Limits of tolerance : legal relations between early ottoman Jews and central authorities (15th-18th Centuries)‎

Abstract EN

Many years ago, before they were expelled from Europe, thousands of Jews being exposed to oppression and persecution in many parts of the world in the 15th century migrated to Turkish lands where they could live more forgivingly and at a higher welfare level as well as the Jews who were living in the Ottoman lands freely, and thereby, they attained a significant place within the non-Muslim population.

The emperorship consisting of several communities tried to achieve its sovereignty with the millet system.

In other words, keeping the Muslims separate from non-Muslims as they were millet-i hakime (dominating nation) had been adopted as the fundamental mission.

Therefore, there were some regulations and rules that would differentiate them from each other in the social sphere and daily life.

The Jews were also included in these restrictions.

It is quite difficult to clearly mark off legal rights granted, and tolerances shown to the Jews, but this study based upon imperial council books (muhimme books) provided an opportunity to make a general evaluation on legal rights and powers of Jewish national subject.

The most important regulation that draws attention in the books has been concerning the clothing.

Besides, the imperial orders on residential-religious settlements and cemeteries were also given by the central administration.

It was reflected in the books that the Jews were detracted from certain administrative ranks as well as that the Jews were restrained from keeping slaves.

However, these regulations contained neither a derogatory badge and an oppressive and persecutory settlement policy nor any trade restrictions as they were subjected in Europe.

They were not factionalized by society and even, they played an active role in some economic activities.

Based on the clauses (in Turkish hüküm) reflected in the books, it can be said that the main goal of the central administration was to prevent the Jews from resembling Muslims, and this was not a situation only specific to Jews.

In this study where the main goals of the state for imposing the restrictions and the underlying reasons for not making severe regulations were discussed, it was tried to address the legal relations between the Jews and the central government.