HISTORIJSKO-PRAVNE OSNOVE BOSANSKOHERCEGOVAČKE DRŽAVNOSTI DO BERLINSKOG KONGRESA 1878. GODINE

Abstract

The paper deals with issues related to the genesis of the Bosnian medieval state, its geopolital area, the specific state organization, as wel as the form of government whi- ch represented a dynamic reflection of then European circumstances. An important factor of the Bosnian state individuality is spiritual culture as wel as cultural speci- fics. In the course of that indipendent political development, a complex feudal state with prominent hierarchy, that was not sufficiently addressed in our science, was formed. A centuries-old process of rounding off international respectability has cul- minated in 1377 by the proclamation of the Bosnian Kingdom. However, circumstan- ces in the wider region of southeastern Europe and the Mediterranean have resulted in creation of a powerful Ottoman empire. After almost one hundred years of constant threat to the medieval Bosnian state, Ottomans placed the largest part of this kingdom under their rule in 1463. Despite the loss of political independence, in the following period, Bosnian Sandzak was formed in the conquered area as wel as the Bosnian Eyalet later. These administrative-terri- torial units have common specific segments of continuity with medieval independent state. Indeed, this centuries-old Ottoman administration has created the present-day Bosnia-Herzegovinian’s territory within the existing borders. Although the Ottoman state was highly centralized, in this paper we’ll try to answer the question about the degree of autonomy of local administration units in the Bosnian Eyalet. Key words: Bosnia, banovina, kingdom, starboard, eyalet, state, administration