Ottoman Tax Receipt 1917 Tekirdağ Arablı Armenian Citizen Düzyan Family WW1
Ottoman Tax Receipt - Arablı Village, Çorlu, Tekirdağ 1917
Description
This original Ottoman tax receipt is dated 2 Kanun-ı Sani 1332 (15 January 1917) and records a total payment of 800 kuruş. The amount covers property tax (emlak vergisi), land tax (arazi vergisi), and the wartime levy known as the “harp vergisi.” Issued during the First World War, the document directly reflects the extraordinary fiscal conditions of the period, when the Ottoman state collected additional taxes from civilians to finance military expenditures.
The receipt belongs to Andonik Düzoğlu (Düzyan), an Armenian Ottoman citizen originally from Dersaadet (Istanbul) and recorded as a resident of Arablı Village in the Çorlu district of Tekirdağ. The inclusion of the war tax is particularly significant, as it demonstrates how civilian populations regardless of ethnicity were financially mobilized in support of the Ottoman army during wartime.
Beyond its fiscal content, the document carries added historical depth through its association with the Düzyan (Düzian) family, one of the most prominent Armenian families in Ottoman history. Members of the Düzyan family served the Ottoman court in high-ranking positions between the 17th and 19th centuries, particularly in roles connected to imperial finance and craftsmanship. The receipt therefore holds strong appeal for collectors interested in Ottoman wartime economy, Armenian social history, and the complex realities of the First World War era. Additionally, there are Armenian handwritten notes on the back of the document.
Key Features
• Type: Ottoman tax receipt
• Location: Arablı Village, Çorlu, Tekirdağ
• Tax Types: Property tax, land tax, war tax (harp vergisi)
• Total Amount Paid: 800 kuruş
• Payer: Andonik Düzoğlu (Düzyan), Armenian Ottoman citizen from Dersaadet (Istanbul)
• Date: 2 Kanun-ı Sani 1332 (15 January 1917)
• Period: First World War (WWI)
• Family Background: Member of the Düzyan family, historically associated with imperial goldsmiths and senior financial roles within the Ottoman court
• Historical Significance: Documents wartime taxation practices, civilian financial support for the Ottoman military, and the participation of Armenian citizens in the Ottoman fiscal system during WWI