Sürmene Uprising

The Sürmene Uprising of 1832 was the precursor to the larger Laz rebellion in the Lazistan Sanjak of the Ottoman Empire. It was one of the early acts of resistance against the centralization policies of the Ottoman Empire, which sought to reduce the power of local feudal lords (Derebeys) in the region.

Sürmene Uprising
Part of Laz rebellion (1832–1834)
Date 1832–1833 Location Sürmene, Trabzon Eyalet, Ottoman Empire Result 1st Battle: Laz victory 2nd Battle: Ottoman victory
Belligerents
Laz rebels	Ottoman Empire
Commanders and leaders
Memiş Ağa Tuzcuoğlu	Osman Pasha Serasker Pasha
Strength
Unknown but less	14,000+
Casualties and losses
Light	Several Turkish civilians and soldiers

Background

The uprising in Sürmene was driven by deep-seated tensions between the local feudal lords and the central Ottoman authorities. The Tanzimat reforms, which aimed to centralize and strengthen the authority of the Ottoman government, threatened the traditional autonomy enjoyed by the Derebeys in the region.

Uprising

In 1832, Memiş Ağa Tuzcuoğlu led the local population of Sürmene in an uprising against the Ottoman-imposed tax policies and the increasing encroachment of central authority. The rebels quickly gained control of several areas in Lazistan, posing a significant challenge to Ottoman rule in the region.

Suppression and Aftermath

The Ottoman response, led by Osman Pasha, was swift. Despite the initial successes of the rebels, the uprising was eventually suppressed, with many of its leaders either killed or captured. However, the suppression of the Sürmene Uprising did not end the resistance in the region. It instead laid the groundwork for the broader Laz rebellion, which erupted later that year and continued until 1834.

References

Specific

General

• Bryer, Anthony. "The Last Laz Risings and the Downfall of the Pontic Derebeys, 1812-1840." *Bedi Kartlisa*, vol. XXVI, 1969, pp. 191–210.
• Sinclair, T.A. *Eastern Turkey: An Architectural & Archaeological Survey, Volume II.* Pindar Press, 1990.
• Brant, James. *Travels in Turkey and Persia.* J. Murray, 1836.