Hatt-i Hümayun

The Hatt-i Hümayun was an official decree issued by the Ottoman Sultan, serving as a formal ruling or decree that addressed various administrative, legal, or social issues. It functioned similarly to a royal order or law, often used to introduce reforms or clarify existing policies. These decrees were typically written in Ottoman Turkish and issued in the Sultan’s name, guiding government actions and shaping policies across the empire. The Hatt-i Hümayun played an important role in the Ottoman administrative system, reflecting the Sultan's authority and policymaking during the empire's later centuries.