On the Exercise of Coastal Control through Observation and Long Distance Communication Systems in Seljuk Territory in the XIIIth Century

On the Exercise of Coastal Control through Observation and Long Distance Communication Systems in Seljuk Territory in the XIIIth Century

XIII. Yüzyıl Selçuklu Topraklarında Gözetlemeye Dayalı Kıyı Kontrolü ve Uzun Mesafe İletişim Sistemleri Üzerine

T. M. P. DUGGAN – Mehmet Emin ŞEN

PHASELIS II (2016) 9-29.
DOI: 10.18367/Pha.16002
Received Date: 12.02.2016 | Acceptance Date: 20.03.2016
Online Publication Date: 01.04.2016
Copyright © PHASELIS Journal of Interdisciplinary Mediterranean Studies, 2016

Abstract: The exercise of coastal control in Rūm Seljuk territory in the XIIIth century, on both Mediterranean-White and Black Sea coastlines is almost entirely unaddressed in the modern literature, although the title of the responsible official, when not directly administered by the Sultān, is recorded, emir-i sevahil, Emir of the Coastlines, and after 1250, malik al-sawahil, Ruler of the Coastlines.

The mountainous, indented S.W. coastline of the Sultanate by 1226 extended for more than 600 km, Dalaman to near Silifke, yet rapid communications were essential to the exercise of effective state control. How did timely information reach the sultān in his peregrinations and campaigns – news of the passage of a Crusader or pirate fleet, an uprising, or the arrival of envoys?

This brief article outlines the communication systems that would have been employed, relates them to “The Second Sulaymān”, the laqub awarded to Rūm Seljuk Sultans from 1205 to 1247, and suggests the manār tower immediately to the west of Şarâb-salâr han, 15 km west of Alanya was a station in this network, signals from this structure being clearly visible from the castle of ‘Ala’iyya-Alanya lying to its East.

Keywords: Rūm Seljuk Sultanate • Communications • Manar • Jinn

Top

Öz: XIII. yüzyılda Rum Selçuklu karasularındaki hem Akdeniz hem de Karadeniz kıyı kontrolü uygulamasına, modern literatürde hemen hemen hiç değinilmemiştir; ancak doğrudan Sultan tarafından idare edilmediği zamanlar, bu işten sorumlu memurun unvanı, “Emir al-Savahil”, “Sahillerin Emiri” olarak ve 1250 yılından sonra ise bu unvan, “Malik al-Savahil”, “Kıyıların Maliki” olarak kayıtlarda geçiyordu.

1226 yılına kadar Sultanlığın dağlık ve girintili-çıkıntılı Güney Batı sahili, 600 km’den daha fazla uzundu. Dalaman’dan Silifke yakınlarına kadar. Bununla birlikte etkili bir devlet kontrolü için hızlı haberleşme zaruriydi. Haçlıların veya korsan filolarının geçişi, bir ayaklanma veya bir elçinin gelişi nasıl oluyordu da anlık bir bilgi olarak gezide veya seferde olan Sultana ulaştırılıyordu?

Bu kısa makale, kullanılmış olan haberleşme sistemini özetlemektedir ve 1205 tarihinden 1247 tarihine kadarki Rum Selçuk Sultanlarına İkinci Süleyman lakabı verilmiştir; bu durum da Şarab-salar Han’ın hemen batısında, Alanya’nın 15 km batısındaki manar kulesinin bu ağın bir istasyonu olduğunu ön görmektedir. Bu yapıdan gönderilen işaretler, ‘Ala’iyya-Alanya’nın doğusunda uzanan kaleden net bir şekilde görülebiliyordu.

Anahtar Sözcükler: Rum Selçuklu Sultanlığı • Haberleşme • Manar • Cin

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T. M. P. Duggan – M. E. Şen, “On the Exercise of Coastal Control through Observation and Long Distance Communication Systems in Seljuk Territory in the XIIIth Century”. Phaselis II (2016) 1-17. DOI: 10.18367/Pha.16002

Permanent Link: http://dx.doi.org/10.18367/Pha.16002

T. M. P. DUGGAN

Öğr. Gör., Akdeniz University, Mediterranean Civilisations Research Institute, Antalya. tmpduggan@yahoo.com

Mehmet Emin ŞEN

Doç. Dr., Akdeniz University, Mediterranean Civilisations Research Institute, Antalya. mehmeteminsentarih@gmail.com