Appointment of Bektashi Sheiks by the Petitions of Postnisin in Hacı Bektaş Veli Lodge (Pirevi)

Bektaşi Şeyhlerinin Hacı Bektaş Veli Tekkesi (Pirevi) Postnişinlerinin Arzlarıyla Atanmaları

Abstract

The center of the Bektashi sect is the Haci Bektas Veli Dervish Lodge. The Ottoman Empire see its “postnisin” in the Haci Bektas Veli Lodge as its addressee at the point of representing the Bektashis. Postnisin is one of the sons of Haci Bektas Veli, was a member of the Celebis, he was given the authority to present the sheikh candidates to the center to be appointed to all Bektashi lodges in the Ottoman Empire. As far as can be determined, the first document on this subject belongs to the year 1610. However, it was understood from the content of the document that Pirevi had this privilege right in the past years. This privilege granted to Pirevi was violated from time to time by people such as the governor, kadi, naib and mütevelli. Persons who were not competent in the appointments made as a result of the violation took over the management of the Bektashi lodges and seized the revenues of the lodges and unqualified people caused the devastation of the dervish lodges by mistreating the members of the sect. Pirevi, who did not remain silent about this situation, had complained to the center of such attempts in order to protect its privilege. In this direction, Pirevi was given a certificate of privilege that established its dominance over Bektashi lodges at certain intervals. Although documents containing privileges were given to Pirevi in certain periods, this privilege continued to be disregarded in the appointment of sheikhs in some lodges due to outside intervention. In this article, the concession right given to Pirevi and the situation in Bektashi lodges as a result of the violation of the right of privilege have been tried to be revealed.

Keywords: Bektashism, Hacı Bektaş Veli Dervish Lodge, Ottoman Empire, Prerogative, Right of Supply.