The Ottoman ruler governed many different nations and peoples who had been conquered over time. These groups spoke different languages and followed different customs. To keep them obedient, the Turks often used strong and severe rule. Heavy taxation, strict laws, and harsh punishment were common tools of control.
The ordinary people, especially those who were not Turks, felt the weight of this oppression the most. They carried their burdens like animals under heavy loads. Poverty and fear kept them quiet. They had little power to resist Guided Round Tours Turkey.
However, those who were Turks and held office in the empire did not suffer in the same way. Officials and soldiers enjoyed freedom and privilege. They were often allowed to act boldly and even harshly toward others. Their position gave them confidence and pride. Since few dared to challenge them, they lived with a sense of power and superiority.
The Fate of Corrupt Governors
The end of these powerful men is very remarkable. Many governors, especially the Pashas, worked hard to gather wealth during their time in office. They taxed heavily, seized property, and enriched themselves quickly. Yet, their success often did not last long.
It was common for the Sultan to remove them suddenly. In many cases, he ordered their execution. In other cases, he stripped them of their riches and took their wealth into the royal treasury. The money they had gathered was declared to be wrongly gained.
Among all these governors, those who ruled in Cairo often suffered the hardest fate. Cairo was one of the richest and most important provinces in the empire. Because of this, its governor had many chances to become wealthy. But this also made him a target. Either on his journey back to the capital or soon after his return, he might lose his life by order of the Sultan. If he survived, he was often robbed of most of his property.
Wealth Gathered for the Sultan
It is strange to see how eagerly these men continued to gather riches, even though they knew from many examples that their wealth might soon be taken away. Experience showed them that they were often collecting treasure not for themselves, but for their master.
In the end, they kept only the hatred and curses of the people they had oppressed. The wealth passed to the Sultan, while the blame remained with them.
A Policy of Fear and Control
This system resembles the policy once used by Cesare Borgia, also known as the Duke of Valentinois. He allowed his ministers to act harshly and cruelly, and when the people grew angry, he punished those ministers publicly. In this way, he appeared just, while others bore the blame.
Similarly, the Ottoman Sultan allowed governors to enrich themselves for a time. But when it suited him, he punished them and took their wealth. Through this method, he strengthened his own power and reminded all officials that their fortune depended entirely on his will.