Özet:

While the Ottoman State was losing the battles against Russia in the second half of the 18^th century, the victorious Russia step by step approached its goal of reaching the warm seas. Russia, which occupied Crimea during the war of 1768-1774, had a military force in the Black Sea, and also burned the Ottoman fleet by passing through the Strait of Gibraltar to the Mediterranean. Russia's gaining mobility in both the Black Sea and the Mediterranean made the Ottoman capital vulnerable to future attacks through the Straits.

The Ottoman State, which did not allow the military ships of foreign states to sail through the Straits until Küçük Kaynarca Treaty, started the fortification of the Straits in order to ensure its own security. As well as the fact that the fortresses and fortifications in Dardanelles were strengthened, fortresses were reinforced with artillery and ammunition. Since the Russian threat was mainly expected from the Black Sea, the arbitration of the Bosphorus in terms of military fortifications, soldiers and ammunition has become an important issue for the Ottoman State in order to defend the capital.

Construction activities in the Bosphorus castles were carried out within the framework of pre-decided plans. Like other large public buildings, the construction activities in the castles were carried out by the state. The construction works in these castles are under the responsibility of the chief architect of Hassa. Together with the chief architect, the treasurer, the Bosphorus minister, the building overseer of the Bosphorus castles, an engineer and the building trustee appointed for each castle first made explorations in the castles where the construction would take place. The expeditions recorded the area to be built, the parts to be built and their probable expenses in the exploration book in the presence of the commanders and officers of each castle.

The main source of this study is an exploration book prepared by the chief architect during the exploration made in 1796 for the structures to be repaired and rebuilt in the five castles on the Bosphorus. With the help of the literature on the subject, the book in question in the Ottoman Archive will be deciphered and evaluated. Thus, determinations will be made about the preparation, exploration, exploration committee, the arrangement of the exploration logs, the approximate cost induction and the implementation of the construction plan before the construction and repair activities in the castles started.

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