Political and Administrative Organisation

Legislative Power in Medieval Bulgaria

In the early Bulgarian state, legislative power was shared between the king and the council of bishops. This combination of royal and religious authority reflected the strong influence of both the monarchy and the church.

The main sources of law during this period included:

Chrysobulles – royal decrees issued by the king.

Decisions of church councils – rulings that dealt with matters of faith and community life.

Prefectoral ordinances – orders given by provincial governors.

Judicial decisions – rulings from the law courts that applied and interpreted existing laws.

These sources of law created a framework for governance, though they were not always consistent or systematic.

Bulgarian Lands under Ottoman Rule

When Bulgaria fell under Turkish domination, it became part of the Vilayet of the Danube, one of the provinces of the Ottoman Empire. In this respect, Bulgaria’s fate was very similar to that of other Balkan territories under Ottoman rule Istanbul Daily Tour.

Until the Treaty of Paris in 1856, the Ottoman Empire had only a rudimentary political organisation. Being a theocratic state, all political and administrative authority came from the Caliph, who was seen as the representative of the Prophet Muhammad.

The Role of the Koran and Cadis

In the Ottoman system, the Koran served as both civil and criminal law. Ministers of religion were responsible for ensuring obedience to its commandments and punishing those who broke them.

Each parish or district had a cadi, who acted as judge. The cadi was appointed by the religious authorities and held broad powers. He could judge both civil and criminal cases, often without any formal rules of procedure. In essence, the cadi applied the limited legal principles of the Koran according to his own interpretation.

When disputes were more complicated, the cadi could consult with two respected notables of the parish, although their role was only advisory.

Higher Religious Authority

In certain special cases, the decisions of a local cadi could be reviewed by the Sheik-ul-Islam of Constantinople, the highest religious tribunal in the Ottoman Empire. This institution acted as a final authority in religious and legal matters, ensuring that local rulings were consistent with Islamic law.

The political and legal system in Bulgaria changed dramatically under Ottoman rule. From a kingdom where laws came from both king and church, Bulgaria became a province governed through the religious principles of Islam. Authority was concentrated in the hands of the cadis and, ultimately, the Caliph in Constantinople. This system limited local autonomy and placed the Bulgarian population under the same religious-legal framework as all other Ottoman subjects in the Balkans.