The Longest Decade of the Empire’s Treasury: 1853-1856 Crimean War and Ottoman State Finances Cover Image

İmparatorluk Hazinesinin En Uzun On Yılı: 1853-1856 Kırım Savaşı ve Osmanlı Maliyesi
The Longest Decade of the Empire’s Treasury: 1853-1856 Crimean War and Ottoman State Finances

Author(s): Cem Akin
Subject(s): National Economy, Economic history, International relations/trade, 19th Century, The Ottoman Empire, Financial Markets, Public Finances
Published by: Ahmet Arif Eren
Keywords: Crimean War; Ottoman State Finances; Foreign Debt; Domestic Borrowing; Crisis of State Finances;

Summary/Abstract: This study aims to investigate the economic factors behind the crisis of the state finances, caused by the effects of the Crimean War of 1853-56. In the 19th century, modernization of the economic structure was realized through administrative and fiscal restructuring within the framework of Tanzimat period reforms. The Crimean war that took place in such a context brought great financial burdens to the empire's treasury and the pressure caused by increased expenditure necessitated new methods to financing the state budget deficit. In this context, in addition to methods that were previously used as government financing instruments like short-term loans from Galata Bankers and paper money creation, external debt was borrowed from European financial markets for the first time and domestic borrowing securities were issued. The Ottoman government has postponed the crisis of state finances for a while through new financing methods. But the economic consequences of these financing instruments have led to more severe fiscal problems for the state in the following years.

  • Issue Year: 2/2018
  • Issue No: 3
  • Page Range: 57-91
  • Page Count: 35
  • Language: Turkish