Suphi Pasha:A statesmen who rendered great services to Turkish culture

T T - vS)/4< SUBüI PASI1A

A States1 *n who rendered great servi ces to Turkish Culture

Subhi Pasha was born on 12 November 1818 in Tripoli, korea. His father was Abdurrahman Sami Pasha, his mother was Adviye Rsbia ilanım of the same family.

The family had emigrated to Egypt during the Gore a revolt and Subhi Pasha's childhood had been spent in that country. Sami Pasha had personally taken care of his son's education and engaged capable teachers for him.

Subhi Bey worked in government administrations under his father's authority. He progressed rapidly. When he was only 1 ) years old he was appointed, secretary to the private office of .iehmed Ali Pasha, Governor of Egypt.

'’eh ed Ali Pasha who always looked after the province’s affairs devote- several hours of the day to driving anhund in his carriage. He investigated on the spot the work to be done in the places he visited. He took Subhi Fey along with him and made him take notes. He noticed that the young man carried out his job perfectly well

without a single mistake. He appointed him under-secretary of State. After giving him tne title of ", iraiay" he procotec him to the grade of "Ierik" by imperial irade {'decree) . Subhi Bey accompanied him to Istanbul and they returned together to Egypt.

The oralı family which was among those who left Egypt because of the cruelty and despotism of Abbas kasha who became Governor of Egypt after the eath of Uefcmed Ali Pasha followed by the death of his eldeslson Ibrahim lasha, settled in Istanbul in 1848 and took service with the Ottoman Govern ent.

Sufchi "ey was assigned to important posts such as that of member of the General Council of Education I eclis-i M a a r i f i Umumiye and member of f e Justice department of the Eigi Council Meclis-i Vnlây-i

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In 1g59 the "Defter emaneti" Book Department and "Tahriri Emlak idaresi" Heal Estate Begistry were united and Subhi Bey was put in charge of the administration. A census made of the population and real estate property in Istanbul, in the "Three Cities" and in the Golden Horn. Subhi Bey ordered the registration of one million four hundred thousand property deeds accumulated at the Defterdarlık Financial Department) and within one year these deeds were handed overt) their owners. The Defterdarlik’s revenues were increased to several times their former amount. The system of land registry was put in f rce in every Ottoman country. Staff was recruited and the people were taught to make it a habit to acquire title deeds.

In 1361"Subhi Fey became Minister of the Evkaf Mortmain Foundation i l l s father Sami Pash^ was at that time Minister of Education, so that both father and son attended the Council of Ministers.

The Evkaf’s accounts had been neglected for years and the U s u r y ’s liabilities and assets were in a most confused state. The Thtfsury was deeply in debt. Subhi Bey started by putting in order the books and records, collecting amounts due and payind debts. He set UP * provisional department for the purpose of examining

accounts left in abeyance during many years. Within three months

debts amounting to 24 thousand "kese akçe" (one kese akçe = 500 piastres were settled. The necessary items were bought with ready money.

The accumulated salaries of the staff were paid.

While Subhi 'ey was thus on the point of achieving a sound

organisation of the department, he was discharged from the cost he had occupied for less than four months.

The fraud "izir All Pasha would not admit the interference of the Sultan in administrative affairs and in such cases he would show great severity. During a Friday "Selamlık" (procession of the Sultan to the mosque , while Subhi Bey in his capacity of Evkaf Sinister

was holding the incense-burner, Sultan Abdulaziz who had been informed of some misdeeds committed by two members of the Evkaf's staff,

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-on the hasis of the imperial order -only, e a r n e d it out without in orming Âli Pasha. Âli Pasha 1hen insisted with the Sultan that Subhi Fey he immediately discharged. Subhi Pey was ap;oint d to his previous post as member of the High Council, and in addition

he was named Inspector of Rumeli. Starting with Kavala, he inspected successively the regions of Salonika, Ianina, Tirh^la and İşkodra. He found out that the tithe tax was not collected evenly and he

set the tax level in each village according to the payment capacity of the population. He recruited capable tax collectors, cancelled superfluous posts, dismissed unqualified employees. Financial affairs were put in order. Highway bandits who had been multiplyirg since

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The fact that Subhi Bey had been trained in ;ehmed Ali Pasha’s service has certainly had an Influence on his efficiency and success in managing administrative affairs. But he also had an innate interest in science. He was a specialist particularly in history, archeology and numismatics. One of the greatest services he ren ered as Minister of h due at ion has been the foundation of ttb, archeologic museum oren to the public.

The collection of antiquities brou bt together by Fet i Ahmed Pasha , Marshal of Tophane, and stored in the armour; of St. Irene church, later received tne title of "imperial Museum"; it could het be visited without going through many formalities and gettiig a special

authorisation which was very difficult to obtain. Several foreign archeologists who had come to Istanbul had to leave without being able to see the museum. Subhi Bey resolved to move into the Çinili Köşk ( Kiosk of Tiles) belonging to the Topkapi Palace tne antiquities stored in the military armoury, to establish a museum which could be freely visited by the public, to detach it from the Military and P l Q°e it under the authority of the Ministry of Education. But the action to be taken in accordance with this decision res very much delayed. In this period of arbitrary government, ministers and other officials pere often changed. Although Subhi Pey was nominated three times to the Ministry of Education, he was left at his post -for short periods only. Put he was always interested in archeology and in the museum's affairs.

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-When he was appointed Governor to Syria with the title of Vizir pasha) , he sent from there very valuable antiquities. One of the

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most important is- the anthropoid marble s a r c o p h a g i . The story of the stones he sent from iiama^is a curious one :

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Two Americans, J.A. Johnson and hr. Jessup were strolling through the bazaar at Hamath... They spotted four stones with a number of small figures and signs... As soon as Johnson approached the stones, intending to touch them, the natives raised a hue and cry, gesticulated frantically and boohed to be on the point of attacking him.

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In 1872 the Governor of Syria, Subhi Pasha, hearing of the Hamath stones, permitted the Reverend William Wright fto accompany him on an inspection tour. Meanwhile two other groups of travelers had been in Hamath and made vain attempts to see the by now notorious stones.

Eut Wright had the support of the Governor. The Pasha sent soldiers. With their assistance Wright chiseled the stones out of the walls of the building — a difficult task repeatedly interrupted by demonstra­ tions on the part of the natives who were firmly convinced that these stones were their remedy against rheumatism - as the Aleppo stone was supposed to cure ophtalmia.

^With the stones temporarily deposited in the Pasha's guest house, one of the bearers reported that the streets were swarming with angry mobs. Rumor had it that fanatics intended to ste^m the building and destroy th -tones rather than have them sent abroad. The police were said to be on the side of the people of Hamath.

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I saw now that a crisis was reached” , Wright wrote. Accompanied by an armed guard, be went out into the streets. All were fixed on him with hatred, and menace. He addressed the- mob, assuring them th"t the Pasha would pay them amply compensation for the stones. The crowd flung back scornful replies; they knew, they said, what such

promises of money were worth. Seeing their mood, Wright took a stronger line. They must disperse and go about their business. If there were any violence, he said, the Pashf would meet out dreadful punishments.

t(He returned to the guest house in a state of intense uneasiness. "It was an anxious and sleepless night” ,he noted.

The night passed without incident. The following morning Subhi Pasha, to the speechless amazement of the inhabitants, paid the promised price. But the indignation which firm words had temporarily suppressed

and money had placated flamed up once more. Wild dervishes rushed through the streets crying aloud that e fiery rain of stars had descende during the night. The meteor shower had, as a matter of fact, been unusually brilliant. The people sent r delegation to the Pasha, for was this not a sign from Heaven that the stones should not be removed ?

The Pasha considered the question for a long time. Then he asked whether the falling stars had done any damage. Had any people or

domestic animals been killed ? The delegates admitted that nothing of the sort had happened. Whereupon the Pasha asked a Solomon's question; what better sign of heaven's consent could there have been than that splendid display in the sky/

That settled the question. The trouble subsided. The stones were shipped off to Constantinople. William Wright was given permission to , tale impressions of them, and these were sent to the British Museum.v ^

Subhi Pasha was not left even six months in his post of Governor of yria. However, in this brief span of time he made important reforms and established the Government's authority over the rebellious tribes in the region.

In 1373 Subhi Pasha was again nominated Minister of Education. This time he remained two and a half months in his post. On 8 April 1874 he published the "Antiquities Regulations" dated 2n p'’<’or 1291, containing articles. In this way he put a limit to the free

exportation of antiquities to foreign countries. It is "ell known that apart from countless other treasures, the Venus o; .Tilo, now in thehiaivre Museum, and the Parthenon frieze in the British Museum were exported from Turkey.

The opening of the "Imperial Museum" took piece only on 19 August 1880. Few people came, as this occurred during the month of Ramazan. Miinif Pasha, who was then Minister of Education, made a. speech

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-underligning the feet that we had been late in giving importance to antiauities. He said: "I publicly express my deep appreciation of thé high services rendered by their Excellencies my eminent

predecessors in organising this Imperial Mueseum and I feel very happy that it? inauguration chanced to happen during m£ duty period". One day in the week was reserved for the ladies' visit to the museum.

Subhi Pasha has occupied the post of Minister three times at the Ministr. of Education, twice at the Ministry of' Pi nance, five times

at the Ministry of Evkaf. He was respected among the inisters and his recommendations were followed. On } March 1681 the German director of the museum, hr. Dethier, d ed. Up to that time, as a rule, only foreigners were appointed as director' to the museum. Again, a foreign specialist was being sought. Subhi Pasha who appreciated the high

qualities and merit of Hamdi Bey, son of Edhem Pasha, intervened in his favour and Hamdi Bey was nominated to the vacant post. Subhi Pasha then said: ’M o w 1 can die content". He fully supported Hamdi Bey

in all his actions. In particular, he helped very much in the opening of the School of line Arts.

In 1881 Subhi Pasha was nominated Minister of Commerce. He sent to Germany six young men e>f--fcbtomean- nation*} ity to complete their training there. These were the first, students sent from Turkey to Germany. Hwie. } iXv-xr ; <*s*<L cr+ï tJjL A »*'•** i

Among! the schools Subhi Pasha had helped to establish mention should be made of the Girls School for Handicrafts end the Commercial School.

On 16 January 1883 &© opened tin Hamidiye Higher School of Commerce Hxd. later named Higher School for Economy and Commerce.

When the disastrous Russian war was ended Istanbul was filled up with refugees and all the great dwellings were opened to them. Subhi Pasha put at their disposal the servants’ quarters of his bouse.

He m-ve a pretty refugee girl to his third son Mahmud Bey as a bride. But many destitute young girls roamed barefooted in the streets.

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-Subhi Pesha was much affected by this sight and planned to open a handicrafts school to relieve their misery. Strange to say, some members of the Council of Ministers opposed this idea. They said:

"If these girls learn to read and write, they will write love letters and be corrupted". At last, Subhi Paşha applied to Sultan Abdulhamid, told him of his plan and explained that he could not do anything

because of the opposition he had met with. The Sultan said : - You open the school, I am behind you.

Thus the school was opened thanks to Sultan Abdulhamid's support. Subhi Pasha had a very strong character. When he filled the

functions of judge he always took great care that justice was strictly observed.

Following some false accusations made against Namık hemal to the effect that he was recruiting people with the intention to dethrone th*f Sultan, hemal was arrested under the accusation of political treachery. His case came before the Penal chamber of the Court of Appeal where Subhi Pasha was first President.

When K^mik hemal heard of this he became convinced that he would be dondemned. Three years earlier, in a letter he had written to

Abdulhak Hamid with reference to a dispute he had had wxfchx8HfehixRsi£kH xiixlsitxfHikctxSxsixIaski on a literary subject, he had attacked Subhi Pasha and his father Sami Pasha and cursed them in unmentionably coarse language. This letter had been divulgated.

Sultan Abdulhatpld was closely interested in this lawsuit. Before the day of t ial he sent his brother-in-law Celaleddin ¿ ¿ u a to Subhi Pasha's summer residence at Çamlıca. While strolling in the garden with his host, Celaleddin Pasha put to him the following question:

- 7* hat are you going to do about hemal Subhi lashe answered:

- His Majesty may rest assured that justice will be observed. When Subhi Pasha related the matter to his daughter Ayşe Hanım, she asked :

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- Sir, do you fear the Sultan? Her father replied:

one day. He is the only one I fear.

The Court ruled the acquittal of Namık hemal.

Hemik hemal's hate turned into gratitude. In a letter of condolence he wrote on the occasion of Subhi Pasha's death to his brother Halim hey, he said: ’’Subhi Pgsha has been my benefactor in setting mo free from oppression".

Subhi Pasha died on 20 January 1866. He is buried in the graveyard of Sultan Mahmud's Turbe he&e- ^yyuuAj-e^u-c^,,^^

He knew French, Latin, Greek, Arabic and Persian. He is the first person in this country to have seriously studied numismatics.

He translated the first volume of Ibni Heldun's second book. Inis work was published under the title Miftah-al-^bar.

I further more, the txestise he wrote about the history and coins

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belonging to these two states, collection.

Most of thee are «u4— of his own —«h — CLKc^i^') _

fakiri 1st-a 1-1 bar)I f A -Nuqud_ val-Asar

there is a chapter~on the XrrTrô d lie t i o n of PcoTn.' T'/L.'tt_

Subhi I ‘'she was a member of several European scientific societies such as the Scientific Societies of Hungary and Bavaria, the Oriental Societies of Leipzig and Philadelphia. He had received the Gold Medal of Austria.

He possessed a valuable collection of coins. He sold it during the last year of his life when he was short of money. important part of this collection is now at the British Museum. Subhi Pasha had not been able to follow in his private life the system of savings he had successfully applied in State affairs. He had gone into debt.

Subhi Pasha had a very large family and man} children. He had a su er residence at Qemlica. This was a large composed of two buildings, the harem nd the selatalik. Ee spent the winter at Istanbul where he had bought in the district of Horhor the vast

fort -r ora konak of Uadi Sfendi, administrative officer to the Grand

was 20.000 sq.meters. The gardens were in terraces. The stables and coaeh house were across the street. In ~ne part of the grounds was a vast kitchen-garden. The family and^visitors being in great numbers, a separate eight-room stone #9rsr?5rsw®t was built ts serve as selamlik. This wooden konak was burned down and in 18^4 the present stone konak was built ^nd used as the harem section. The

The selamlik section of the konak had acquired the character of an academy visited by eastern and western scientists arid authors. Scholars such as Renan, Hcrdtmann, were received there. Mordtmann stayed there for years and gave lessors to the pasha’s sons. As was th€. case with Sari Pasha's kon^k, visitors from Ottoman countries and forcing countries such as India, Afghanistan, Iran, came along and stayed there. The servants' quarters were full of poor people. Subhi Pasha had a kind word for each, inquired about their health and facilitated their affairs. He sent the servants' children.to school and had their lessons supervised by the konnk's teachers. Some of these C; ildren grew up to be government officials or doctors

Every evening four big baskets of bread were brought in from the oven to the l^onak; out of these two baskets of bheed were distributed to the poor people in the neighbourhood.

When Subhi Pasha died, not only his family but «11 Istanbul mourned for him.

After his death, those members of the fr ;ily as had not set up a separate home for themselves lived for years in tv ’ w .- k during winter and at Qamlics in summer. At last, th su mer residence at Qamlica and its vast park were sold, the house was demolished.

At the Istanbul konak, first the servant's' quarters and much later the selamlik part we e demolished, ta. gardens were divided in lots and sold. After the dent of Hamdullsh Subhi, youngest son of Subhi pasha th- k aiid all ite- furniture were sold bv auction.

konak’s staircase is of walnut wood, gilded.

Bibliography

"Maarif Rezareti Salnamesi, Birinci" The same Salname, 1318, pages >66, >68.

Mehmed Süreyya, "Sicilli Osmani", Istanbul, 1>08.

Ülkü, Halk Evleri Mecmuası” Ko 8, Sept. 1933» Vol.2. Ülkü, 1937, "Sanayii Kefise M ktebinin tesisi".

Vahid, "Haradi Bey vc Müzemiz", newspaper Milliyet. 5 April 1901 Aziz Oğan, "Türk Müzeciliğinin yüzüncü yıldönümü", Türkiye Turing

ve Otomobil kurumu, VI 1st anuul sevenler yakınlarından", 194?’, bulletin lîo. 61-62. *

Guides and archives of the Archéologie Museum, Istanbul

"Istanbul Yüksek îktisad ve Ticaret Mektebi 73 ci yılıg, 1883-1938 pages 44-48.

Journal Asiatique, série 6, vol.II, page 2>4.

"Les premier;' élèves ottomans en Allemagne" "Uewspep r Lloyd.Ottoman,

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1917

A?. Ceram "Enge Sclucht und Schwarzer Berg, Entdeckung,des. v 7__ . Hethiter-Reiches" Hamburg, 1953» page 26-27

Roderic H. Davison "Reform in the Ottoman Empire, 1856-1876, Princeton University Press

1963

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SUBHİ PAŞA

l, a state minister and VJV-XXC* V/ v y j. •

Subhi Paşa was the son of Sami Paaa, ______ _ _ ___ _ . Hfi. was born in 1234 A.H., in Tripoli, in Morea. He studied ş jt -home from special teacher*. He could speak and uffte in Arabic :and Persian, and he could speak and read in Greek and Trench. He

wrote and published tw o treatises. Takmilat-al•Ibar fil-Nuqud val-Âsâr t

a history of the Arsacids and Selucidao, and a treatise on numismatics, entitled ,IIl^ - a l . Akhbar, concerning the o r i g i n ^ d general classificatip o coins and the creation and history of Islamic coins. He translated from^Arahic into Turkish the two volumes, »Unvan-al.»^-^ and

^ f van- 1 — Muhtada vol-KTmhnr, a history of the ancient peoples, by

ioni Khaldun, which he published under the title of Kiftah-al«Thar.

wrote a history of slam under the 1 itle of liaqayuk.aMellm fi *

~ yxkhii_..;.slan, and published the first volume.

At the age of thirteen, in the year 1247 of the He/rlra, he entered the service of Kehmed Ali Pa?a of Egypt ae seoretary. In the year 48 he was appointed president of the Civil office of Egypt, and in the year

, president of the Accountants' Office of the Treasury. In the year

r S T o f a i m ™ ? “ 3 A“ Tn the 61 hB

ollowin^the death of Mehmed Ali Paşa in the year 65 he settled in Istanbul. He was given the rank of <flf tflâ, second class. He was appointed an honorary member of the Board of Education, and in the year 67, of the Scümeni Dâniş/(Scientific Istitution), newly created.

In the end of the year 70 he was promoted to the first class o£ the

Ta lk °f U i a * /ith a salary of P O O ps. he was apnointed a member of

th9 Sigh C<mnc11* since abolished. In the month of Ramazan of the year

72 he was decorated with the third class of the Order of Mecidî. In toe year 73 he was vouchsafed the rank of bâlâ. In the beginning of the year 74 he was promoted to the second class of the Order of the Mecidî, and, in addition, appointed to the registration of the freehold properties in Istanbul, and he was granted a salary of 15.000 ps. At the end of the year 76 he was transferred from the

membership of the High Council to the Superintendence of the Imperial register with a salary of 7,500 ps. In the end of the year 77 he was appointed inister of the Jvqaf (mortmain estates) with a salary of

35.000 ps. In the beginning of, the year 78 he was again appointed

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additionally appointed to inspect and make necessary reforms in

western Rumeli a with a supplementary salaty of 25,000 ps. In the

beginning of 84 he was appointed Minister of Education with a monthly salary of 25,000 ps£. In the end of the same yea*he was appointed

member of the ^oucll of State with a monthly salary of 17,000 ps. In the year 86 he resigned and was granted a pension of 5,C O ps.

He remained x«*i3CRix±*xht»xkBraEEk a few months retired in his konak.

In the month of Jemazilewel of the yea» 87 he returned to the Council of State with a monthly salary of 20,000 ps. In the month of eceb of the same year he was promoted to the high rank of vezir and appointed

governor of Syria with a salary of 50,000 ps. In the year 88 he was

bestowed the first class of the Mecidî. ^n the month o* ilqade of

the year 89 he retired and returned to the Council of State with a salary of 20,000 ps.

In the beginning of the year 90 he was dismissed from that member­

ship and he remained retired for eight months with a pension of'10,00 0 pi

In the month of Şevval of the year 90 he was appointed again to the

Council of State with a salary of 15,000 ps. m the year ’>2 he was

appointed First President of the Court of Appeal with a monthly salary of 20,000 ps. In the month of Sefer of the year 95 he was appointed Minister of Education and additionally Minister of the

Evqag. He retired three months later, ’or a year and a half? without

an allowance.

He was decorated with the Order of the Lion and Sun by the Government of Iran, the Order of St. Anthony by the Government of Russia, and the Order of the Grand Crown by the Duchy of Mecklenburg^ He received fehe gold Education Medal from the Government of Austria^

and also medals from other governments. He was a member of of the *

Scientific Institutions of Budapest and Bavaria, and of the astitutlons of Oriental Studies ©f Leipzig and the United States of America.

It - was by the rule of destiny that he vs removed occasionally

from his several offices. He resigned only from the ^oudll of State,

twicp. So far no was ever made against him and he was never_

brought to a trial.

Dated 20 Zilqade 92, 23 October 95

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Subhi Paşa was appointed Minister of the Evqaf on the 2nd day

of zilhicce 96 with a salary of 20,000 ps., for the third time.

On Jemazilâhır 7th 97 he was appointed Minister of inance with

the same salary.On the 7 th e*f Şevval of the same year, when new

appointments were made he retained his office. On Muharrem 8th 98

he was appoined again Minister of the Evqaf with the same salary.

v '~- ... On CemazilShira 99, similarly with a salary of 20,000 ps. he was

jtransferred to the Minis terry of Commerce and Arriculture. On December

•"'1 m \ 13th^99T~3efer^N:h 1301, his salary ws raised to 30,000 ps., which,

i protocol w .#->

after inquiry ws notified by writ to the audit offices respectivelyM

\ot the Imperial Divan, of the Minister of the Evqaf, and of the

Director General of Expenses.

Sub hi Paşa, ofi ^efer 4th 97, when he was Minister of^the Gvqaf,

was honored by-^the first clnss of the Order of Osmanî, <sn the 16th of Şevval of the same year, i.e. when he we Minister of inence, with the jeweled star of^the örGer of Mecidî. On Zilqade 26th 1302 he was bestowed the jewled star of the Order of O s m m î . On the 15th

of Zilhicce cf the same year, which corresponds to July 13th 1301, when chan es occured in the Cabinet, he retired from the aforesaid Ministry of Commerce and Agriculture. Two days later, a ^ i n with a

salary of 30,000 ps. he was appointed Minister of the Ivqaf.

Subhi Paşa died on the 11th day of Rebiulfthir of the year 1303, which corresponds to January 5th 1301.

"In r'ûstantinopİ9 ... two Turkish schools for -iris which were °unded in 1883 ljy Sub hi Paşa... much prospered under the direction of Mi s&esCal.,vassi and Hanley. The first has one hundred, hoarders

and eighteen teachers, the second, at Istanbul, 114 or 130 day scholars ...-•and nine teachers. The -iris are under the charge of the government • , v/ho provide "or their food and clothing.

” he studies are : Turkish language, history and geography of th0 Ottor5an drain- and piano. As for theheedlework they are taught Oriental and European systems of it and they produce very fil*e embroideries and Turkish carpets.”

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Two ohool6 4re on«no,5 TstenV>l. On«, a bonraingpiichool was o'abH-hfi in th« Tnhnaln Konağı, rt BJnMrdlrek. Tha/İfŞŞ^Î? 3 $ ,

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---o * p v i'j u i i u j r c i , i j i e / s e r v a n t s v/er e

a l ' ° * ’"“ >* 11,15 rafnraor.. «%. g i r l , wnr« a lao /H w irb txatttlrartt« »

reacing and writing and arithmetic. /taught

It was on Subhİ Paşa*» initiative and with his help that were fpunned the School of Pine Arts by flamdi bey and the Selcuo Hatun Kız: Enstitüsü and M d h a t p a ş a Enstitjİü st Üsküdar.

See the magasin^glkü, Sanayi i t n f l s e i-lektebinin l e s i s i . ı g y f .

Kişisel Arşivlerde İstanbul Belleği Taha Toros Arşivi