ABOUT THE GYPSY PERCEPTION IN OTTOMAN EMPIRE(e-paper)

ABOUT THE GYPSY PERCEPTION IN OTTOMAN EMPIRE
Emine Dingeç
Dumlupinar University

 

This paper aims to discuss Gyps perception in the Ottoman society. They were generally referred as "Çingâne (Gypsy)" or "Kıpti (Kopt)" in the Ottoman sources. They were sometimes Ehl-i fesad (Master of Mischief) and sometimes gurbet taifesi (abroad crew) in the same sources. These contradictory definitions were even used side by side as synonyms. In order to show how to use those related documents correctly, I will first introduce the Ottoman archival documents about Gypsies, give some examples about the mistakes in using them, and then try to show how to use them.