Banditry Movements in Kemah and Its Environs in The Late 19th Century

Fatih Çiçek; Nurettin Birol

Makale detayları

Banditry Movements in Kemah and Its Environs in The Late 19th Century

Yazarlar:

Fatih Çiçek | Nurettin Birol

Yayıncı:

Ayla KAŞOĞLU

Ana Başlıklar:

Yakınçağ Osmanlı Tarihi

Dergi:

Avrasya Uluslararası Araştırmalar Dergisi Vol.13 Issue 44, pp.119-148

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

8/2025

Belge Dili:

Türkçe

Document ID (Org No.):

2001358111

pISSN:

2147-2610

Anahtar kelimeler:

Özet:

 The concept of eşkıya bandit is the plural form of the Arabic word shaqī, meaning rebellious and unfortunate, and is used to describe individuals who ambush travelers, engage in theft, and commit robberies in mountainous regions. From the late 16th century onwards, due to economic and social deterioration as well as prolonged wars, the Ottoman Empire experienced a decline in law and order, especially in rural areas, which led to the emergence of banditry movements. According to archival records, the region of Kemah and its villages, under Ottoman rule, were consistently subjected to looting and plundering from the 16th century to the early 20th centuryboth by the Dersim tribes and by local tribal elements residing in Kemah. Upon examination, the banditry activities that occurred in and around Kemah appear distinct from the types described during the classical Ottoman era, such as Celali, Levend, or Sarıca bandits. The Dersim bandits who attacked the Kemah region were part of an organized tribal structure that engaged in looting, robbery, and acts of violence primarily as a means of subsistence. The primary drivers behind these tribal raids included the scarcity of arable land in Dersim and its surroundings, limited economic resources, and the adoption of banditry as a way of life. As a result, tribes from Dersim frequently launched raids into Kemah and nearby areas. In response, the Ottoman Empire attempted several military interventions to restore order; however, due to the regions extremely rugged terrain and the tribes fierce resistance, these efforts achieved only limited success. Particularly in the late 19th century, as the central authority of the Ottoman state weakened and its control over public order diminished, the intensity of Dersim bandit attacks on Kemah significantly increased. The introduction of this study addresses the historical background, geographical location, administrative structure, and demographics of Kemah during the Ottoman period. The second part explores the main issues that threatened public order and security in the region. Archival documents related to tribal-based banditry in Kemah and its villages are presented in chronological order, illustrating the chaotic conditions resulting from these assaults. The study also elaborates on the measures taken by the state and local administrators in response to the crises endured by the local population following these raids, as well as how those interventions were implemented.

 The concept of eşkıya bandit is the plural form of the Arabic word shaqī, meaning rebellious and unfortunate, and is used to describe individuals who ambush travelers, engage in theft, and commit robberies in mountainous regions. From the late 16th century onwards, due to economic and social deterioration as well as prolonged wars, the Ottoman Empire experienced a decline in law and order, especially in rural areas, which led to the emergence of banditry movements. According to archival records, the region of Kemah and its villages, under Ottoman rule, were consistently subjected to looting and plundering from the 16th century to the early 20th centuryboth by the Dersim tribes and by local tribal elements residing in Kemah. Upon examination, the banditry activities that occurred in and around Kemah appear distinct from the types described during the classical Ottoman era, such as Celali, Levend, or Sarıca bandits. The Dersim bandits who attacked the Kemah region were part of an organized tribal structure that engaged in looting, robbery, and acts of violence primarily as a means of subsistence. The primary drivers behind these tribal raids included the scarcity of arable land in Dersim and its surroundings, limited economic resources, and the adoption of banditry as a way of life. As a result, tribes from Dersim frequently launched raids into Kemah and nearby areas. In response, the Ottoman Empire attempted several military interventions to restore order; however, due to the regions extremely rugged terrain and the tribes fierce resistance, these efforts achieved only limited success. Particularly in the late 19th century, as the central authority of the Ottoman state weakened and its control over public order diminished, the intensity of Dersim bandit attacks on Kemah significantly increased. The introduction of this study addresses the historical background, geographical location, administrative structure, and demographics of Kemah during the Ottoman period. The second part explores the main issues that threatened public order and security in the region. Archival documents related to tribal-based banditry in Kemah and its villages are presented in chronological order, illustrating the chaotic conditions resulting from these assaults. The study also elaborates on the measures taken by the state and local administrators in response to the crises endured by the local population following these raids, as well as how those interventions were implemented.

 The concept of eşkıya bandit is the plural form of the Arabic word shaqī, meaning rebellious and unfortunate, and is used to describe individuals who ambush travelers, engage in theft, and commit robberies in mountainous regions. From the late 16th century onwards, due to economic and social deterioration as well as prolonged wars, the Ottoman Empire experienced a decline in law and order, especially in rural areas, which led to the emergence of banditry movements. According to archival records, the region of Kemah and its villages, under Ottoman rule, were consistently subjected to looting and plundering from the 16th century to the early 20th centuryboth by the Dersim tribes and by local tribal elements residing in Kemah. Upon examination, the banditry activities that occurred in and around Kemah appear distinct from the types described during the classical Ottoman era, such as Celali, Levend, or Sarıca bandits. The Dersim bandits who attacked the Kemah region were part of an organized tribal structure that engaged in looting, robbery, and acts of violence primarily as a means of subsistence. The primary drivers behind these tribal raids included the scarcity of arable land in Dersim and its surroundings, limited economic resources, and the adoption of banditry as a way of life. As a result, tribes from Dersim frequently launched raids into Kemah and nearby areas. In response, the Ottoman Empire attempted several military interventions to restore order; however, due to the regions extremely rugged terrain and the tribes fierce resistance, these efforts achieved only limited success. Particularly in the late 19th century, as the central authority of the Ottoman state weakened and its control over public order diminished, the intensity of Dersim bandit attacks on Kemah significantly increased. The introduction of this study addresses the historical background, geographical location, administrative structure, and demographics of Kemah during the Ottoman period. The second part explores the main issues that threatened public order and security in the region. Archival documents related to tribal-based banditry in Kemah and its villages are presented in chronological order, illustrating the chaotic conditions resulting from these assaults. The study also elaborates on the measures taken by the state and local administrators in response to the crises endured by the local population following these raids, as well as how those interventions were implemented.

 Eşkıya kavramı, asi ve talihsiz anlamındaki Arapça şaki kelimesinin çoğulu olup; dağlarda yol kesen, hırsızlık ve soygun yapan, kişiler için kullanılır. 16. yüzyılın sonlarından itibaren Osmanlı Devletinde iktisadi, sosyal hayattaki bozulmalar ve uzun süren savaşların getirmiş olduğu ekonomik buhranlar taşrada süreç içerisinde asayiş ve güvenliğin azalması ile eşkıyalık hareketleri baş göstermiştir. Bu çalışmada ele aldığımız Kemah ve köylerinin Osmanlı hâkimiyeti döneminde arşiv kayıtlarına göre 16. yüzyıldan 20. yüzyılın başlarına kadar sürekli olarak gerek Dersim aşiretlerinin ve gerek Kemahta ikamet eden yerel aşiret unsurlarının yağma ve talanına maruz kalmıştır. Kemah ve civarında gerçekleşen eşkıyalık faaliyetleri incelediğimizde, klasik Osmanlı döneminin tanımlamasına göre ifade edilen celali, levend ve sarıca şeklindeki eşkıyalık türlerinden farklı olduğu ortaya çıkmaktadır. Kemah bölgesine saldıran Dersim eşkıyası, yağma, soygun ve zorbalık pratiğine başvuran bunu geçim amacıyla yapan örgütlü bir aşiret yapısı olarak karşımıza çıkmaktadır. Özellikle Dersim ve çevresinde ekilebilir arazilerden az olması, geçinebilmek için kaynakların yetersizliği ve aşiretlerin eşkıyalığı bir yaşam biçimi olarak benimsemeleri gibi sebeplerden dolayı bu aşiretler Kemah ve çevresine sık sık baskınlar düzenlemişlerdir. Osmanlı Devleti Dersim eşkıyasının neden olduğu asayişsizliğin çözümü için çeşitli askeri müdahalelerde bulunmuş, ancak bölgenin aşırı engebeli coğrafyası ve aşiretlerin şiddetli direnişleri nedeniyle tam anlamıyla başarılı olamamıştır. Özellikle 19. yüzyılın sonlarında Osmanlı merkezi otoritesinin toplumsal hayat üzerindeki güvenlik denetiminin kaybolduğu zamanlarda Dersim eşkıyası Kemah bölgesine yapmış olduğu yağma ve talanının şiddetini artırmıştır. Çalışmamızın giriş kısmında Kemahın tarihçesi, coğrafi konumu, Osmanlı dönemi idari yapısı ve demografisi üzerinde durulmuştur. İkinci kısımda Kemahın asayişini ve güvenliğini tehdit eden hususlar izah edilmeye çalışılmıştır. Kemah ve köylerine yapılan aşiret kaynaklı eşkıyalık hareketlerine dair belgeler kronolojik bir düzende açıklanmaya çalışılmış ve eşkıyanın saldırıları sonrasında bölgenin maruz kaldığı kaotik durum izah edilmiştir. Bu baskınlar sonrası Kemah ahalisinin maruz kaldığı felakete karşılık devletin ve yerel yöneticilerin almış olduğu tedbirlerin ve yapılan yardımların ne şekilde icra edildiği ifade edilmiştir.

Makale detayları

Banditry Movements in Kemah and Its Environs in The Late 19th Century

Yazarlar:

Fatih Çiçek | Nurettin Birol

Yayıncı:

Ayla KAŞOĞLU

Ana Başlıklar:

Yakınçağ Osmanlı Tarihi

Dergi:

Avrasya Uluslararası Araştırmalar Dergisi Vol.13 Issue 44, pp.119-148

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

8/2025

Belge Dili:

Türkçe

Document ID (Org No.):

2001358111

pISSN:

2147-2610

Kemah

Dersim

Ekrad

Bandit

TribeKemah

Dersim

Ekrad

Eşkıya

Aşiret

Sayı

Makale detayları

Yazarlar: Fatih Çiçek | Nurettin Birol

Yayıncı: Ayla KAŞOĞLU

Ana Başlıklar: Yakınçağ Osmanlı Tarihi

Dergi: Avrasya Uluslararası Araştırmalar Dergisi Vol.13 Issue 44, pp.119-148

Belge Tipi: Makale

Yayın Tarihi: 8/2025

Belge Dili: Türkçe

Document ID (Org No.): 2001358111

pISSN: 2147-2610

Sayı

Yazarlar:

Fatih Çiçek | Nurettin Birol

Yayıncı:

Ayla KAŞOĞLU

Ana Başlıklar:

Yakınçağ Osmanlı Tarihi

Dergi:

Avrasya Uluslararası Araştırmalar Dergisi Vol.13 Issue 44, pp.119-148

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

8/2025

Belge Dili:

Türkçe

Document ID (Org No.):

2001358111

pISSN:

2147-2610