The Ottoman Land Code in Bulgaria Selective Interpretations

Abstract

The Ottoman Imperial Land Code of 1858, a significant legislative measure of the Tanzimat period, aimed to comprehensively regulate landholding within the Ottoman Empire. Recognizing individual legal subjects, extending rights of transfer, sale, and inheritance, and acknowledging çiftlik estates, the Code blurred distinctions between public and private lands, paving the way for de facto private ownership. This essay explores the enduring impact of the Land Code beyond the Ottoman rule, particularly in post-imperial Bulgaria during its formative decades as a modern state. Established post the Russo-Ottoman War of 1877-78, Bulgaria faced pressing land and agrarian issues, with a focus on transferring land from Muslim landholders to Bulgarian peasants, driven by nation-building aspirations. The chaotic environment of the time saw land seizures, lawsuits, and the contentious process of repatriating Muslim refugees. Bulgarian legislators selectively invoked and adapted the Ottoman Land Code, navigating land ownership, sovereignty, and diplomatic challenges. This essay highlights the complexities of land redistribution, the transition from feudalism to capitalism, and the interplay of legal, economic, and political factors in shaping modern Bulgaria.

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