Le droit d’initiative du sultan et les lois de Fâtih (Mehmed II)

Abstract

Despite the religious nature of the Ottoman Empire, a secular legal system based upon social customs, established by the sovereign, developed mainly from the 14th century, eventually taking a place of significant importance alongside Islamic Law. The rules relating to this kind of law, - that may in some cases contradict the principles of the Chari’a-, are somehow associated with Turkish and Mongol traditions, therefore constituting undeniable evidence asserting the absolute and central position of the sovereign in Turkish-Islamic organization’s traditional conception of the state.

Keywords

• ottoman legislation
• customary law
• chari’a
• Mehmed II
• turk-mongol tradition
• Ottoman empire