Derebey
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A derebey (Turkish: valley lord) was a feudal lord in Anatolia and the Pontic areas of Lazistan and Adjara in the 18th century, with considerable independence from the central government of the Ottoman Empire.
Derebeys were required to provide military assistance in time of war, but ruled and administered their own territories, in full freedom in practical terms, and often forming local dynasties. Their emergence was often sparked by the gradual abandonment of the
The Russo-Turkish War of 1768–1774 saw an increase in the power and influence of the derebeys, due to the reliance of the Ottoman government on their assistance. By the end of the 18th century, during the reign of Sultan Selim III, most of Anatolia was ruled by derebeys, and their role in Ottoman affairs was prominent. Selim's successor, Mahmud II (who followed the year-long reign of Mustafa IV), oversaw the decline of the derebeys as Ottoman government became increasingly centralised and administration was conducted by appointed governors. In the 19th century, the term came to be applied to the powerful hereditary land-owners of southern and eastern Turkey. By 1866 the remaining derebeys were subjugated by a military expedition in the Çukurova region.
The derebeys gradually Ottomanized, i.e. became part of the mechanics of the central government, with the re-strengthening of Ottoman central power in the 19th century. Many members of derebey families left lasting works serving general welfare, while others were also involved in bitter struggles that gave rise to public revolts, such as that of
Notable derebey families
- Katipzade family based in İzmir,
- Cihanoğlu family based in Koçarlı
- Arpazlı family based in Nazilli
- Tuzcuoğlu family based in Rize
- Kozanoğlu family based in Kozan
- Menemencioğlu family based in Karaisalı
- Osman Pazvantoğlu based in Vidin
- Rusçuk
- Himşiaşvili (Hamşioğlu) based in Acara
See also
References
- ^ Celeveland, William L. (2008). History of the Modern Middle East (4th ed.) p. 58.