AN IMPORTANT SYMBOL OF THE TRANSITION FROM OLDER TRADITIONS TO MODERNITY IN THE OTTOMAN STATE:
OSMANLI DEVLETİNDE GELENEKTEN YENİLİĞE GEÇİŞİN ANLAMLI BİR SEMBOLÜ: MECİDİ NİŞANLARI

Author : Kemal Hakan TEKİN
Number of pages : 393-411

Abstract

In the Ottoman State, nishans served to encourage service and loyalty to the state, and were considered as symbols of independence. Nishans entered into use in the Ottoman State long after the first Ottoman medals appeared. In appearance, nishans were more imposing than medals, often decorated with precious stones, and prepared at great expenses from the state budget. Nishans, which became common at the time of Sultan Mahmud II, were awarded to Ottoman citizens and foreigners who successfully performed their state duties, and who demonstrated great loyalty, self-sacrifice and service to the Ottoman State. Medjidie Nishans, on the other hand, first began to be awarded at the time of Sultan Abdülmecid, who was known for his reformist character. After Medjidie Nishans first appeared, all previous nishans were abolished, and strict regulations were defined regarding the criteria according to which Medjidie Nishans could be awarded, as well as the number of these nishans that could be awarded at any given time. These nishans, which rivaled Western medals in both their appearance and the prestige that was associated with them, are of particular importance in the history of the Ottoman State. Medjidie Nishans symbolized the intermingling of Ottoman traditions and European modernity, and soon became an integral part of Ottoman state traditions. In this context; the Medjidie Nishan replaced all other previous nishans on the portraits of Ottoman Padishahs, and also began to be mentioned in written works regarding the Ottoman State. Similarly, images of this new nishan were often depicted in the pictures of books on history, geography and the genealogical tree of the Ottoman dynasty that were published at the time. The aim of our study was to provide a more detailed description of the Medjidie Nishan, which was one of the important symbols of the transition from older traditions to modernity, and which continued to be awarded until the very end of the Ottoman State. In this context, we will draw attention to particular features and characteristics of these nishans.

Keywords

The Ottoman State, Sultan Abdulmec

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