Ottoman Italian 1886 Judicial Document İstanbul Court Italy Chancellery

Ottoman Italian Judicial Document - Beyoğlu Court & Italian Chancellery, 1886

Description:
An original judicial document issued by the Ottoman Ministry of Justice and Religions (Adliye ve Mezahib Nezareti), bearing the letterhead of the Beyoğlu Court of First Instance (Bidayet Mahkemesi), dated 24 Şubat 1301 (8 March 1886).

The Ottoman section begins with the address: “İtalya Devlet-i Fehîmesi Kançılaryası Canibine” (“To the Chancellery of the Italian Government”), indicating that this was an official communication sent to the Italian legation in Constantinople. The text records that the document relates to the execution of a judicial decision, transmitted by the Haber İdaresi (registry/records office) of the Beyoğlu Court.

The accompanying Italian text specifies the case: Pasquarello Andrea, an Italian subject, had been accused of breach of confidentiality (violation of professional secrecy). The court summoned him, and upon trial, sentenced him to two months of imprisonment (hasip cezası). The document thus served as an official notice to the Italian chancery to ensure the enforcement of the court’s ruling.

This bilingual record exemplifies the judicial and diplomatic cooperation between the Ottoman Empire and foreign consulates in Istanbul, particularly in the late 19th century when extraterritorial rights (capitulations) and consular jurisdiction were common. It provides a rare glimpse into how the Beyoğlu courts handled foreign defendants and how verdicts were communicated to foreign embassies for execution.

Key Features:

• Type: Judicial document (Mahkeme yazısı)

• Issuing Authority: Ministry of Justice and Religions – Beyoğlu Court of First Instance (Adliye ve Mezahib Nezareti, Beyoğlu Bidayet Mahkemesi)

• Date: 24 Şubat 1301 (8 March 1886)

• Languages: Ottoman Turkish & Italian

• Recipient: Italian Chancellery in Constantinople

• Case: Pasquarello Andrea - breach of confidentiality

• Sentence: Two months imprisonment

• Historical Significance: Demonstrates Ottoman–Italian legal relations, bilingual legal practice, and the workings of international law and consular rights in late Ottoman Istanbul