Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Middle Eastern Studies, cilt.62, sa.1, ss.22-47, 2026 (SSCI, Scopus)
This article aims to examine the financial entitlements of Ottoman diplomats–specifically their salaries, expense allowances, and contingency funds–using archival evidence from Ottoman records. It focuses on the late nineteenth-century reforms, particularly those related to the restructuring of the Ottoman diplomatic service, which sought to professionalize and secure the financial stability of diplomats. The study argues that these reforms ensured diplomats’ financial security and, at the same time, played a crucial role in strengthening the state’s administrative framework by promoting transparency and reducing corruption. By examining three key categories of income–regular salaries determined by hierarchical positions and regional strategic importance, supplementary payments for extra responsibilities, and mission-related allowances–the study provides a comprehensive analysis of how these financial reforms contributed to the modernization of the Ottoman bureaucracy. It highlights that the strategic management of diplomats’ financial entitlements was essential in improving the operational effectiveness of the diplomatic corps and in advancing broader institutional reforms within the state. Ultimately, the findings suggest that the state’s deliberate approach to managing diplomats’ finances enhanced both the functionality of its diplomatic missions and the overall development of Ottoman governance in the late nineteenth century.