Reflections of the Hat Reform in Erzurum

From the past to the present, Erzurum has maintained its position as one of the cornerstones of the state’s eastern policy. Moreover, it has been widely believed that any power controlling Erzurum would, as a consequence, also exert influence over the whole of Anatolia. The uprisings that emerged in Erzurum throughout history demonstrate that the city consistently occupied a strategic position for groups seeking to achieve various political or ideological objectives. This significance stemmed both from its geographical location and from its socially more religiously conservative structure compared with many other regions. For this reason, Erzurum was frequently regarded as one of the potential centers of reactionary movements. Consequently, the effects of the Hat Reform in Erzurum were particularly noteworthy. Although the number of existing studies examining the repercussions of the Hat Reform in Erzurum is quite limited, research concerning how and to what extent the Hat Reform was effective in Erzurum in general remains insufficient in the literature. This study aims to partially fill this gap and contribute to the literature. After briefly addressing the short history of the use of headgear among the Turks, the types of headgear used in the Ottoman Empire, the Hat Law enacted after the proclamation of the Republic, the views of intellectuals regarding this law, and reports published in newspapers, the study focuses on the repercussions of the Hat Reform in Erzurum. The emergence of the Hat Incident in Erzurum, the factors contributing to the outbreak of the incident, the establishment of the Court-Martial, the executions carried out during the process, the arrival of the Ankara Independence Tribunal in Erzurum, and the sentences imposed as a result of the trials conducted by this tribunal are evaluated within the framework of the historical conditions of the period. The study is based on official publications, documents obtained from the Archive of the Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye, and newspapers of the period. In addition, scholarly studies, literary works, memoirs, and articles have also been consulted. Existing studies have been carefully examined, and a detailed study has been prepared on the basis of this information and newly obtained documents. The effects of the Hat Reform continue to be debated today in a manner intertwined with various misconceptions. In light of the data obtained, analyses and examinations have been conducted in order to distinguish inaccurate information, and it is hoped that this study will contribute to future research in the field of Erzurum’s local history.