What is the Organization of the Divan, What Does It Do? Members and Duties

Governing a state is a complex matter. Even though in movies and TV series we see it as if a single person rules the whole state, in fact, even in monarchies, decisions were made after meetings where the opinions of many state officials were taken. In the Ottoman Empire, these meetings, It was made by the unit called Divan Organization. It would not be wrong to think of the structure of the Divan Organization as today’s council of ministers.

Even though the name of the Divan Organization was established later, in fact, in both Turkish and Islamic states, the leader has a tradition of holding meetings of ideas. In these meetings, all state issues were discussed in detail and the opinions of state officials who were knowledgeable about the subject were sought. Bride What is the Divan Organization? Let’s take a closer look and see what are the duties of its members in all details.

What is the Divan Organization?

The Divan Organization, which gathered under the chairmanship of the sultan from time to time in the Ottoman Empire, and It is the unit where state affairs are discussed. This organization, which we can think of as the cabinet of ministers today, consisted of the most senior officials of the state. Even if the last word was always with the sultan, the opinions of the members of the organization were definitely taken in the meetings held with this unit.

Although it changes from time to time, it is seen that it is collected even every day on some dates. Along with the most important state issues in the Divan Organization The problems of the people were also discussed. This organization, which represents the peak of the Ottoman bureaucracy system, lost its importance with the 19th century, even though it gained strength over the years.

Who founded the Divan Organization?

In order to understand the Divan Organization, it is necessary to look at the Divan tradition first. Divan, on state administration knowledgeable and competent persons are the idea meetings held under the chairmanship of the leader. There is a tradition of divan in both Turkish and Islamic states. The Ottomans, following this tradition, took decisions with the council advisory unit since the first day.

Divan building system II. It is possible to say that he was fully seated during the Mahmut period. However, it is created within the framework of some rules and Taking the name of Divan Organization It was during the reign of Mehmet the Conqueror. Many rules about the Divan Organization have been determined in detail in Fatih Kanunnamesi.

Until Fatih, the sultan presided over the divan. With Fatih, this tradition changed and it was decided that the vizier would preside over the divan. II. The Divan Organization system, which developed further during the Beyazıt and Yavuz Sultan Selim periods, He lived his most powerful period with Suleiman the Magnificent. Although the vizier presided over the council, the meeting was watched by the sultan and the decisions taken later were presented to the sultan for approval.

In the 17th century, the structure of the Divan Organization began to lose power and meetings were held in the mansions of the grand viziers. These centers, where the Ottoman bureaucracy was managed, were named as Paşakapısı in the 18th century and later as Babıali. III. Although some efforts were made to strengthen the Divan Organization during the Selim period, it did not work and In the 19th century, this building no longer matters. It has come to be used only for ordinary state affairs.

What does the Board of Trustees do?

All administrative, political, financial and military issues of the state were discussed, examined and a decision was taken at the meetings of the Divan Organization. Each member of the Divan Organization had issues that they were responsible and knowledgeable about. In accordance with the subject to be decided that day, the sultan or the vizier would ask questions to this official and would make the right decision by getting information about the subject.

The Divan Organization, which consisted of the most powerful officials of the centre, made decisions about both foreign and domestic politics. Among the most important tasks of the Divan Organization to ensure the balance between the center and the countryside, There were decisions to make for the citizens to live a secure life, to determine the conditions of war and peace, to follow foreign relations and to regulate the policies to be followed in international politics.

The members of the Divan Organization and their duties:

• Vizier-i Azam and viziers
• Kazasker
• Treasurer
• Sniper
• Captain-i Derya
• Shaykh al-Islam
• Janissary Agha

Vizier-i Azam and viziers:

The Vizier-i Azam, also known as the Grand Vizier, is the most authoritative person of the state after the sultan and is the deputy sultan. We can think like the Prime Minister. It regulates customary law, presides over the council, and most importantly, when the sultan goes on a campaign, he deputizes for the central administration and ensures the functioning of the state.

In the early periods of the Ottoman Empire, there was only one vizier from the ilmiye class in the Divan Organization. The number of queens increased over time. Vizier-i Azam highest status Even if there are other viziers, they are at least as authoritative as the grand vizier in some matters. The number of these officials, known as Kubbealtı viziers, was at most 7. After the Grand Vizier, one of these people was chosen as the Grand Vizier.

Kazasker:

Kazasker, also known as kadiasker, is responsible for the legal and official affairs of the state. We can think like the Minister of Justice. The Kazasker, who also appoints judges, is from the ilmiye class. After the Fatih period, two persons responsible for Rumelia and Anatolia were in the Divan Organization with the title of “kazasker”. The Rumelian kazasker is more authoritative than the Anatolian kazasker.

Kazasker in the Divan Organization; It is authorized in many areas such as education, judiciary, army and so on. Each Kazasker has many assistants. Many issues that could not be resolved by the kadis were brought to the Divan Organization and presented to the sultan under the chairmanship of the kazasker. When the sultan went on a campaign, the kazasker would go with him.

Treasurer:

The bookkeeper, which literally means the bookkeeper, is one of the most important members of the Divan Organization. We can think of it like a finance minister. Defterdar deals with the financial affairs of the state. During the reign of Murat I, the foundations of the finance organization were laid under the administration of the treasurer. Defterdar is accepted as the deputy sultan of the state treasury.

In the divans gathered on the feast days The sultan used to stand up and celebrate with the viziers and the treasurers. Even this shows the importance of the treasurers in the Divan Organization. Until the period of Beyazıt II, there were two directors, Rumelian and Anatolian, Rumelia was the chief treasurer. Together with the Hatt-ı Hümayun, the treasurer took the name of the Minister of Finance.

Sniper:

One of the most important members of the Divan Organization, the gunner; edicts, private correspondence, writes international correspondence and he would add the sultan’s signature to the beginning of the documents. The shooter was also in charge of keeping the Mühimme Book. He is considered to be the most important person in the divan after the treasurer.

Captain-i Derya:

Captain-i Derya is the commander of today’s naval forces. He is the head of the Ottoman navy. Expeditions by sea and the sailors are under the control of Kaptan-ı Derya. He has full authority over the sailors.

Shaykh al-Islam:

Şeyhülislam is the person responsible for religious affairs in the Ottoman Empire. He has much broader powers than today’s head of religious affairs because the Ottoman Empire was governed by evil law. Sheikh al-Islam, who joined the Divan Organization during the reign of Suleiman the Magnificent, was considered equivalent to the grand vizier.

Janissary Agha:

The Janissary Agha is the person in charge of the Novice Corps and the Janissary Corps. He is one of the most important names in the Divan Organization. The security of Istanbul is in his hands. It has the authority to issue. Some janissary aghas also served as vizier.

We can think of it as the ministerial council of the Ottoman Empire. What is the Divan Organization, what are its members and what are their duties? We talked about the details you need to know about this unit by answering frequently asked questions.