Tuna Nehri Donanması'nın Kaptan Paşaları (18. Yüzyıl)

Kuruluşundan itibaren sınırlarını daha ziyade batıya doğru genişletme mücadelesi içinde olan Osmanlı Devleti, önce Balkanlara akabinde Avrupa’ya doğru açıldı. Balkanlar’da ve Avrupa’da kalıcı bir hâkimiyetten söz etmek, ancak doğal bir sınır niteliğinde olan Tuna Nehri’nde boy gösterecek bir donanmanın teşkiliyle mümkün olacaktı. Bunun için Osmanlı Devleti, 15. yüzyılın sonlarıyla 16. yüzyılın başlarında Tuna’nın aşağı kısımlarında kendi filolarını kurmuştu. Böylece vücuda getirdiği ince donanma ile Tuna havzasındaki gücünü perçinlemiştir. Tuna Nehri Donanması’nın başına da, Kaptan Paşa sıfatıyla donanmanın sevk ve idaresini yapmak üzere bir görevli atamıştır. Kaptan Paşa, görevlendirildiği bölgedeki mevcut filonun en yüksek askeri kumandanıdır. Bu çalışmamızda Osmanlı Devleti’nin Balkanlar’da ve Avrupa’daki hâkimiyetinin adeta sembolü olan Tuna Nehri Donanması’nın 18 yüzyıldaki başbuğları incelenmiştir. Özellikle arşiv kayıtlarından ve klasik kaynaklardan elde edilen bilgilerle, merkezden yapılan Kaptan Paşa atamaları ve donanmadaki görevleri geniş bir çerçevede ele alınmıştır.

Anahtar Sözcükler: Osmanlı Devleti, Tuna Nehri Donanması, Kaptan Paşa, Atama.

THE CAPTAIN PASHAS OF THE OTTOMAN NAVY ON THE DANUBE (18TH CENTURY)

ABSTRACT

Striving to push its borders especially towards the west as from its genesis, the Ottoman Empire first extended deep into the Balkans and then into Europe. It was clear that a permanent dominance over the Balkans and Europe would only be possible through a powerful navy cruising on The Danube, which constituted a natural border. To this end, in the late 15th and early 16th centuries, the Ottoman Empire formed its own fleet in the lower parts of the Danube. Thus, thanks to its navy light cruisers, the Ottoman Empire reinforced its influence on the Danube Basin. An officer with the title Captain Pasha was appointed to the command of the Danube Navy. Captain Pasha was the highest-rank in an Ottoman fleet. This study deals with the Captain Pashas in the Ottoman Navy on the Danube in the 18thcentury who were considered to be the symbols of the Ottoman dominance over the Balkans and Europe during this time. With reference to the information gathered especially from archival records and classical sources, the study dwells on the way the Captain Pashas were appointed and the way they performed their duties in the navy.

Keywords: The Ottoman Empire, the Danube Navy, Captain Pasha, Appointment

Anahtar Sözcükler: Osmanlı Devleti, Tuna Nehri Donanması, Kaptan Paşa, Atama.

THE CAPTAIN PASHAS OF THE OTTOMAN NAVY ON THE DANUBE (18TH CENTURY)

ABSTRACT

Striving to push its borders especially towards the west as from its genesis, the Ottoman Empire first extended deep into the Balkans and then into Europe. It was clear that a permanent dominance over the Balkans and Europe would only be possible through a powerful navy cruising on The Danube, which constituted a natural border. To this end, in the late 15th and early 16th centuries, the Ottoman Empire formed its own fleet in the lower parts of the Danube. Thus, thanks to its navy light cruisers, the Ottoman Empire reinforced its influence on the Danube Basin. An officer with the title Captain Pasha was appointed to the command of the Danube Navy. Captain Pasha was the highest-rank in an Ottoman fleet. This study deals with the Captain Pashas in the Ottoman Navy on the Danube in the 18thcentury who were considered to be the symbols of the Ottoman dominance over the Balkans and Europe during this time. With reference to the information gathered especially from archival records and classical sources, the study dwells on the way the Captain Pashas were appointed and the way they performed their duties in the navy.

Keywords: The Ottoman Empire, the Danube Navy, Captain Pasha, Appointment