Official
Nikola Efendi
Greek Orthodox Christian (Rum). Born in Istanbul (Dersaadet) in 1839/40 (AH 1255). On record 1859 to 1901, 43 annual entries.
Archive reference 0100_0029; 55
Life#
Nikola Efendi was born in Istanbul in 1839/40 (AH 1255), into the Greek Orthodox Christian (Rum) community. Schooling took four years, at a special school (Mekteb-i Mahsusa). Nikola knew four languages, English, French, Italian and Turkish, all in writing, a number reached by fewer than 5 per cent of the 5,211 officials.
Work began in Istanbul in 1858/59, at about 19, with one unpaid year as a mülazım (apprentice) before a first salary of 500 kuruş. The first annual entry, for 1859/60, places Nikola in Beyoğlu as an official for foreign communications (Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye Memuriyeti). Next came four places in 13 years, with a rise to chief official for foreign communications (Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye Başmemuru) in 1864/65 and to Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye Memuriyeti in 1869/70, then a return to Edirne from 1873 to 1877. Nikola then moved to Tekirdağ from 1877 to 1878, then back to Edirne from 1878 to 1894. The annual lists then follow Nikola to Keşan from 1894 to 1896. The last posts were in Tekirdağ again from 1896 to 1900. Few careers in the lists are as long; fewer than 2 per cent of the 5,211 officials have entries spanning 43 years or more.
Pay rose from 500 kuruş a month in 1859/60 to a peak of 1,500 in 1887/88, as a director of the first grade (1. Müdür) in Edirne, when 92 per cent of paid officials earned less. The last annual entry is for 1900/01.
Places in order of time#
Each number is a stop: the birthplace, the place of first work, then every place of the annual entries in turn. The year beside an arrow is the first entry at the new place.
Born 1839/40 (AH 1255); First work 1858/59 (AH 1275)
1860 to 1864 (AH 1277 to 1280)
Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye Memuriyeti
750 to 1,000 kuruş a month; entries in 4 years
1864 to 1869 (AH 1281 to 1285)
Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye Başmemuru
1,000 to 1,200 kuruş a month; entries in 5 years
1869 to 1872 (AH 1286 to 1288)
Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye Memuriyeti
950 to 1,200 kuruş a month; entries in 3 years
1873 to 1877 (AH 1290 to 1293)
Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye Memuriyeti
950 to 1,240 kuruş a month; entries in 4 years
1878 to 1894 (AH 1296 to 1311)
Sef 1878 to 1887 (AH 1296 to 1304); 1. Müdür 1887 to 1889 (AH 1305 to 1306); Müdür Muavini 1889 to 1894 (AH 1307 to 1311)
1,000 to 1,500 kuruş a month; entries in 16 years
1894 to 1896 (AH 1312 to 1313)
Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye Memuriyeti
1,000 kuruş a month; entries in 2 years
Career and salary#
Log scale: equal steps are equal ratios. The median of the same title is drawn for the years in which at least 5 officials with that title had a salary.
The numbers of the chart
| Year | Salary | Median, all officials | Median, same title | Paid less |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1859/60 | 500 | 500 | 49% | |
| 1860/61 | 750 | 500 | 750 | 56% |
| 1861/62 | 750 | 600 | 750 | 52% |
| 1862/63 | 1,000 | 500 | 750 | 63% |
| 1863/64 | 1,000 | 500 | 750 | 65% |
| 1864/65 | 1,200 | 625 | 69% | |
| 1865/66 | 1,200 | 650 | 71% | |
| 1866/67 | 1,000 | 600 | 67% | |
| 1867/68 | 1,000 | 600 | 68% | |
| 1868/69 | 1,000 | 600 | 70% | |
| 1869/70 | 1,200 | 600 | 576 | 80% |
| 1870/71 | 1,200 | 600 | 600 | 81% |
| 1871/72 | 950 | 550 | 570 | 77% |
| 1872/73 | 1,200 | 550 | 585 | 86% |
| 1873/74 | 950 | 500 | 570 | 77% |
| 1874/75 | 1,050 | 535 | 650 | 84% |
| 1875/76 | 1,050 | 530 | 700 | 83% |
| 1876/77 | 1,240 | 582.5 | 600 | 86% |
| 1877/78 | 1,250 | 560 | 1,225 | 86% |
| 1878 | 1,250 | 600 | 1,250 | 85% |
| 1878/79 | 1,200 | 600 | 84% | |
| 1879/80 | 1,000 | 500 | 84% | |
| 1880/81 | 1,000 | 500 | 84% | |
| 1881/82 | 1,000 | 500 | 84% | |
| 1882/83 | 1,000 | 500 | 82% | |
| 1883/84 | 1,000 | 500 | 82% | |
| 1884/85 | 1,000 | 500 | 82% | |
| 1885/86 | 1,000 | 500 | 83% | |
| 1886/87 | 1,000 | 500 | 84% | |
| 1887/88 | 1,500 | 500 | 1,200 | 92% |
| 1888/89 | 1,500 | 500 | 1,200 | 92% |
| 1889/90 | 1,000 | 500 | 85% | |
| 1890/91 | 1,000 | 500 | 86% | |
| 1891/92 | 1,000 | 500 | 86% | |
| 1892/93 | 1,000 | 500 | 875 | 87% |
| 1893/94 | 1,000 | 500 | 875 | 87% |
| 1894/95 | 1,000 | 500 | 500 | 87% |
| 1895/96 | 1,000 | 500 | 500 | 87% |
| 1896/97 | 1,350 | 500 | 1,350 | 94% |
| 1897/98 | 1,350 | 500 | 1,350 | 94% |
| 1898/99 | 1,350 | 500 | 1,350 | 94% |
| 1899/1900 | 1,500 | 500 | 1,350 | 94% |
| 1900/01 | 968 | 500 | 87% |
Paid less: the share of the other officials with a salary that year who earned less.
Point at a year for its salary, title, place and the median of all officials paid that year. Choose a row of the table to mark its years in the charts and its stop on the map.
| Years | Title | Place | Salary (kuruş a month) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1858/59AH 1275 | First work | Istanbul (Dersaadet) | 500first-salary field |
| 1859/60AH 1276 | Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye Memuriyeti | Beyoğlu | 500 |
| 1860 to 1864AH 1277 to 1280 | Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye Memuriyeti | Edirne | 750 to 1,000 |
| 1864 to 1869AH 1281 to 1285 | Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye Başmemuru | Tekirdağ | 1,200 to 1,000 |
| 1869 to 1872AH 1286 to 1288 | Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye Memuriyeti | Beyoğlu | 1,200 to 950 |
| 1872/73AH 1289 | Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye Memuriyeti | Beirut (Beyrut) | 1,200 |
| 1873 to 1877AH 1290 to 1293 | Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye Memuriyeti | Edirne | 950 to 1,240 |
| 1877 to 1878AH 1294 to 1295 | 1. Müdür | Tekirdağ | 1,250 |
| 1878 to 1887AH 1296 to 1304 | Sef | Edirne | 1,200 to 1,000 |
| 1887 to 1889AH 1305 to 1306 | 1. Müdür | Edirne | 1,500 |
| 1889 to 1894AH 1307 to 1311 | Müdür Muavini | Edirne | 1,000 |
| 1894 to 1896AH 1312 to 1313 | Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye Memuriyeti | Keşan | 1,000 |
| 1896 to 1900AH 1314 to 1317 | 1. Müdür | Tekirdağ | 1,350 to 1,500 |
| 1900/01AH 1318 | Tekauda note on status, not a job | Tekirdağ | 968 |
Record#
Personal
- Born
- 1839/40 (AH 1255)
- Birthplace
- Istanbul (Dersaadet)
- Community
- Greek Orthodox Christian (Rum)
- Nationality as recorded
- Rum
Education
- Other named school
- Mekteb-i Mahsusa (4 years)special school
- Unpaid years (mülazemet)
- 1 year
- Preparation route (classification of the paper)
- Low
- Qualification (diploma, certificate, training or nişan)
- NoShown as in the flag of the paper. The qualification column of the recovered extract gives yes.
The years count all schooling up to that school, as the record gives them.
Languages
- English
- Kitabetwriting
- French
- Kitabetwriting
- Italian
- Kitabetwriting
- Turkish
- Kitabetwriting
The glosses are cautious historical readings of the recorded words, not modern levels of proficiency.
First work
- Year
- 1858/59 (AH 1275)
- Place
- Istanbul (Dersaadet)
- First salary field (kuruş a month)
- 500
Recorded with#
Officials who share a place, a job title, a school, a birthplace or the year of the first annual entry. Ranks compare the highest monthly salary of each official.
Same place, same years
Of the 134 officials with entries in Edirne in the same years, Nikola Efendi had the 31st highest salary.
- Mehmet Tevfik Efendi20 shared years; highest salary 1,300 kuruş
- Jul Lekaye Efendi17 shared years; highest salary 3,800 kuruş
- Mehmed Şakir Efendi16 shared years; highest salary 700 kuruş
- Yusuf Efendi15 shared years; highest salary 2,500 kuruş
- Salih Hulusi Efendi15 shared years; highest salary 800 kuruş
Same job title, same years
Of the 281 officials with the title Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye Memuriyeti in the same years, Nikola Efendi had the 24th highest salary.
- Şahin Kirkor Efendi12 shared years; highest salary 1,900 kuruş
- Kostantin De Martin Efendi12 shared years; highest salary 1,500 kuruş
- Armas Efendi11 shared years; highest salary 1,000 kuruş
- Yanko Filoklis Efendi11 shared years; highest salary 800 kuruş
- Melkon Berhadar Efendi10 shared years; highest salary 1,500 kuruş
All 605 officials with the title Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye Memuriyeti
Same school
Of the 38 officials with Mekteb-i Mahsusa among their schools, Nikola Efendi had the 2nd highest salary.
- Frederik Danderya Efendiborn 1839/40 (AH 1255); highest salary 1,200 kuruş
- Karabet Diyon Efendiborn 1837/38 (AH 1253); highest salary 1,000 kuruş
- Luk Amasyan Efendiborn 1835/36 (AH 1251); highest salary 980 kuruş
- Mıgırdıç Şinavder Efendiborn 1845 (AH 1261); highest salary 500 kuruş
- Rodrigez Efendiborn 1845 (AH 1261); highest salary 720 kuruş
Same birthplace
Of the 1,999 officials born in Istanbul, 1,997 have a recorded salary; Nikola Efendi had the 203rd highest salary of them.
- Ahmet Hamdi Efendiborn 1839/40 (AH 1255); highest salary 1,000 kuruş
- Apostolaki Cizli Efendiborn 1839/40 (AH 1255); highest salary 1,440 kuruş
- Hacı Mehmet Efendiborn 1839/40 (AH 1255); highest salary 550 kuruş
- Haci Mehmet Sezayi Beyborn 1839/40 (AH 1255); highest salary 2,000 kuruş
- Hacı Osman Nuri Efendiborn 1839/40 (AH 1255); highest salary 1,250 kuruş
First annual entry in the same year
Of the 21 officials whose first annual entry is for 1859/60 (AH 1276), Nikola Efendi had the 13th highest salary.
- Ahmet Cavit Beyfirst entry in Plovdiv (Filibe); highest salary 3,000 kuruş
- Mehmet Sait Efendifirst entry in Izmir (İzmir); highest salary 1,000 kuruş
- Mustafa Efendifirst entry in Thessaloniki (Selanik); highest salary 1,600 kuruş
- Mustafa İsmet Efendifirst entry in Ruse (Rusçuk); highest salary 1,350 kuruş
- Raif Efendifirst entry in Serres (Siroz); highest salary 1,200 kuruş
Full record
Annual entries (43)
| Year | Title | Place | Kuruş a month | Institution | Source | Archive reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1859/60AH 1276 | Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye Memuriyeti | Beyoğlu | 500 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0100_0029; 55 |
| 1860/61AH 1277 | Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye Memuriyeti | Edirne | 750 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0100_0029; 55 |
| 1861/62AH 1278 | Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye Memuriyeti | Edirne | 750 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0100_0029; 55 |
| 1862/63AH 1279 | Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye Memuriyeti | Edirne | 1,000 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0100_0029; 55 |
| 1863/64AH 1280 | Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye Memuriyeti | Edirne | 1,000 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0100_0029; 55 |
| 1864/65AH 1281 | Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye Başmemuru | Tekirdağ | 1,200 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0100_0029; 55 |
| 1865/66AH 1282 | Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye Başmemuru | Tekirdağ | 1,200 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0100_0029; 55 |
| 1866/67AH 1283 | Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye Başmemuru | Tekirdağ | 1,000 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0100_0029; 55 |
| 1867/68AH 1284 | Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye Başmemuru | Tekirdağ | 1,000 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0100_0029; 55 |
| 1868/69AH 1285 | Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye Başmemuru | Tekirdağ | 1,000 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0100_0029; 55 |
| 1869/70AH 1286 | Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye Memuriyeti | Beyoğlu | 1,200 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0100_0029; 55 |
| 1870/71AH 1287 | Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye Memuriyeti | Beyoğlu | 1,200 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0100_0029; 55 |
| 1871/72AH 1288 | Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye Memuriyeti | Beyoğlu | 950 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0100_0029; 55 |
| 1872/73AH 1289 | Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye Memuriyeti | Beirut (Beyrut) | 1,200 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0100_0029; 55 |
| 1873/74AH 1290 | Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye Memuriyeti | Edirne | 950 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0100_0029; 55 |
| 1874/75AH 1291 | Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye Memuriyeti | Edirne | 1,050 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0100_0029; 55 |
| 1875/76AH 1292 | Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye Memuriyeti | Edirne | 1,050 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0100_0029; 55 |
| 1876/77AH 1293 | Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye Memuriyeti | Edirne | 1,240 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0100_0029; 55 |
| 1877/78AH 1294 | 1. Müdür | Tekirdağ | 1,250 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0100_0029; 55 |
| 1878AH 1295 | 1. Müdür | Tekirdağ | 1,250 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0100_0029; 55 |
| 1878/79AH 1296 | Sef | Edirne | 1,200 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0100_0029; 55 |
| 1879/80AH 1297 | Sef | Edirne | 1,000 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0100_0029; 55 |
| 1880/81AH 1298 | Sef | Edirne | 1,000 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0100_0029; 55 |
| 1881/82AH 1299 | Sef | Edirne | 1,000 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0100_0029; 55 |
| 1882/83AH 1300 | Sef | Edirne | 1,000 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0100_0029; 55 |
| 1883/84AH 1301 | Sef | Edirne | 1,000 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0100_0029; 55 |
| 1884/85AH 1302 | Sef | Edirne | 1,000 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0100_0029; 55 |
| 1885/86AH 1303 | Sef | Edirne | 1,000 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0100_0029; 55 |
| 1886/87AH 1304 | Sef | Edirne | 1,000 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0100_0029; 55 |
| 1887/88AH 1305 | 1. Müdür | Edirne | 1,500 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0100_0029; 55 |
| 1888/89AH 1306 | 1. Müdür | Edirne | 1,500 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0100_0029; 55 |
| 1889/90AH 1307 | Müdür Muavini | Edirne | 1,000 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0100_0029; 55 |
| 1890/91AH 1308 | Müdür Muavini | Edirne | 1,000 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0100_0029; 55 |
| 1891/92AH 1309 | Müdür Muavini | Edirne | 1,000 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0100_0029; 55 |
| 1892/93AH 1310 | Müdür Muavini | Edirne | 1,000 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0100_0029; 55 |
| 1893/94AH 1311 | Müdür Muavini | Edirne | 1,000 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0100_0029; 55 |
| 1894/95AH 1312 | Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye Memuriyeti | Keşan | 1,000 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0100_0029; 55 |
| 1895/96AH 1313 | Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye Memuriyeti | Keşan | 1,000 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0100_0029; 55 |
| 1896/97AH 1314 | 1. Müdür | Tekirdağ | 1,350 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0100_0029; 55 |
| 1897/98AH 1315 | 1. Müdür | Tekirdağ | 1,350 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0100_0029; 55 |
| 1898/99AH 1316 | 1. Müdür | Tekirdağ | 1,350 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0100_0029; 55 |
| 1899/1900AH 1317 | 1. Müdür | Tekirdağ | 1,500 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0100_0029; 55 |
| 1900/01AH 1318 | Tekaud | Tekirdağ | 968 | Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf) | Recovered annual personnel extract | 0100_0029; 55 |
What the sources named in this table are
- Recovered annual personnel extract
- The merged annual personnel file recovered for the replication of the first paper. Annual entries are taken from it for every official it holds.
Sources and original values (14)
| Field | Recorded value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Identity | ||
| Name | Nikola Efendi | Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| Birth year (AH) | 1255 | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| Birthplace | dersaadet | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| Province of birth | dersaadet | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| Religion | hristiyan | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| Nationality or community | Rum | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| Schooling | ||
| School | Mektebi Mahsusa | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| Years of schooling | 4 | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| Years of apprenticeship (mülazemet) | 1 used on this page | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| Years of apprenticeship (mülazemet) | 0 other value | Recovered annual personnel extract |
| First work | ||
| First work: year (AH) | 1275 | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| First work: Gregorian year as stored | 1859 | Recovered annual personnel extract |
| First work: place | istanbul | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
| First salary field (kuruş a month) | 500 | Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract |
What the sources named in this table are
- Earlier annual personnel extract
- The detailed annual personnel file of October 2024. An official found only in this file keeps the years, titles and salaries it gives.
- Recovered annual personnel extract
- The merged annual personnel file recovered for the replication of the first paper. Annual entries are taken from it for every official it holds.
- Personnel attributes extract
- The detailed personnel file of September 2025, read for personal details such as birth, schooling and first work.
- The sources give more than one value for a marked field. Every value is listed.
- Origin of the record: Post and Telegraph personnel records.
- 31 annual entries of 43 belong to the saved estimation sample of the paper.
How to read this record: calendar years, years without an annual entry, salaries and sources.
Subjects
- Nikola Efendi
- Post of official for foreign communications (Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye Memuriyeti)
- Edirne
- Istanbul (Dersaadet)
- Special school (Mekteb-i Mahsusa)
- Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf)
- Greek Orthodox Christian (Rum)
- Biography of an Ottoman official (Osmanlı memurunun biyografisi)
- Career and pay (memuriyet ve maaş)
- Ottoman history (Osmanlı tarihi)
- Ottoman bureaucracy (Osmanlı bürokrasisi)
- Ottoman officials (Osmanlı'da memurlar)
- Ottoman personnel registers (Sicill-i Ahvâl defterleri)
- Ottoman registers (Osmanlı defterleri)