ISSN: 0041-4255
e-ISSN: 2791-6472

Süleyman Polat

Keywords: Extraordinary Tax, Bedel-i Yapağı (wool tax), Tekâlif-i İmdâdiye, Ottoman Empire

Abstract

Ottoman Empire, like most states at war, imposed extraordinary obligations on its citizens. Ottoman Empire met the demands that occured during the war by taxes imposed in accordance with the tekâlif-i örfiye principles. Otttoman Empire provided the necessary supplies for the basic needs of the army - especially food supplies- by this method. On the other hand, some special materials that were urgently needed during the war could be provided by this same method although it was not vey common. In this study we describe how wool (yapağı), which is a rarely used material in Ottoman campaigns, was provided from the citizens by tekâlif-i örfiye principles. Thus, we both describe the functioning of this extraordinary tax and how a problem encountered during the war was solved practically and quickly by the planners of the war.