The Power of Compromise in the Ottoman Provinces: Establishing State Authority through Commitment Letters in the 19th and 20th Centuries

Ottomans placed significant importance on establishing state authority. This study examines the methods employed to establish and maintain state authority in the provinces through various events of the 19th century and the early 20th century. The main objective of the study is to demonstrate that the Ottoman Empire aimed to establish state authority based on reconciliation rather than conflict. To achieve this goal, several exemplary cases from Ahıska, Ayntâb (Tutak), and the Balkans within the specified time frame have been selected. While selecting the sample group, special attention was given to choosing documents from the Ottoman Archives that explicitly contain the term "taahhütname." The study draws from the commitments made in written agreements concerning events occurring in regions with diverse geographical, historical, and cultural dynamics. Declarations of commitment, which are a means of establishing the authority of the state, are very important in terms of providing empirical evidence for this study. While these texts show similarities in certain aspects, they also differ in others. The collection of data obtained from the Ottoman Archives has been evaluated in terms of form, content, similarities, and differences. Additionally, information regarding the social, administrative, and political structures of the regions where the sample events took place has been provided.