The Capitulations and the Ottoman Legal System - Volume 21 - Studies in Islamic law and society

Sep 21, 2026

The text is a scholarly volume examining the capitulations and the Ottoman legal system in the 18th century, focusing on key intermediaries and legal authorities such as qadis, consuls, and beratlìs. It outlines themes of promises and sacred capitulations, the mechanisms of protection, and the juridical approach, supported by historical surveys and methodological sections. The book further addresses protection practices, fiscal exemptions, consular jurisdiction, and avania, including definitions, historiography, and case studies through European and Ottoman perspectives.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages342

Reading Time14 h 22 min

AccessFree to download

List of Figures and Tables

Abbreviations

Acknowledgements

Introduction

Early Studies of the Capitulations

An Historical Survey

The Juridical Approach

Methodology

Published Texts

Chapter One The Sultan’s Promise

Sacred Capitulations

Fermans and Berats

Revocation

Müste’mins

Tax Exemptions

Jurisdictions

Consular Jurisdiction

European Consular Regulations

The Qadi

The Imperial Council

Chapter Two The Protection System

Ottoman Protégés

Dragomans

Sons and Servants (hizmetkârs)

Warehousemen (mahzencis) and Brokers (simsars)

Moneychangers (sarrafs)

“Haratch Papers”

Commercialisation

An Ambassadorial Perquisite

The Price of Protection

Profits

Recruitment

The Numbers of Protégés

A Survey

Instruments of Imperialism?

Bureaucratic Procedures

Western Policies

Ottoman Policies

The Legal Status of Beratlıs

Chapter Three Avanias: Misrepresentations of the Ottoman The Legal System

Historiography

Avania: Definitions and Origins

Avanists

The Making of Avanias

Case Studies

The European Perspective: Summaries of Nine Avanias

THE CAPITULATIONS AND THE OTTOMAN LEGAL SYSTEM STUDIES IN ISLAMIC LAW AND SOCIETY edited by Ruud Peters and Bernard Weiss volume 21 THE CAPITULATIONS AND THE OTTOMAN LEGAL SYSTEM Qadis, Consuls and BeratlÌs in the 18th Century BY MAURITS H. VAN DEN BOOGERT BRILL LEIDEN • BOSTON This book is printed on acid-free paper. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Boogert, Maurits H. van den. The capitulations and the Ottoman legal system : Qadis, Consuls and BeratlÌs in the 18th Century/ by Maurits H. Van den Boogert. [p. cm](p. cm).—(Studies in Islamic law and society, ISSN 1384-1130 ; v. 21) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 90-04-14035-2 (alk. paper) 1. Capitulations. 2. Exterritoriality. 3. Privileges and immunities—Turkey—History—18th century. 4. Aliens—Turkey—History—18th century. 5. Merchants, Foreign—Legal status, laws, etc.—Turkey—History—18th century. I. Title. II. Series. KKX2290 .B66 2005 349.561’09’033—dc22 2005042154 ISSN 1384–1130 ISBN 90 04 14035 2 © Copyright 2005 by Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, The Netherlands Koninklijke Brill NV incorporates the imprints Brill Academic Publishers, Martinus Nijhoff Publishers and VSP. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, translated, stored ina retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior written permission from the publisher. Authorization to photocopy items for internal or personal use is granted by Brill provided that the appropriate fees are paid directly to The Copyright Clearance Center, 222 Rosewood Drive, Suite 910 Danvers, MA 01923, USA. Fees are subject to change. printed in the netherlands Aan mijn ouders en Monique CONTENTS List of Figures and Tables ........................................................ xi Abbreviations .............................................................................. xiii Acknowledgements ...................................................................... xv Introduction ................................................................................ 1 Early Studies of the Capitulations ........................................ 4 An Historical Survey .............................................................. 7 The Juridical Approach ........................................................ 9 Methodology ............................................................................ 11 Published Texts ...................................................................... 15 Chapter One The Sultan’s Promise .......................................... 19 Sacred Capitulations .............................................................. 19 Fermans and Berats .................................................................. 24 Revocation .............................................................................. 26 Müste’mins ................................................................................ 30 Tax Exemptions ...................................................................... 32 Jurisdictions ............................................................................ 33 Consular Jurisdiction .......................................................... 34 European Consular Regulations ........................................ 38 The Qadi ............................................................................ 42 The Imperial Council ........................................................ 47 Chapter Two The Protection System ........................................ 63 Ottoman Protégés .................................................................. 64 Dragomans .......................................................................... 64 Sons and Servants (hizmetkârs) ............................................ 67 Warehousemen (mahzencis) and Brokers (si

FAQs

What is the main topic of this volume?

The volume studies the capitulations and the Ottoman legal system in the 18th century, emphasizing the roles of qadis, consuls, and beratlìs.

Which areas does the book cover in its early chapters?

It presents early studies, an historical survey, the juridical approach, methodology, and published texts, then moves into chapter one’s account of the sultan’s promise and key legal instruments.

What does Chapter Three focus on regarding the Ottoman legal system?

Chapter Three focuses on avania, including its definitions and origins, historiography, how avanias were made, and case studies, including European perspectives.

Sep 21, 2026

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