The Foundation of the Gregorian Calendar in the Ottoman Empire; Adoptıon of The Takvim-î Garbî

The Ottoman Empire the Sun-based Rûmî Calendar in with the Second Constitutional Monarchy in conjunction wanted to organize accordance with the Gregorian calendar. Thus, both the relations with Europe and the problems stemming from the leap year would be eliminated. In this study, the perspective of the Ottoman Parliament on the Gregorian calendar is discussed through the debates of the Assembly. Thus, the principles of the Takvim-î Garbî will be introduced. The Ottoman parliament at was presented legal proposals between 1910-1916 and 1917 years. The parliament enacted proposals based on three pillars ın 1917. First, the thirteen-day difference between the calendars would be eliminated. It was not confirmed by the chamber since it would lead to various confusion regarding the dates. Another proposel was to accept January as the beginning of calendar year. Some of the members of the chamber regarded it as an acceptance of a Christinity-related situation and hence, did not find it appropriate for religious concerns. However, the law was passed both in the chamber and in the upper house confirming that the sixteenth day of 1332 was the first day of March 1333. Since the parliament acknowledged that the issue was militant in terms of the functioning of the calendar and that it was as cultural as the science of the calendar, it approved only the disappearance of the difference between the Rumi and the Gregorian calendars.

Keywords

Ottoman Parliament, Gregorian Calendar, Miladi Calendar, Takvim-î Garbî.