In Memoriam: Machiel Kiel (1938-2025), the Modern Evliya Çelebi

Abstract

This article commemorates the life and scholarly legacy of Machiel Kiel (1938–2025), one of the most influential historians of Ottoman and Balkan urban history. Kiel’s work is indispensable for the study of Balkan cities, combining meticulous documentation of architectural heritage with extensive archival research. The article outlines his unconventional career path, major research achievements, international recognition, and extraordinary linguistic and regional expertise. It also reflects on the reception of his work and offers personal recollections of Kiel as a dedicated scholar, colleague, and friend whose contributions fundamentally shaped the field. The paper also includes the list of his publications.

Keywords

• Machiel Kiel
• Ottoman Empire
• Balkans
• Ottoman heritage
• art history

References

1. “Balkan Tarihçiliğinde Sıradışı Bir İsim: Machiel Kiel: Feridun M. Emecen Anlatıyor / An Extraordinary Figure in Balkan Historiography: Machiel Kiel As Recounted by Feridun Emecen”, Interview by Arzu Güldöşüren, https://bulten.isam.org.tr/balkan-tarihciliginde-siradisi-bir-isim-machiel-kiel-feridun-emecen-anlatiyor/
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3. Curriculum Vitae and List of Publications of Machiel Kiel (prepared by him in 2020)
4. Email Correspondence between Mehmet Hacısalihoğlu and Machiel Kiel, on 20 December 2016, 23 and 24 January 2021 via the email addresses [e-mail] und [e-mail].
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6. Hartmuth, Maximilian, “Introdution: The Man and His Method”, Monuments, Patrons, Contexts. Papers on Ottoman Europe presented to Machiel Kiel, Eds. M. Hartmuth, A. Dilsiz, Leiden: Nederlands Instituut voor het Nabije Oosten, 2010, 7-14.
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9. Kiel, Machiel, “A Note on the Exact Date of Construction of the White Tower of Thessaloniki”, Balkan Studies 14 (Thessaloniki, 1973), 352-357.
10. Kiel, Machiel, “Christian Art under Islamic Rule: The Ottoman Balkans”, BALKAR Bülten 3, Güz 2029, 28-31.
11. Kiel, Machiel, “Die osmanische Urbanisationspolitik auf dem Balkan: Das Beispiel Eğri Dere Palankası (Kriva Palanka / Republik Mazedonien)”, Journal of Balkan and Black Sea Studies, no. 3 (December 2019), 11-24.
12. Kiel, Machiel, “The Ottoman Imperial Registers: Central Greece and Northern Bulgaria in the 15th – 19th century: the Demographic Development of two Areas compared”, Reconstructing the past, Population Trends in Mediterranean Europe, (3000 B.C. – A.D. 1800), Eds. J. Bintliff – K. Sbonias, (Oxford 1999), 195-218.
13. Kiel, Machiel, „Das türkische Thessalien. Etabliertes Geschichtsbild versus Osmanische Quellen. Ein Beitrag zur Entmythologisierung der Geschichte Griechenlands“, in: Reinhard Lauer (ed), Die Kultur Griechenlanmds in Mittelalter und Neuzeit. (= Abhandlungen der Akademie der Wissenschaften in Göttingen, Philologisch-Historische Klasse, Dritte Folge, No 212=, Göttingen 1996, 109-196.
14. Kiel, Machiel, „Ottoman Kyustendil in the l5th and l6th Century. Ottoman administrative documents from the Turkish Archives versus Myths and Assumptions in the Work of Academician Jordan Ivanov", Izvestija na Istoričeski Muzej - (Kyustendil, vol V, 1993, 141-169.
15. Kiel, Machiel, „Zur Gründung und Frühgeschichte der Stadt Trjavna in Bulgarien. Unbenützte osmanische administrative Quellen aus den Archiven von Istanbul, Ankara und Sofia über Gründung und Entwicklung Trjavnas 1565-1702. Ein Beitrag zur Entmytholo-gisierung der Geschichte Bulgariens“, Münchner Zeitschrift für Balkankunde, 7-8, München 1991, 191-218.
16. Kiel, Machiel, and Dimitris N. Karidis, "Santsaki tou Euripou l5os - l6os ai. Synthikes kai charakteristika tis anaptisiakis diadikasias ton poleos kai ton chorion", Tetramina 28/29, (Amphissa 1985), 1859-1903.
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