Urban Agency and the City Notables of Medieval Anatolia

Scholarship on the city in Islamic world has generally played down autonomy and collective agency of cities. This article explores case Anatolia, usually neglected discussions urbanism, focusing Seljuq period 13th century. While much scholarship Anatolia acknowledges role futuwwa (trade-based confraternities somewhat analogous to guilds), I argue independence these organisations been overestimated, for many were closely linked sultanic power. The paper suggests that fact power was negotiated between rulers urban notables (a‘yān), who had considerable brokered binding contracts (sawgandnāmas) with sultans expressed their rights obligations. A‘yān a crucial decisions such as surrender cities conquerors negotiating terms, which analogies can be identified elsewhere Middle East. Finally, makes some preliminary suggestions identities a‘yān.