TAX INVENTORY DEFTERS ON GEORGIAN TERRITORIES PRESERVED IN THE PRESIDENCY OF THE REPUBLIC OF TURKEY DIRECTORATE OF STATE ARCHIVES OTTOMAN ARCHIVE

MIRIAN MAKHARADZE; ZAZA SHASHIKADZE

MIRIAN MAKHARADZE Doctor of History, Associate Professor of Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, Tbilisi, Nutsubirze 3, 1, apart 12, F 31. 0183, Georgia http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1931-0570
ZAZA SHASHIKADZE Doctor of History, Associate Professor of Shota Rustaveli Batumi State University Batumi, chavchavadze av. 21. F 1. 6010, Georgia http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5406-577X

Abstract

In the archives of the Republic of Turkey are preserved many "Defters" of tax descriptions, which include historical Georgian territories. The originals of some of the documents are kept in the archives of the Ankara Land and Cadastre Division, although their copies, among others, are collected in the Presidency of the Republic of Turkey Directorate of State Archives Ottoman Archive.

Based on the analysis of the documents, it can be seen that the first census of these areas was conducted in 1573/74. Among them is the “Extensive Defter of Gurjistan Vilayet”, which includes the territories of historic southern Georgia - Artaan, Tao, Artanuji and the upper part of the Ligani Valley. The document was attached to the front of the Gurjistan Vilayet extensive “kanun-namah”. The same date belongs to the issuance of Small Defters of Timars in the Sanjaks of Small Artaan and Kars, which are part of Gurjistan Province, and in the Sanjaks of Zvare, Chrdili, Khojevan and Kars, in the Sanjaks of Verishan, Doshkaia, Oltis, and Germuchek Nahiyes.

In the fund of Defters compiled for tax purposes, the "Extensive Defter of Upper Adjara Liva" is preserved in 558 fonts, which covers the whole gorge of the river Acharistskali.

The short Defter of the issuance of Khases, Zeamets and Timars of Kars, Artaan, Kaghizman, Gechman Livas is kept in the catalog, encrypted 627 and is dated 29 November 19, 1588. An extensive Defter of the population and their income of the Livas of Mamirvani, Small Artaan, and Kars, dated September 4, 1595 refers to the Georgian territories. There is also an extensive book of Artanuji Liv protected by 1139 ciphers, which includes Taoskari, Ishkhan and Kakhi in addition to the Artanuji valley.

One of the most interesting documents is the extensive and short Defters of Batumi Liva encrypted with 1138 and 1140 ciphers. The first is dated 1705 and the second is dated 1706. Documents include the suburbs of Batumi and the territory of Eastern Chaneti.

A brief description Defter of the Timars and leases and of Sanjaks of Kars, Zarushad, Artaan, Gechvan, and Kaghizman dates back to 1632. The same areas are included in a small Defter of 1678, encrypted by 807 ciphers.

Extensive Defters describing the population and income of Tbilisi Vilayet dated 1728, are presented separately.

The article provides detailed information about these documents and discusses how important they are for Georgian (and not only) historiography.

Keywords: Georgia, Ottoman, Defter, Archive