Lecture | Research Seminars Medieval and Early Modern History
Female Violence, Male Honour, and the Ottoman State: A Rice Plunder in Eighteenth Century Istanbul
- Date
- Friday 11 December 2026
- Time
- Serie
- Research Seminars Medieval and Early Modern History academic year 2026-2027
- Address
-
Johan Huizinga
Doelensteeg 16
2311 VL Leiden - Room
- Conference room (2.60)
In 1758, during a period of bread and rice scarcity in Istanbul, several hundred women plundered a rice granary. First the head of Janissaries Nalband Mehmed Paşa, then the janissary commander Vefalı Mehmed Paşa attended to the situation, following Grandvizier Ragıb Mehmed Paşa’s orders. Yet still, the women dispersed without getting any punishment. Consequently, the state authorities called for more ships filled with grains from the provinces with utmost agency; the head of Janissaries, the janissary commander, and a few days later, the head of finances and a few treasurers were dismissed.
The plunder generated immediate attention and silence at once. On the one hand, the dismissal of the state officials and the arrival of the ships proved that immediate action was taken following the incident. On the other hand, contemporaries downplayed the significance of the incident. This talk explores how and why two seemingly opposing reactions existed together and examines the implications of women’s violence in eighteenth-century Ottoman Istanbul, particularly when directed against men and state officials in the midst of food scarcity. It asks: When men served as both literal and symbolic representatives of the Ottoman state, how were acts of violence committed by women against them perceived, interpreted, and addressed?
Research Seminars Medieval and Early Modern History
The seminars are informal and intended to foster discussion. There are drinks afterwards. Everyone is welcome to join.
If you would like to join a session, and/or receive invitations for the upcoming sessions, you can send an e-mail to: ngassistent@hum.leidenuniv.nl. Further information can be obtained from the organizers Shiru Lim, Judith Pollmann, Jeroen Duindam and Philippe Buc.