Date:
1792
Manuscripts:
From all the series of these memoranda (Layihalar), asked by Selim III, an abridged treatise was compiled, containing the parts of the individual memoranda which pertain to army reform, brought together under thematic categories (army, military stipends, auxiliary forces and artillery, cavalry). The abridged treatise published by Karal is preserved in two copies:
- Millet Ktp., Ali Emiri Tarih 71
- Topkapı Sarayı Kütüphanesi MS Yeni Gelenler 4050
The original reports are found in Topkapı Sarayı Arşivi, envelope E447.
Editions:
Karal, E. Z., “Nizâm-ı Cedîd’e dâir lâyihalar”, Tarih Vesikaları 1/6 (1941), 414-425; 2/8 (1942), 104-111; 2/11 (1943), 342-351; 2/12 (1943), 424-432 [in fact, the text published by Karal is the abridged treatise]
For full editions:
- Öğreten, A., “Nizâm-ı Cedîd’e dair Islâhât Lâyıhaları”, unpublished Yüksek Lisans Tezi, Istanbul University 1989
- Çağman, E., “III. Selim’e takdim edilen layıhalara göre Osmanlı Devleti’nde iktisadi değişme”, unpublished Yüksek Lisans Tezi, Marmara University 1995
Particular memoranda have also been published:
- “Sultan Selim-i Salis devrinde nizam-ı devlet hakkında mütalaat”, Tarih-i Osmani Encümeni Mecmuası 7/38 (H. 1332), 74-88; 7/41 (H. 1332), 321-346; 8/43 (H. 1333), 15-34
- Çağman, E., “III. Selim’e sunulan bir ıslahat raporu: Mehmet Şerif Efendi layihası”, Divan 7 (1999/2), 217-233
Summary:
Salihzade Efendi (a high-rank judge) focuses in the military stipends and the need to have them differentiated (Kb108); the agha of the janissaries should look for misadministrations of the military stipends (Kc346).
Ali Raik Efendi notes that it is impossible to reform the army in a short time and that the recruitment of troops from the provincial towns and villages results only in pillage and ruin (Kb109).
Hakkı Efendi (beylikçi-i divan-ı hümayun) proposes the creation of two armies, one for the winter and one for the summer, the former composed of Balkanian recruits and janissaries and the latter of Anatolian, so as the Ottoman borders will be effectively guarded throughout the year; he also suggests the training of the retinues of provincial governors, financed partly by the revenue of vacant timars, partly by the villages, partly by the governorship revenues and partly by the state (Kb110-111, Kc342; also Kc350 on auxiliary troops).
Firdevsî Efendi (tezkereci-i evvel) focuses in the need for meticulous keeping of the various registers, to avoid all kinds of misadministration (Kc346-347; also Kd425 on artillery, Kd429 on cavalry).
Osman Efendi (ex-defterdar-ı rikâb-ı hümayun) notes the inability of the artillery officers (Kd424-425).
Bibliography:
- Aksan, V., “Ottoman Political Writing, 1768-1808”, International Journal of Middle East Studies 25 (1993), 62-63
- Beydilli, K., “Kücük Kaynarca’dan Tanzimât’a ıslâhât düşünceleri”, İlmî Araştırmalar 8 (1999), 30-34
- Çağman, E., “III. Selim’e sunulan bir ıslahat raporu: Mehmet Şerif Efendi layihası”, Dîvân – İlmî Araştırmalar 7 (1999/2), 217-233
- Shaw, S. J., Between Old and New: The Ottoman Empire Under Sultan Selim III, 1789-1807, Cambridge MA 1971, 86-111
- Şakul, K., “Nizâm-ı Cedid düşüncesinde batılılaşma ve İslami modernleşme”, Dîvân – İlmî Araştırmalar 19 (2005), 117-150
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