Risking One’s Life for Others in Late Ottoman Istanbul: Tahlîs-i Can (Life-saving) and Imperial Rewards

Abstract

The Ottoman Empire conferred various medals and decorations to honor and encourage its subjects and public officials, whether Muslim or non-Muslim. Among these was the Tahlisiye Medal, introduced during Sultan Abdülmecid’s reign in the mid-19th century. Deriving its name from the term tahlisiye (rescue), the medal was instituted to honor individuals who risked their lives to save others amid the increasing frequency of accidents accompanying the expansion of maritime traffic. Its official regulation was published in 1892, during the reign of Sultan Abdülhamid II. Over time, the medal’s scope expanded to cover land-based incidents such as fires, natural disasters, traffic accidents, building collapses, and, in rare cases, workplace accidents. In addition to the Tahlisiye Medal, such acts were, in some cases, rewarded with the Medal of Merit (İftihar Madalyası), the Fifth Class of the Order of the Medjidie (Mecidî Nişanı), or, in certain instances, with funds allocated from the Sultan’s personal treasury. The awarding process involved investigations by the Ministry of Police (Zaptiye Nezareti) and the Ministry of the Interior (Dâhiliye Nezareti). Within this framework, the archival records produced document about the bureaucratic process operating through detailed information regarding the location and nature of the incident, as well as the identities and conditions of both the victim and the rescuer. These details are further noteworthy insofar as they provide significant insights into the social and symbolic functions of the practice. In this respect, the practice assumed a multifaceted function—elevating humanitarian values such as sacrifice and solidarity, promoting the emulation of such behaviors among other members of society, and reinforcing the bond between the state and its subjects.

This article has been reviewed by at least two reviewers using a double blind peer review model. A similarity check was performed to confirm that it was free of plagiarism.

It is declared that scientific and ethical principles were complied with during the preparation of this study and all the works referred are mentioned in the bibliography.

belleten@ttk.gov.tr

No artificial intelligence-based tools or applications were used in the preparation of this study. The entire content of the manuscript was produced by the authors in accordance with scientific research methods and academic ethical principles.

This work is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC).