Taciroglu was a member of the Tecirli clan. The Tecirli Clan was one of the Turkmen nations that formed the Dulkadir dynasty in eastern Anatolia. The Dulkadir dynasty governed parts of Anatolia and northern Syria from the 14th to the 16th century. The Tecirli clan’s history before the 19th century, when they were under the Dulkadir rule, is largely obscure and undocumented. Looking at Tecirli history, the clan had two distinct groups of nomads: pastoral nomads and trader nomads. Pastoral nomads were the ones who raised livestock, mainly sheep, and moved with them according to the seasonal availability of pastures. They inhabited a large region in south central Turkey, bordered by Mount Erciyes in the north, Tarsus in the southwest, Gaziantep in the southeast, Kahramanmaras in the east, and Aksaray in the west.

Trader nomads, on the other hand, were the ones who engaged in commerce, crafts, and services. They mostly resided in larger cities such as Kahramanmaras, Nigde, and Adana, but they also traveled frequently between their clan’s settlements and other urban centers, expanding their trade network and influence. Trader nomads were also very well educated, as they had access to schools and libraries in the cities. When they visited the clan’s settlements, they would set up small classrooms and teach the pastoral nomads various subjects, such as reading, writing, arithmetic, and religion.

The Tecirli clan was able to maintain its autonomy and territory for a long time, thanks to its large size and its strategic settlements. The clan established many small settlements in different parts of its territory, which functioned as shelters for the nomads. These settlements helped the clan to protect its lands from invaders and rivals, especially when the nomads were traveling with their herds. These settlements also functioned like hotels for the trader nomads, who would stay there during their journeys and exchange goods and information with the pastoral nomads.

The 19th century was a turbulent time for the Ottoman Empire, which faced political, economic, and social challenges. The empire was in a state of decline and stagnation, and attempted to reform itself, but with little success. The empire imposed heavy taxes on its subjects, which caused discontent and resistance. The Taciroglu nomads, who were part of the Tecirli clan, were especially affected by the unfair taxation system. The Ottoman authorities tried to tax them for agricultural activities, even though they did not cultivate any land.

Another challenge that they had to confront was the influx of immigrants. The empire was overwhelmed by the arrival of large numbers of people. These immigrants sought refuge from other regions, such as the Balkans and the Caucasus, where they faced wars and persecutions. The authorities assigned some of these immigrants to the lands that belonged to the Tecirli clan. This was without the clan’s consent or knowledge. The majority of the Tecirli nomads were away for their seasonal migration. They had no idea that their lands were given away to strangers. When they came back to their lands, they were shocked and enraged to find them taken over by foreigners, who had killed their men and violated their women. They appealed to the government for help, but they received no support.

The year 1880 was a tragic one for Tecirli history. A group of corrupt Ottoman officials and immigrants launched a violent campaign against the clan, killing thousands of its members. Among the victims was Tecirli Mehmed Efendi, a respected leader and merchant of the clan. His son, Tecirli Ali Efendi, was only eight years old at the time. He witnessed his father’s brutal murder and managed to escape the massacre. Ali then returned to the scene of the crime and retrieved his father’s corpse, which he carried on his back in a large bag that was used for cheese making. He brought his father’s body to his home in Nigde. Ali and his six-year-old brother, Tecirli Haci Mehmet, performed a makeshift funeral service, following their own childish understanding of the rituals.

He started working as an apprentice in his father’s Greek friend’s shop where he learned the skills of the trade. Ali also traveled a lot, visiting different cities and markets. We heard stories that he always took his father’s body with him, never wanting to leave it behind. He hoped to find a suitable place to bury his father and honor his memory. Tecirli Ali Efendi finally achieved his goal in 1900, when he was 28 years old. He bought a grave in Nigde, where he laid his father to rest, after 20 years of carrying him around.