Fırka-ı Islahiye Ordusunun Özellikleri ve Faaliyetleri
The Features and Activities of Fırka-ı Islahiye (The Division of Renovation)

Summary/Abstract: 19 century is a period in which the foundations of “traditional empires”, also the bases of Ottoman State, changed in a radical way. A new understanding of society and state, based on the premises of language-culture-nation and spurred by the French Revolution, changed the international policies throughout the Europe. States having multi-cultural and multi-national structures such as Ottoman State witnessed crisis during this period. Moreover, Ottoman State had to struggle with the interventions of big states, which were intended to facilitate the process of disintegration and during these times, the state was losing power.Since the Ottoman society lacked crucial social and civic parties that assume responsibility of change, it could be said that the Ottoman bureaucracy assumed that role. Assuming this role which fitted the traditional structure of the state, consequently, resulted in intervention of the state in all areas of life. From the beginning of the 19th century, to control the increasing out-of-control domains and facilitate the transition from nomadic life to settled life, housing policies that had been implemented for years accelerated. The foundation of Fırka-i islahiye (Division of Renovation) was a result of these expectations. Although conducted in the recent past, practices of Fırka-i islahiye are regarded as military actions. However, it should be noted that, Fırka-i islahiye which re-established the authority of state between the years of 1865-1866 in Çukurova, Gebel-i Bereket (Mount Gavur) and Mount Kozan was not only a military action but also an organization which managed the settlement movements of nomadic tribes. Beside this, the villages and cities that were founded at these times, later, have become important centers and played crucial roles in development of neighboring cities. The reason of foundation of Fırka-i islahiye dates back to Crimean War which took place in 1853. Military difficulties experienced especially in finding soldiers to fight in Crimean War brought about a call for soldiers from the regions of Cebel-i Bereket and Mount Kozan. However, this call remained unanswered because of oppositions of tribes to the state.

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