THE PHENOMENON OF AYANLIK AND THE DYNAMİCS IN THE FORMATİON PROCESS: THE CASE OF KAYSERI SANJAK

The concept of the local notables, as Khoury puts it, “groups with the most uncertain corners”, has been discussed by historians for a long time. The most notable issue in the literature review is that ayanship has not yet been clarified. Therefore, it is the general aim of the paper to reconsider and analyze the local notables that need to be explained through Kayseri sanjak. In order to better understand and explain the ayanlık that deeply influences the administrative, financial and social order of the empire, it is necessary to address some issues such as who they were and how they were chosen, and then to answer the question of how they got stronger and left their mark on the century. Without revealing the detailed monographs of the notables, the concept of local notables and related discussions were focused. After giving information about Kayseri local notables, the political, social, military, and administrative foundations that affect the development of the local notables in Kayseri sanjak are discussed. One of the main reasons for choosing the region as a sample is the fact that Kayseri notables have not been studied in detail within the context of center-rural relations. In addition to this, being one of the sanjaks where there was intense social turmoil such as the Celali rebellions and banditry that took place in the 17th century and being one of the trade centers it has acquired thanks to its geographical location are crucial reasons for choosing the region. Thus, we have a better chance for analyzing the social and financial foundations of local notables that affect their development in Kayseri sanjak. This study mainly based upon Kayseri court registers (şer’iyye sicilleri) provided an opportunity to make a general evaluation and discussions on ayanlık. Besides, some of the problems specific to Kayseri sanjak were discussed in the light of primary (Ottoman archival sources) and secondary sources.