A Socio-Political Study on the Deportation of Some Albanians to Anatolia Due to Their Rebellion (1847-1851)

Disturbed by Tanzimat s new tax and military practices in Southern Albania, known as Toskeria, a rebellion occurred in 1847 with the provocations of the beys and notables of Albania. The rebels captured after the rebellion was suppressed, were sentenced to rowing penalties in Tersane-i Amire in Istanbul, according to the level of their crimes. Those who completed their sentences were deported to various places in Anatolia. Some Albanian beys and notables were also subjected to compulsory rebellion in Konya on the grounds that they were provocative. In order to completely cut the relations of the notables with their hometowns and to ensure that they are settled in Konya, the sale of their properties in their hometowns was made. In addition, it was decided to send the families in their hometown to Konya. In this regard, there was an intense traffic of correspondence between Rumeli army commandership and the Governor of Ioannina (Yanya) and Sublime Porte. Families are on their way to Anatolia even though they have civil servants with them. However, it was decided to keep the families in Tirhala and Yenişehir for a while due to an outbreak of cholera on the road. Later, some families were also taken to Thessaloniki. Albanian notables and other exiles in different parts of Anatolia stated that they wanted to return to their country by presenting petitions frequently. Sublime Porte made a policy change regarding South Albania three years later and appointed the grandson of Tepedelenli Ali Pasha, Ismail Pasha, as the governor of Ioannina. Later, in the first place, families still living in Thessaloniki, Tirhala and Yenişehir were allowed to return to their hometown, and shortly afterwards, forgiveness was found in Konya. Thus, by 1851, Albanian notables returned to their countries. In this article, the above mentioned events, the policy of the state in this regard and the social and psychological conditions of the exiles will be analyzed in the light of Ottoman archival documents.