CARAVANS OF ROYAL GIFTS (SURRE ALAYI)

The word surre means the gifts and precious goods that were donated by the Sultan and citizens of the Ottoman Empire every year and which were sent to Mecca and Medina during the pilgrimage season.

The Surre caravan was sent along with the pilgrims on the 12 of Rajab, the first of the three blessed months, so that it could arrive in Mecca in time for the pilgrimage. The caravan spent the holy month of Ramadan in Damascus, and then distributed the gifts in Mecca. After performing the pilgrimage, the hajj, the caravan would depart for its return journey.

The first caravan ever was sent by Sultan Celebi Mehmed (d. 1421) with 14,000 gold coins by ship by Captain Kemal Reis; this tradition continued with higher quantities being sent by other sultans. After the Hijaz region was annexed by Selim I, the Surre caravans were more systematically organ-ized. It is reported in Mir’at al-Haramayn that the gifts and goods donated to the caravan were distributed to scholars and people who spent all their time worshipping in the Grand Mosque, and whose names had been determined beforehand.
The foundation deeds belonging to Sultan Mahmud II and Abdulhamid II reveal that the money sent with the Surre caravans were to be distributed to the teachers at the Hamidiye Madrasa, some righteous poor, and mosque attendants (Sabri, 1887, vol. 2, p. 687).

Spectacular ceremonies were staged before the departure of the Surre caravans. Each ceremony was held according to a detailed plan organized by the protocol officer. The list of participants, ceremonial positions, costumes, and other issues were recorded in ceremony books. Esad Efendi’s Teshrifat-i Kadime [Ancient Protocol], for instance, describes the gifts, costumes, and money donated to the caravans in detail.
The program started a few days before the departure. 50 or more appointed officers visited every neighborhood and collect donations from the public. This way, many Muslims who could not afford to go on pilgrimage would be consoled by sending charity to the holy lands.
The sultan, accompanied by high-ranking state officials, sent off the caravan from the palace. Following a feast, the Surre purses were brought to the tents set up opposite the Kubbealti (the parliament building) and donations were counted in the presence of the sultan. The Surre Records and purses were sealed with the sultan’s seal and given to the Surre Officer with a letter addressed to the governor of Mecca. Accompanied by Qur’anic recitations, and praise and poems for the Prophet, gifts were loaded on the Surre camels and the procession continued until it reached the gates of Topkapi Palace.

Donations that were sent with the Surre caravans were usually spent on the renovations of the holy sites in Mecca and Medina and for facilities to be used during pilgrimage services. A significant portion of the donations were allocated for the poor living in the region. Some gifts were sent to the governor of Mecca and celebrated figures in the Haramayn. The caravan usually called at more than sixty different locations en route to Mecca and the caravanserai where the caravan stopped were well-maintained and kept under good care.
Surre caravans were sent on land until 1864. After this date sea steamers were used until 1908 when the Hijaz Railway began to operate. The caravan continued to be sent with the pilgrims until 1915. Despite the insurgence ot the Governor of Mecca and numerous hardships, a caravan was sent to Medina in 1916. During the horrendous times of World War I, the caravans could only go as far as Damascus in 1917 and 1918. No more caravans could be sent after 1919, with the exception of some charity that was sent by Sultan Mehmet VI (Vahdeddin) in 1919 and 1920 to be distributed to the poor of the Haramayn. The last caliph, Abdulmecid Efendi, who did not hold the title of sultan, officially put an end to this tradition in 1923-24.

During World War I, it was decided to evacuate the Haramayn. To prevent likely plunder and loss, some of the gifts that had been sent to Mecca and Medina centuries before were transferred to Istanbul along with the Sacred Relics. These items are now kept in the Treasury Section of the Topkapi Palace Museum in Istanbul.

ref: Doduncu, Mehmet (2006). Yildiz Albums of Sultan Abdul Hamid II Mecca-Medina. Pub: The Light Inc. New Jersey)