A Family in the Eastern Black Sea Region: The Hacıalibeyzades (Book)

A Family in the Eastern Black Sea: The Hacıalibeyzadeler, written by İlker Şevketbeyoğlu and published as part of Dergâh Yayınları’s “Anadolu Kitaplığı” series, is a significant monograph that intertwines family history with regional and general historical contexts. The work meticulously examines the origins and social standing of the Hacıalibeyzadeler family in the Eastern Black Sea region, while also shedding light on broader historical processes such as Ottoman bureaucratic life, regional interactions, wars, and migration. Published in February 2017, the book consists of 200 pages.

Content and Thematic Structure

The book presents the author İlker Şevketbeyoğlu’s personal journey of researching his family history and the findings he uncovered along the way. It opens with a statement made by Hasan Ziya Bey, the late grandfather’s father, to his wife Fatma Hanım: “I am the son of a Tavad and a Tavad myself!” This phrase opens the door to a mysterious narrative suggesting that the family’s roots lie in the Georgian town of Çürüksu (Kobuleti) and the Georgian noble title “Tavad.”

Having grown up aware of his family’s Georgian origins since childhood, the author developed a fundamental motivation to investigate his lineage upon learning in adulthood that his ancestry traced back to the Tavad.

The monograph emphasizes that the Hacıalibeyzadeler were among the noble and affluent families of Fındıklı district and the village of Abu (Çağlayan). The family’s marital ties with other established families in the region, its distinguished members who held high-ranking positions as pashas within the Ottoman state hierarchy, and their tangible assets—including mansions, vast serender carpets, extensive landholdings, hazelnut orchards, and historic tombstones—are presented as evidence of the family’s former social and economic prominence. Although initially compiled with the goal of collecting family data for future generations, the research has yielded findings of sufficient scope to engage with numerous aspects of history, including private history, Ottoman bureaucratic life, regional interactions, wars, and migration. As a result, the book transcends the boundaries of a mere family chronicle and becomes a vehicle through which readers can experience the historical and contextual knowledge of the period. Recognizing this function, the work has been made available to readers as a resource that contributes to broader scholarly studies on history and social life.

Language and Style

The language and style of İlker Şevketbeyoğlu’s work combine the sensibility of a family historian with the rigor of academic research. Although the narrative begins with a personal motivation, it acquires an objective and descriptive character through the meticulous handling of historical data and documents. The book contains no promotional or laudatory language; instead, it prioritizes the presentation of historical facts and sociological insights. The author expresses complex family relationships and regional dynamics in clear, accessible language while maintaining a flow and sincerity that encourages readers to engage with family history.

The Author’s Position and the Significance of the Work

By investigating his own family’s history, İlker Şevketbeyoğlu has produced an important local historical study. Such family monographs serve as exemplary microhistorical works, providing valuable bottom-up data for general historical writing. The book not only illuminates the history of the Hacıalibeyzadeler family but also reveals the socio-economic structure of the Eastern Black Sea region, the settlement patterns of families of Georgian origin, their bureaucratic roles during the Ottoman period, and the cultural impact of migration movements.

The book is a valuable resource for academics, students, and a broad readership interested in the fields of private history, local history, Ottoman social history, and family history. It also holds significance for demonstrating how the story of a single family can contribute meaningfully to regional and national historical narratives.