Lemnos Voivode Abdülkerim Ağa (1784-1796)

Abstract

With its proximity to Istanbul, Lemnos Island had come to the forefront as one of the important provincial headquarters of the Ottoman Empire's shipbuilding activities, which started in the 18th century, albeit on a small scale. Many rulers on the island are known to have built ships for the Ottoman Navy. One of the most influential administrators who built ships in the region was Voivoda Abdülkerim Ağa, who was one of the inhabitants of the island and was appointed to an administrative position in the Ottoman State. Abdülkerim Ağa, who was personally responsible for the shipbuilding of the Ottoman State in different periods, successfully completed his missions. Pasha was exiled to Rhodes Island with his brother Yusuf due to the cruelties he committed to the people during his tenure, and after the subsequent trial the decapitated heads of the two brothers were sent to Istanbul. Abdülkerim Ağa's heritage was confiscated by the state, and his estate was returned to his family only after his debts were paid to the state. Many of the documents in the archive about Ağa are about the bad administration led by him. In the meantime, it was been documented that the immovables of the Voivode were seized by the people after their execution following the exile. In this article, which was written by making use of Ottoman archive documents, the rise of the agha’s, who already had political influence in the region, to the state in a short time with his shipbuilding activities, and his murder in a short time were discussed.