Title: Berat (imperial warrant granting a privilege) of Sultan Ahmed III (r. 1703-1730)
Long Description: The monogram of the tuğra reads, 'Şah Ahmed b. Mehmed Han may he ever be victorious'. The document (berat) was drawn up in Istanbul, and based on the date Rebiülevvel Evahir 1116 / 24 July - 2 August 1704 given in the text, must date from after this period. It concerns a complaint made in person to the sultan by a man named Halil concerning a claim by Ahmed to a timar (military fief) worth 16,500 akçe consisting of several villages in the sub-province of Ardanuç. The complaint was upheld and it was decided that the timar should be given to Halil and that henceforth no other person should have any claim to it. The document is written in gold, black and red ink. The illuminated tuğra is drawn in red ink and surmounted by a large gilded palmette motif. This decoration is not original and was evidently executed at a later date.