Ottoman Identity Document 1906 İstanbul Greek Rum Citizen Greece

Ottoman Identity Document (Tezkire-i Osmaniye) - Anber (Ambrosios), Greek Resident of Istanbul (1906)

Description:
An original Ottoman identity document (Tezkire-i Osmaniye) issued to Anber, likely a shortened form of the Greek name Ambrosios. The document records his father’s name as the late Dion, and his mother’s name as Limonia. Dated 9 Ağustos 1322 (22 August 1906), it bears official Ottoman seals and stamps, with text fully legible.

The Tezkire-i Osmaniye served as the primary identity document for Ottoman citizens, listing personal and demographic details such as parentage, birthplace, religion, appearance, and address. Known colloquially as “kafa kağıdı” (head paper), the document earned this nickname because men folded and carried it inside the pocket of their fez. During inspections, officers would command “Kafa kağıdını çıkar!” (“Take out your head paper!”), and those unable to present it were often detained. This practice reflects the Ottoman Empire’s evolving administrative sophistication and the social rituals surrounding identity and citizenship in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

In this case, Anber is recorded as a Christian (Greek) male, married (zevcesi var), residing in Istanbul (Dersaadet), Beyazıd Ağa Mahallesi, Hallaç Sokak, House No. 11. His place of birth is listed as Istanbul, with a birth year of 1273 (1856–1857 CE).

The document provides valuable evidence of the Greek (Rum) population’s active presence in Ottoman Istanbul, particularly in central districts such as Beyazıt, which historically hosted Greek Orthodox, Armenian, and Jewish families alongside Muslim Ottomans. This coexistence reflects the multi-ethnic and multi-religious composition of the empire’s capital under the millet system, which recognized and administered non-Muslim communities with relative autonomy in matters of faith and community organization.

Key Features:

• Document Type: Tezkire-i Osmaniye (Ottoman Identity Certificate)

• Holder: Anber (likely Ambrosios)

• Father’s Name: The late Dion

• Mother’s Name: Limonia

• Birthplace and Date: Istanbul, 1273 (1856–1857 CE)

• Religion (Millet): Christian (Greek Orthodox)

• Marital Status: Married (zevcesi var)

• Residence: Dersaadet (Istanbul), Beyazıd Ağa Mahallesi, Hallaç Sokak, No. 11

• Date of Issue: 9 Ağustos 1322 (22 August 1906)

• Material: Handwritten Ottoman official document with fiscal stamp and seal

• Condition: Good – legible text and preserved seals

• Historical Significance:

  • A rare example of a Greek Ottoman citizen’s identity certificate from early 20th-century Istanbul.

  • Demonstrates the Greek Orthodox presence in the Beyazıt district during the late Ottoman period.

  • Offers insight into religious diversity and bureaucratic inclusion under the Ottoman identity system.

  • Serves as a tangible artifact of the Rum (Greek) community’s integration into the civic and administrative structure of the empire.