capabilities, prioritizing Istanbul and provincial centers. In frontier provinces such as Erzurum, this process was shaped both by the Empire’s financial resources and by the strategic significance of the region. Thus, Erzurum provides an important case for understanding the implementation of Tanzimat reforms in the provincial context.
Existing studies on prisons in Erzurum are generally limited to structures built in 1904 and 1914 or to earlier temporary facilities. Archival documents, however, indicate that efforts to establish the province’s most comprehensive prison date back to 1869. The planned prison project of that year illustrates both the Ottoman state’s approach to reform in the eastern provinces and Erzurum’s administrative significance. Despite this, no scholarly research has been conducted on this project until now. Therefore, this study presents the first comprehensive investigation of the Erzurum Prison.
The research primarily involved surveying Ottoman archival documents, which were transcribed and critically analyzed using established scientific methods. Based on the information derived from these sources, the study determined the planned location, construction date, and intended functions of the prison. Additionally, the design and architectural layout were analyzed in detail, with particular attention to spatial organization and usage patterns. The Erzurum Prison was examined not only as a local institution but also in comparison with other examples in Anatolia and contemporary prison models outside the Ottoman realm, thereby situating it within the broader context of Ottoman penal architecture.
In conclusion, this investigation highlights how the Ottoman Empire’s post-Tanzimat prison policies were implemented in the provinces. The archival evidence presented here demonstrates that the Erzurum Prison is not merely an architectural structure but also a tangible reflection of the Ottoman modernization process, particularly regarding justice and social order. As such, Erzurum Prison stands as a unique example for understanding the Empire’s reform efforts along its eastern frontier from both historical and spatial perspectives.
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