2025/10/31 by Fatma Öncel · 1 voice
Social Sciences · #Ottoman Empire History and Society #Turkey's Politics and Society #Islamic Studies and History
paper · doi:10.1163/18775462-20250006
openalex publication_date 2025/10/31 · openalex created_date 2025/12/16 · openalex updated_date 2026/05/21
Abstract The Consultative Assembly ( Meclis-i Meşveret ) emerged as a key institution within the context of shared political authority in the early nineteenth century, addressing significant political and legal matters such as the redistribution of Tepedelenli Ali Paşa’s confiscated properties after 1820. Despite internal divisions, the central elite, supported by the ulema’s authority to legitimize decisions, managed to lead the redistribution process to their advantage while simultaneously curbing the ulema’s influence. Deliberations within the Assembly, particularly the 1824 Resolution, reflect efforts to reconcile decentralized land practices with emerging centralization strategies. These efforts included redefining çiftlik ownership and integrating these lands into the Imperial Endowments system through innovative legal mechanisms, with fetva s playing a fundamental role. Although immediate centralization was not achieved, these developments marked a critical step toward expanding central administrative control over land management.