Necip Melhame’nin Gölgesinde Bir İsim: Selim Raad Efendi
A Name in the Shadow of Necip Melhame: Selim Raad Efendi

Summary/Abstract: In the 19th century, with the Tanzimat and Islahat edicts, non-Muslims began to find more space for themselves in the Ottoman bureaucracy. During the reign of Abdulhamid II, there was a significant increase in the number of non-Muslims in the bureaucracy. It is noteworthy that Arabs took part in the bureaucracy during this period. Among these people, brothers Selim and Necip Melhame are among the most important. Selim Raad Efendi was Necip Melhame's brother-in-law and gained a place in the Ottoman bureaucracy as a result of this kinship. His first job was as the French chief clerk at the Bulgarian Commissariat headed by his brother-in-law Necip Melhame. After Necip Melhame's resignation as Bulgarian Commissioner, he did not continue in this position. He was then appointed as a member of the Council of State. While he was in this position, he was assigned to resolve some issues in Bulgaria. He also received the concession of Beirut electric tramway. He was known as Necip Melhame's man during the reign of Abdulhamid II. As a matter of fact, Selim Raad Efendi was dismissed from the civil service at a time of intense pressure and accusations against the Melhame family with the declaration of the Constitutional Monarchy II. In 1917, Necip Melhame and Selim Raad Efendi were exiled to Beysehir on the grounds that they were involved in some activities to change the government. They were then released with the right to go wherever they wished. In this study, it has been tried to examine what kind of duties Selim Raad Efendi held thanks to his kinship with Necip Melhame. The main sources of the study are Ottoman archival records as well as periodicals.

• Details
• Contents