One of the institutions that have be en established for the Ottoman local administration, are the town councils which arose as a result of reforms realized during the Reformation period (Tanzimat Era). At these councils which are started to function in all cities and small towns located within all provinces wherein the reforms had been put into implementation, excluding the permanent members which had been assigned by the Centrcil government those persons who were appointed by the general election of people living in that district, served as a member. The local members, who were able to become a member of town council, have been generally selected among the influenced persons named as the local notables (eşraf). Such persons, thanks to the post of being a member of town council, have further solidified their influences and interesis which had been acquired by then for many years as a result of the special characteristics and phases of Ottoman community because, owing to their official statues gained from the membership of town council, they have been able to have joint financial and economic authorities as same as the ones possessed by the state in the local administration. By misusing such authorities for their benefits coursing harms over the local administration and people, they during the whole 19'h century, have played a role ofinstability over the provincial administration. Such facts which are documented through this article have been depicting an example which was found in Bursa in regard with this situation. Accordingly, Tahir Ağa, a notable of town and in the position of a chief actor, has joined as a member to the first local council which had been founded in Bursa and thanks to this post of membership maintained by him for many years, he increased his wealth and influence and evermore involved in some corruptions. However, a further interesting fact serves to indicate that, in spite of such corruptions and being a local notable, he was able to obtain the titles of a governmental officer and finally promoted to the rank of a Pasha and appointed as the governor of Hüdavendigar Province.
Tanzimat reformlarıyla Osmanlı mahallf yönetiminde oluşturulan yeni kurumlardan birisi de yerel meclislerdir. Reformların uygulamaya konulduğu bütün eyaletlerde bulunan şehir ve kasabalarda çalışmaya başlayan bu meclislerde, merkezı hükümetin atadığı daimı üyeler dışında bölge halkının seçimle belirlediği kişiler üye olarak bulunmuşlardır. Bu şekilde meclise giren yerel üyeler ise genellikle o yörenin eşrafı olarak adlandırılan nüfuzlu kişilerinden olmuşlardır. Bunlar, Osmanlı toplumunun özel şart ve evreleri içinde yıllardan beri elde ettikleri nüfuz ve etkilerini, meclis üyefiği ile daha da pekiştirmişlerdir. Çünkü meclis üyeliğinden kazandıkları resmı statüleriyle, devletin yerel yönetimde sahip olduğu malf ve ekonomik yetkilere ortak olabilmişlerdir. Bu imkanı merkezi idare ve halkın zararına olarak kendi çıkarları için kulanarak 19. yy. boyunca taşra yönetiminde bir istikrarsızlık unsuru olarak rol oynamışlardır. Makalemizde belgeleriyle ortaya koyduğumuz olgular, bu duruma ilişkin Bursa şehrinde ortaya çıkmış bir örneği betimlemektedir. Buna göre, olguların içinde baş aktör konumunda olan eşraftan Tahir Ağa, Bursa'da ilk kurulan yerel meclise üye olarak girmiş ve uzun yıllar elinde bulundurduğu bu üyelik sayesinde servet ve nüfuzunu arttırmış, hatta bazı yolsuzluklara karışmıştır. Daha da ilginci, bütün bunlara rağmen yerel eşraftan biri olarak memurıyet ünvanıarı elde etmiş ve en sonunda "Paşalık" rütbesine terfi ettirilerek Hüdavendigar Eyaleti Valiliği'ne tayin edilebilmiştir
Primary Language | Turkish |
---|---|
Subjects | Archaeology |
Journal Section | Research Article |
Authors | |
Publication Date | October 1, 2006 |
Published in Issue | Year 2006 Volume: 25 Issue: 40 |