
Courts and Law in the Ottoman Empire
The Legal Mosaic of an Empire The Ottoman Empire, lasting from the late 13th century until the early 20th century, governed a vast and diverse realm stretching across Southeast Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa. Ruling over millions of subjects from different ethnic, religious, and cultural backgrounds, the Ottomans required a sophisticated system of law and justice to maintain order, balance authority, and integrate diversity. The Ottoman legal system was a mosaic, combining Islamic sharia, sultanic decrees known as kanun, and local customary laws. At the same time, its courts reflected the empire’s hierarchical and pluralistic structure, allowing Muslims, Christians, and Jews to live under a framework of relative autonomy while remaining loyal subjects of the sultan. This essay explores the Ottoman system of law and courts in depth,…