Atçalı Kel Mehmet Efe

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Atçalı Kel Mehmet Efe (* 1780 in Atça ; † 1830 ) was a Zeybek who led a local uprising against the Ottoman Empire and the leader of the Aydın region for a short period between 1829 and 1830 (during the reign of Mahmud II ) . .

Life

As far as is known, Kel Mehmet ("Mehmet, the Bald") was the son of a poor villager. Kel Mehmet became an orphan at an early age and then hired himself as a day laborer with the Beys. The sources provide conflicting information about which Beys he is said to have worked for. In one report, the perceived humiliation by the girl's father refused courting for the daughter of Muhtar von Atça plays a decisive role in Kel Mehmet's further career. Kel Mehmet kidnapped the girl, went to the mountains as a brigand and victoriously fought the brigands Uzun Efe and Kara Efe.

revolt

Initially, Mehmet and his followers attacked the estate of the Beys of Arpaz. The number of his followers - initially around 60 people - grew rapidly. In 1829 Mehmet started a rebellion in Kuyucak , a town near Atça. While the people were tired of the heavy tax burden and the endless military services, of the uninterrupted wars of the falling empire, he quickly gained popularity. The uprising was carried out by craftsmen, Yörüken, Zeybeks and the common people.

Death and legacy

The Sultan fought with all his might against Kel Mehmet. Finally Kel Mehmet was defeated on December 29, 1829 and killed on June 10, 1830 near a village in the vicinity of Aydıns.

Because of his courage, he became a role model in the region. He influenced many other Efes including Yoruk Ali Efe and Demirci Mehmet Efe . There is a statue of him in Atça.

Web links

• Atçalı Kel Mehmed and his revolt . Article in Turkish in the journal Balıkesir Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi , Cilt 12 Sayı 22, Aralık 2009, pp. 155–164. English translation of the title: Resistance of Provinces against the Ottoman Central Administration: Atçalı Kel Mehmed's Revolt . (PDF file; 728 kB)