Nisanci
Encyclopedia
Nisanci was a high post in Ottoman
bureaucracy . The word nisancı literally means court calligrapher or sealer and the original duty of the nisancı was to seal royal precepts.
(1324–1361) the name nisancı came into use during the reign of Murat II (1421–1451). According to the law of Mehmet II (1451–1481) nisanci was a member of the divan
(Ottoman government). Beginning by the mid 18th century, the post lost its former importance and in 1836 it was abolished.
and the grand vizier
. The nisancı was also responsible in supervising the divan’s archives and keeping the records of the timar
system (lands granted by the Ottoman sultans to bureaucrats and sipahi
soldiers in return to their services.) Up to 17th century the post of nisancı was also the equivalent of foreign ministry. But, during the reign of Mehmet IV (1648–1687), reisülküttap
(literally the chief of clerks) a previously subordinate post of Nisanci, replaced nisancı in foreign office.
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
bureaucracy . The word nisancı literally means court calligrapher or sealer and the original duty of the nisancı was to seal royal precepts.
History
Although the post of the court calligrapher was established during the reign of OrhanOrhan I
Orhan I or Orhan Bey was the second bey of the nascent Ottoman Empire from 1326 to 1359...
(1324–1361) the name nisancı came into use during the reign of Murat II (1421–1451). According to the law of Mehmet II (1451–1481) nisanci was a member of the divan
Divan
A divan was a high governmental body in a number of Islamic states, or its chief official .-Etymology:...
(Ottoman government). Beginning by the mid 18th century, the post lost its former importance and in 1836 it was abolished.
Duties of the Nisancı
The nisanci was responsible in sealing the precepts of the sultanSultan
Sultan is a title with several historical meanings. Originally, it was an Arabic language abstract noun meaning "strength", "authority", "rulership", and "dictatorship", derived from the masdar سلطة , meaning "authority" or "power". Later, it came to be used as the title of certain rulers who...
and the grand vizier
Grand Vizier
Grand Vizier, in Turkish Vezir-i Azam or Sadr-ı Azam , deriving from the Arabic word vizier , was the greatest minister of the Sultan, with absolute power of attorney and, in principle, dismissable only by the Sultan himself...
. The nisancı was also responsible in supervising the divan’s archives and keeping the records of the timar
Timar
Timar is a land granted by the Ottoman sultans between the fourteenth and sixteenth centuries, with a tax revenue annual value of less than 20 000 akçes. The revenues produced from land acted as compensation for military service. A Timar holder was known as a Timariot...
system (lands granted by the Ottoman sultans to bureaucrats and sipahi
Sipahi
Sipahi was the name of several Ottoman cavalry corps...
soldiers in return to their services.) Up to 17th century the post of nisancı was also the equivalent of foreign ministry. But, during the reign of Mehmet IV (1648–1687), reisülküttap
Reisülküttap
Reisülküttap was a bureaucratic post in the Ottoman Empire.Katip means clerk and reis means chief. So Reisülküttap was the chief of clerks in the Ottoman divan . There were three offices under his supervision...
(literally the chief of clerks) a previously subordinate post of Nisanci, replaced nisancı in foreign office.
Grand viziers of Nisancı origin
- Karamanlı Mehmet PashaKaramanlı Mehmet PashaKaramanlı or Karamani Mehmed Pasha was an Ottoman statesman who served as Grand Vizier in 1477–1481.-Early years:Born in Karaman he travelled to Constantinople to study in the medrese founded by Mahmud Pasha. Later on, he worked as a teacher in the medrese. Being a man of letters, in various...
(1477–1481) - Ayaşlı İsmail PashaAyaşlı İsmail PashaAyaşlı İsmail Pasha was a short term Ottoman grand vizier in 1688.- Early years :...
(1688-1688) - Elmas Mehmet Pasha (1695–1697)
- Nişancı Ahmet PashaNişancı Ahmet PashaNişancı Ahmed Pasha , also called Şehla Ahmed Pasha, was an Ottoman Grand Vizier during the reign of Mahmud I.- Early life :...
(1740–1742)