Suleyman, the Ayan (Notable) of Gumulcine, 1761(?)-1804
Necmettin Aygün
Keywords: Ottoman Empire, Western Thrace, Tokadcıklı Suleyman (Suleyman of Tokadcık), Gumulcine, Ayans (local notables)
Abstract
Having the opportunity of ruling a land like Western Thrace where at least economic conditions were convenient in a time when Ottoman Empire had political and military weaknesses and an inclination towards decentralization in state government had rooted, Tokadcıklı Suleyman (Suleyman of Tokadcık) lost his earnings as well as his life, since, it seems, he preferred his wealth and dignity he obtained during his ayan-ship to state traditions, and failed to follow a policy of balance vis-a-vis the state and the people around him.