About the Specifics of Some Ottoman Cadastre Registers in Connection With Institution of Waqf in Bosnia in 16th and 17th Century

Abstract

It is well-known that, beside waqf-namas as the basic sources, the Ottoman cadastre registers contains very important data about waqfs in Bosnia.This paper explains the great importance of these data.

If we consider the fact that a small number of waqf-namas even less than 10% of waqfs formed in mentioned period have been preserved, whereas the cadastre registers have noticed all the waqfs in urban settlements, it became obvious how important are the data from these registers. Cadastre registers represent the only sources for a great number of waqfs, such as those in countries (Slavonia, Lika) which seceded from the Ottoman rule during the Great War (1680-1699).

All the Ottoman registers, some shorter some detailed contains the data about waqfs. Most of these registers contains only the names of waqfs and waqf buildings (mosques, masjids) mentioned in the names of some mahallas. But some registers contains special, abridged data in the lists of all the waqfs in Sanjak of Bosnia, as it is in detailed registers of this sanjak from 1540, 1570 and 1604. Two detailed registers has to be emphasized: detailed register of Bosnian sanjak from 1604, and detailed register of Sanjak of Klis from the same year. These registers contains the summaries of all waqf-namas and gives data for each waqf (incomes, expenses, buildings, and all the employee).

Considering the fact that only 18 waqf-namas of Bosnian sanjak in the period untill1604 have been preserved, the data from mentioned register has the great importance, because it contains summarized data for 184 waqfs. Also, the register of Sanjak of Klis contains data for 29 waqfs while no waqfnama has been preserved.