Takvim-i Vekayi

{{Short description|First fully Turkish-language newspaper}} {{Infobox newspaper | name = Takvim-i Vekayi | logo = | image = | caption = | type = | format = | owners = | founder = | publisher = Official newspaper of the Ottoman Empire | editor = | staff_writers = | founded = October 1831{{efn|''État présent de l'empire ottoman'' provides the date of "1 Jumada al-Ula 1247".<ref>{{cite book|author=Ubicini, Abdolonyme|author-link=Abdolonyme Ubicini|author2=Abel Pavet de Courteille|title=État présent de l'empire ottoman|publisher=Dumaine|year=1876|page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=rfpXhDl1qLwC&pg=PA168 168]}} - At the Bavaria State Library</ref>}} | political_position = | language = Turkish, Armenian, Greek, Arabic, French | ceased_publication = 4 November 1922 | relaunched = | circulation = | sister_newspapers = | ISSN = | oclc = }} thumb|right|''Takvim-i Vekayi'', 1831, Ottoman Turkish edition '''''Takvîm-i Vekâyi''''' ({{langx|ota|تقویم وقایع}}, meaning "Calendar of Events") was the first fully Turkish language newspaper. It was launched in 1831 by Sultan Mahmud II, taking over from ''Le Moniteur ottoman'' as the official gazette of the Ottoman Empire. With the beginning of the Tanzimat reform period, ''Takvim-i Vekayi'' produced versions in multiple language editions. It ceased publication in 1878, resuming in 1891–2, before being closed again. It resumed in 1908 until around 1922.<ref>FORSNeT (1999), osmanli700.gen.tr, [http://www.osmanli700.gen.tr/english/ourselection/select_5.html The First TURKISH NEWSPAPER (''Takvim-i Vekayi'')]</ref> Between 1831 and 1878, it published a total of 2119 issues – an average of slightly less than one a week.<ref>Kemal Salih Sel (1964), "Press Advertising in Turkey", ''International Communication Gazette'' August 1964 10: 250-258, doi:10.1177/001654926401000304</ref>

In addition to the Ottoman Turkish, it had versions in French, Armenian, and Greek.<ref name=StraussConsp22>{{cite book |last=Strauss |first=Johann|url=https://menadoc.bibliothek.uni-halle.de/menalib/download/pdf/2734659?originalFilename=true |year=2010 |chapter=A Constitution for a Multilingual Empire: Translations of the ''Kanun-ı Esasi'' and Other Official Texts into Minority Languages | editor=Herzog, Christoph|editor2=Malek Sharif|title= The First Ottoman Experiment in Democracy|publication-place= Wurzburg|pages= 21–51 }} ([http://menadoc.bibliothek.uni-halle.de/urn/urn:nbn:de:gbv:3:5-91645 info page on book] at Martin Luther University) - Cited: p. 22 (PDF p. 24)</ref> The Greek version had a title derived from the French ''Moniteur Ottoman'', Othōmanikos Minytōr (Οθωμανικός Μηνύτωρ).<ref name=StraussConsp26>{{cite book |last=Strauss |first=Johann|url=https://menadoc.bibliothek.uni-halle.de/menalib/download/pdf/2734659?originalFilename=true |year=2010 |chapter=A Constitution for a Multilingual Empire: Translations of the ''Kanun-ı Esasi'' and Other Official Texts into Minority Languages | editor=Herzog, Christoph|editor2=Malek Sharif|title= The First Ottoman Experiment in Democracy|publication-place= Wurzburg|pages= 21–51 }} ([http://menadoc.bibliothek.uni-halle.de/urn/urn:nbn:de:gbv:3:5-91645 info page on book] at Martin Luther University) - Cited: p. 26 (PDF p. 28)</ref> Johann Strauss, author of "A Constitution for a Multilingual Empire: Translations of the ''Kanun-ı Esasi'' and Other Official Texts into Minority Languages," stated that "some writers" stated that versions in Arabic and Persian existed.<ref name=StraussConsp22/>

==Early years of publication== The ''Takvim-i Vekayi'' was first published under Mahmud II. The first publication was in the year 1831. Mahmud II's reign was at the beginning of the Tanzimat period of reform in the Ottoman Empire. Many of the reforms of this time period were heavily influenced by relations with Europe and new European ideas being taught in schools in the Ottoman Empire. Before Mahmud II, Selim III was one of the first Sultans to establish relations with European powers. Between the years 1793-1796 he established the first embassies in London, Vienna, Berlin, and Paris. In 1807 he was overthrown by the ulama and Janissaries who did not like the French influence he was allowing. Mustafa IV followed after him.

Next Mahmud II came to power and immediately laid a foundation of power by giving positions in the ''ulema'', scribal service, and army to supporters of his beliefs. He wanted a centralized government with more control for the ''ayans'' rather than the ''ulama''. He reorganized the military and abolished the janissaries during The Auspicious Event. To strengthen a centralized hold on the provinces he created a postal system, more infrastructure like roads, and the ''Takvim-i Vekayi''.<ref name=turkey>{{cite book|last=Zürcher|first=Erik J.|title=Turkey : a modern history|year=2004|publisher=Tauris|location=London |isbn=1850433992|edition=3}}</ref>

The Ottoman Empire had a French newspaper since 1796 and one from Smyrna (İzmir) since 1824 but they were only read by foreigners in the empire. The ''Takvim-i Vekayi'' was the first official Ottoman Empire news. At the start of its publication a French version was printed too.<ref name="Shaw 1978">{{cite book|last=Shaw|first=Stanford J.|title=History of the Ottoman empire and modern Turkey (the years of the ottoman empire and the reign of Sultan Mehmed 1st.|year=1978|publisher=Cambridge Univ. Press|location=Cambridge [u.a.]|isbn=0521291666|edition=Reprint.|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/historyofottoman00stan}}</ref>{{page needed|date=September 2019}} Esad Erbili was the first editor.<ref>{{cite book|last=Mardin|first=Şerif|title=The genesis of young Ottoman thought a study in the modernization of Turkish political ideas|year=2000|publisher=Syracuse University Press|location=Syracuse, N.Y.|isbn=0815628617|edition=1st Syracuse University Press|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/genesisofyoungot00seri}}</ref> The newspaper was mainly circulated near the capital and read by the elite but it was still very beneficial for government use.

The statesmen at the beginning of the Tanzimat reform era needed a way to centralize the empire and in a completely different way than former leaders had done. Many historians think the economic reforms of this period were a failure but the communication reforms were a success. To centralize they needed to consolidate the government's forms and records. They limited redundant forms and by publishing the ''Takvim-i Vekayi'' were able to publicize government activity and notices in one place. Other forms of new media such as year books and volumes of legal texts were published to help centralize the government. <ref name=bebe>{{cite book|last=Findley|first=Carter V.|title=Bureaucratic reform in the Ottoman empire : the Sublime Porte, 1789-1922|year=1980|publisher=Princeton U.P.|location=Princeton, N.J.|isbn=0691052883}}</ref>

== Circulation == Circulation of the ''Takvim-i Vekayi'' fluctuated in circulation depending on the time period. In the beginning stages only civil servants, elites, and business men read the paper. It was also mostly read near the capital, not in faraway provinces. Circulation only grew during the Hamidian Era due to increase in literacy.

The title of the French precursor ''Le Moniteur ottoman'' was made into the title for the Greek version, '''''Othōmanikos Mēnytōr''''' ({{langx|el|Οθωμανικός Μηνύτωρ}}).<ref>Strauss, Johann. "Language and power in the late Ottoman Empire" (Chapter 7). In: Murphey, Rhoads (editor). ''Imperial Lineages and Legacies in the Eastern Mediterranean: Recording the Imprint of Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman Rule'' (Volume 18 of Birmingham Byzantine and Ottoman Studies). Routledge, 7 July 2016. {{ISBN|1317118448}}, 9781317118442. Google Books [https://books.google.com/books?id=gY-kDAAAQBAJ&pg=PT192 PT192].</ref>

== Censorship during the Hamidian Era ==

Abdul Hamid II did not want any notions of liberalism, nationalism, and constitutionalism in the press. Current affairs were no longer published during his rule. The ''Takvim-i Vekayi'' was then just filled with government legal notices and encyclopedia like articles about science, math, and other academic topics.<ref name=turkey />

Under Abdul Hamid II's rule censorship of the press was carried out by a considerably large group of people. The Domestic Press Directorate by 1908 contained twelve {{transliteration|ota|mufettis}} (inspectors), five {{transliteration|ota|mumeyyiz}} (assistants), and five examining clerks. They censored the newspaper, other printing establishments, and the theatre.

During Abdul Hamid II's reign one shut down of ''Takvim-i Vekayi''{{'}}s publication occurred due to what many historians think was a typesetter's error when publishing a legal act in the büstur part of the newspaper. Other publications were allowed to be run during this time but the ''Takvim-i Vekayi'' was shut down until the end of his reign in 1909.<ref name=bebe /> His censorship blocked revolutionary news spreading. The events in Macedonia during the Young Turks revolt traveled slowly throughout the empire due to the censorship of the press.

Even with the censorship Abdul Hamid II's other reforms regarding education caused the circulation of the newspaper to grow between 12,000 and 15,000 people, much larger than during the Tanzimat period.<ref name=turkey />

== Influence on political movements ==

=== The Young Ottomans ===

The Young Ottoman movement was based on young men taught in the Office of Translation. They received a western education where they were taught European liberalism but believed in Ottoman patriotism and creating a constitutional government based on Islamic traditions. They thought that Mahmud II's rule was based too heavily on European influences. They wanted to use westernized advancements in academics but implement them in an Islamic context.<ref name=bebe /> They saw the ''Takvim-i Vekayi'' as an official document of the government, used just for record keeping. It inspired them however, to publish their ideals in their own privately owned newspapers.

The first privately owned Ottoman Turkish newspaper was ''Ceride-i Havadis'' (Chronicle of Events) published in 1840 that included more news and international developments than the ''Takvim-i Vekayi''. This spurred the creation of more newspapers to help the Young Ottoman's cause. They include some of the following: # ''Tercüman-i Ahval'' (Interpreter of Situation) published in the 1860s # ''Tasuir-i Efkar'' (Illustration of Opinion) published by Ibrahim Sinasi # ''Avaz-i Millet'' (Voice of the People) published in the 1870s # Multiple newspapers was published in France by Namık Kemal in response to his disagreements with the Young Ottoman's lack of tradition and the Tanzimat's destruction of the check and balance system he thought the ''ulama'' had in place.

Namık Kemal created newspapers and pamphlets as a way to explain to his views. For example, he wrote about how he believed that European liberal ideas about fraternity and nationalism were comparable to the Islamic teachings about ''millet'' (community).<ref name=turkey />

=== The Young Turks ===

The Young Turks also saw the importance of the media and of the ''Takvim-i Vekayi''. When they rose to power they restarted the publication of the ''Takvim-i Vekayi'' and through the office of the Directorate of Legal Compilation published official legal mandates. This was done in conjunction with the printing of copies of legal certificates for government officials to have and spread throughout the empire.<ref name=bebe />

== Notable content ==

* In the 1830s Mahmud II reorganized the military in the hopes of having an auxiliary force throughout the empire. They would help with provincial security and work agricultural jobs during times of peace. To gain support for this army he published his plan in the ''Takvim-i Vekayi''. By 1836 the newspaper stated that 33 new battalions had been established.<ref>{{cite book|last=Aksan|first=Virginia H.|title=Ottoman wars 1700-1870: an empire besieged|year=2007|publisher=Pearson Education Limited|location=Harlow|isbn=978-0582308077|edition=Nachdr}}</ref> * Under the rule of Sultan Abdul Hamid II the newspaper served as a source to make official legislation. The Decree of July 1872 defined the roles the Council of State and Council of Ministers had in the legislative process. After this point once laws were made they were printed in the newspaper. Fifteen days from the laws publication it went into effect. If the newspaper was not frequently circulated in an area, the law would be publicly announced in that province for fifteen days and then go into effect.<ref name=bebe /> * During the First Constitutional period of the Ottoman Empire the Chamber of Deputies according to Article 78 of the new constitution mandated that all sittings be public or recorded for the public. Many times the Chamber of Deputies met in secret and did not disclose their sessions. The sessions that were public or closed to the public but not secret were documented and published in the ''Takvim-i Vekayi''. The minutes of these sessions started off as short but grew in length and detail in the newspaper as they continued.<ref>{{cite book|last=Devereux|first=Robert|title=The First Ottoman Constitutional Period, a study of the Midhat Constitution and Parliament|year=1963|publisher=Johns Hopkins Press}}</ref> * At one point complex programs of study were published in the ''Takvim-i Vekayi'' for students at the Office of Translation to study from.<ref name="Shaw 1978"/> * The announcement of Cemal Jamal Efendi to the Council in August 1870 was published in the newspaper. Someone attaining a political position was frequently announced.<ref>{{cite book|last=Keddie|first=Nikki R.|title=Sayyid Jamāl ad-Dīn "al-Afghānī" : a political biography|year=2010|publisher=ACLS History E-Book Project|location=New York|isbn=978-1597404679}}</ref>

== End of publication ==

On November 1, 1922, the Grand National Assembly decided to end the Sultanate and the Ottoman Empire ended. After 4,891 issues between 1831 and 1922, the ''Takvim-i Vekayi'' published its last issue on November 4, 1922.<ref name="Shaw 1978"/>

==See also== * Media of the Ottoman Empire

==Notes== {{notelist}}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==Further reading== *{{Commons-inline}} * {{cite journal|first=Özgür|last=Türesay|title=The Political Language of ''Takvîm-i vekayi'': the Discourse and Temporality of Ottoman 'Reform' (1831-1834)|translator=Naomi Cohen|journal=European Journal of Turkish Studies|doi=10.4000/ejts.6874|year=2020|volume=31|issue=31 |doi-access=free}} * Ágoston, Gábor; Masters, Bruce Alan (2008). ''Encyclopedia of the Ottoman Empire''. Infobase Publishing. {{ISBN|978-0816062591}}. * Hanioglu, M. Sukru. (2008). ''A Brief History of the Late Ottoman Empire''. Princeton: Princeton University Press. Print. * Muwaylihi, Ibrahim. (2008) ''Spies, Scandals, and Sultans''. 1st Eng. Edition. Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. Print.

{{DEFAULTSORT:Takvimi Vekayi}} Category:1831 establishments in the Ottoman Empire Category:Defunct newspapers published in the Ottoman Empire Category:Newspapers published in Istanbul Category:Newspapers established in 1831 Category:Publications disestablished in 1922 Category:Tanzimat Category:Defunct Turkish-language newspapers Category:Government gazettes Category:1922 disestablishments in the Ottoman Empire