The Features and Activities of F rka- Islahiye (The Division of Renovation)

19 century is a period in which the foundations of “traditional empires”, also the bases of OttomanState, changed in a radical way. A new understanding of society and state, based on the premisesof language-culture-nation and spurred by the French Revolution, changed the international policiesthroughout the Europe. States having multi-cultural and multi-national structures such as OttomanState witnessed crisis during this period. Moreover, Ottoman State had to struggle with the interventionsof big states, which were intended to facilitate the process of disintegration and during these times, thestate was losing power.Since the Ottoman society lacked crucial social and civic parties that assume responsibility ofchange, it could be said that the Ottoman bureaucracy assumed that role. Assuming this role whichfitted the traditional structure of the state, consequently, resulted in intervention of the state in all areasof life.From the beginning of the 19th century, to control the increasing out-of-control domains andfacilitate the transition from nomadic life to settled life, housing policies that had been implemented foryears accelerated. The foundation of F rka-i islahiye (Division of Renovation) was a result of these expectations.Although conducted in the recent past, practices of F rka-i islahiye are regarded as militaryactions. However, it should be noted that, F rka-i islahiye which re-established the authority of statebetween the years of 1865-1866 in ukurova, Gebel-i Bereket (Mount Gavur) and Mount Kozanwas not only a military action but also an organization which managed the settlement movements ofnomadic tribes. Beside this, the villages and cities that were founded at these times, later, have becomeimportant centers and played crucial roles in development of neighboring cities. The reason of foundationof F rka-i islahiye dates back to Crimean War which took place in 1853. Military difficulties experiencedespecially in finding soldiers to fight in Crimean War brought about a call for soldiers from the regionsof Cebel-i Bereket and Mount Kozan. However, this call remained unanswered because of oppositionsof tribes to the state.