TRENDEFRAtlas of the Sultans · Glossary
Term · Sovereignty and central government
Also known as: treasurer
The official at the head of Ottoman finances, who managed the revenues and expenditure of the state.
The defterdars were members of the Imperial Council; as the state grew, separate treasuries were created for regions such as Rumelia and Anatolia, headed by a chief defterdar. In February 1838 the office was turned into the Ministry of Finance.
Source: TDV Encyclopedia of Islam, article “DEFTERDAR” (in Turkish); text condensed for the atlas.