Ottoman Official Letterhead WW1 Naval Court Martial Office of the Investigating Judge Army

Ottoman Official Letterhead - Bahriye-i Divan-ı Harb-i Daimisi Müstantikliği, c. WWI

Description:
An original official Ottoman letterhead sheet, bearing the printed heading “Bahriye-i Divan-ı Harb-i Daimisi Müstantikliği” (Permanent Naval Court Martial – Office of the Investigating Judge). The sheet is unused/blank, which is particularly rare as most examples were filled with case notes or official correspondence.

The Divan-ı Harb (Court Martial) was the Ottoman Empire’s military tribunal, established in the 19th century to try military personnel and, in extraordinary times such as war, martial law, revolts, or political crises, also civilians accused of actions threatening state security. The naval branch, Bahriye Divan-ı Harbi, dealt with crimes, discipline, and extraordinary offenses related to the Ottoman Navy. The title “Müstantikliği” indicates the interrogating judge’s office, responsible for conducting preliminary investigations and preparing cases for trial.

The condition of this document is poor, with a tear on the lower right corner and visible stains across parts of the sheet. Nonetheless, as an unused, printed official form of a high military court, it represents an important piece of Ottoman legal and naval history, very likely dating from the First World War era.

Key Features:

• Type: Official Ottoman printed letterhead (blank)

• Institution: Bahriye-i Divan-ı Harb-i Daimisi (Permanent Naval Court Martial) – Müstantikliği (Investigating Judge’s Office)

• Date: c. World War I period (early 20th century)

• Language: Ottoman Turkish

• Condition: Poor (tear at lower right, stains on the sheet)

• Significance: Rare survival of an unused naval court martial interrogator’s letterhead, reflecting Ottoman military justice during wartime