Laz rebellion (1832–1834)

The Laz Rebellion was a series of uprisings against the representatives of the Ottoman Empire in the Trabzon Eyalet between 1832 and 1834. The rebellion was led by Tahir Ağa Tuzcuoğlu, who aimed to resist the arbitrary decisions of the local Ottoman governors and to restore the rights of local feudal lords. Initially, the rebels experienced success, particularly in January 1833, but the rebellion was ultimately suppressed in the spring of 1834.

Tuzcuoğlu Rebellion
Date 1832–1834 Location Lazistan Sanjak, Trabzon Eyalet, Ottoman Empire Result Ottoman military victory Rebellion suppressed Partial Laz political victory Ottomans agreed to lower taxes Osman Pasha remained as the leader of the Trabzon Eyalet
Belligerents
Tuzcuoğlu family and local feudal lords (ağas)	Ottoman Empire Trabzon Eyalet
Commanders and leaders
Tahir Ağa Tuzcuoğlu  † Hopalı Mustafa Bey  † Batumlu Aslan Bey	Osman Pasha Karslı Ahmet Pasha
Strength
12,000	Unknown

Background

This conflict may have been related to disputes between the Hazinedaroğlu and Tuzcuoğlu families, both of whom were feudal lords and possibly of Laz or Adjarian origin. The blood feud between the two families allegedly began in 1817 when the Hazinedaroğlus killed Memiş Tuzcuoğlu, who was later regarded as a local martyr.

History

Osman Hazinedaroğlu, the Bey of Çarşamba, purchased the governorship of the Trabzon Eyalet for 1,000 purses following the end of the Russo-Turkish War (1828–1829). He then revoked privileges previously granted to the feudal lords and imposed heavy taxes on the populace, which were particularly burdensome after the significant damage caused by the Russians. The 1829 harvest was lost, and the 1830 harvest was poor. In September 1830, the people of Sürmene refused to pay taxes. The following year’s harvest was worse, but Osman Pasha managed to collect 200,000 piastres. Later, the tax was increased to 500,000 piastres, and nearly all 4,000 families refused to pay. Several people were killed due to unrest in Sürmene, which remained turbulent by March 1832.

In August 1832, Osman Pasha sent a force of 7,000 men there. The Ajarian Bey provided an additional 7,000 troops from the east, while a third force was dispatched from Bayburt to attack from the south. However, no resolution was achieved as the political authority crisis remained. Later that year, there were reports of Tuzcuoğlu’s representatives contacting Kavalalı Mehmed Ali Pasha’s forces, who later invaded Anatolia. Using this report as a pretext, Osman Pasha accused Tahir Ağa of conspiracy and ordered his execution.

Tahir Ağa Tuzcuoğlu soon emerged as the leader of the Laz rebellion. He was joined by Hopalı Mustafa and Batumlu Aslan. Osman Pasha’s forces remained in Lazistan throughout the winter in pursuit of their enemies. During this time, Tuzcuoğlu gathered a large force on the southern slopes of the Pontic Mountains. Karslı Ahmet Pasha's forces pursued them but were defeated. In early January 1833, Tuzcuoğlu marched toward Trabzon with 12,000 men. Osman Pasha’s kaymakam tried to stop him near Değirmendere, but failed. Consequently, the eastern Pontic region fell under Tuzcuoğlu’s control, although the planned attack on Trabzon never occurred. In the second week of January 1833, a messenger from Serasker Pasha arrived in Rize, appointing Tuzcuoğlu as the Ottoman governor of Rize. The state appeared to welcome Tuzcuoğlu’s ambition to become a feudal lord. The eastern regions from Sürmene to Batum were made a separate province with its capital in Rize.

In July 1833, the rebellion flared up again, this time due to the revelation of Russian intrigues. It was discovered that Batumlu Aslan Bey (nicknamed "Major Voinikov") was inciting the rebels on behalf of the Russians.

Suppression

Osman Pasha, with the help of Kars Pasha, formed a new army consisting of irregular Canik troops and regular forces from Erzurum. The primary goal was to eliminate Batumlu Aslan Bey. By October, Kars Pasha’s forces had surpassed Batum and reached Atina. Aslan Bey sought refuge with Tahir Tuzcuoğlu in Rize, while Osman Pasha withdrew to Trabzon for the winter. It was clear that the Laz rebellion would continue as long as Tuzcuoğlu remained in Rize.

Tahir Tuzcuoğlu had linked his feudal domain with the distant Sivas domain. In response, Osman Pasha raised an irregular army of 3,000-4,000 Canik troops and sent them to Lazistan. The army completely suppressed the Sürmene uprising and captured Rize. Lazistan was invaded and plundered. Tahir was beheaded, and his family members were sent to Istanbul. Aslan Bey fled to Georgia under Russian control and was never heard from again. James Brant, the British Vice-Consul in Trabzon, reported that Lazistan was pacified on April 12, 1834: "The influence and opposition of the wealthy and powerful Tuzcuoğlu family seem to have been destroyed by Osman Pasha, but his authority in Lazistan persisted." In 1834, Pierre Martin Rémi Aucher-Éloy noted that the Laz rebellion had ended since, for the first time, Osman Pasha had not negotiated with the rebels but had executed their leaders.

Failed Conspiracy

The surviving member of the Tuzcuoğlu family, Cafer Ağa, hid in the mountains of Of with a few followers. He was invited to conspire against Osman Pasha, but the plot failed when Emin Kahyaoğlu (former ağa of Sürmene and governor of Tirebolu) defected. The people of Sürmene did not rebel again, but in September 1839, the people of Rize took up arms for the last time. Osman Pasha sent 4,000 soldiers under the command of the defected Emin Ağa. In October, the ağa of Rize, Memiş Suiçmezoğlu, retreated to İspir, and "Emin Ağa effectively established order in the region."

Aftermath

The sons of the former Eynesil and Of feudal lords took advantage of Osman Pasha's death in 1841 to lead minor uprisings. However, the Laz people did not rebel again.

References

Specific

General

• Bryer, A. 1969. "The last Laz risings and the downfall of the Pontic Derebeys, 1812-1840." Bedi kartlisa, vol. XXVI, Paris, pp. 191–210.