The Bosnian Catholics during the nineteenth century in the context of the Ottoman <i>millet</i> system discussions

ABSTRACT In the light of debates about the Ottoman millet system this article examines the relations of Bosnian Catholics with the Ottoman centre in the nineteenth century. It analyses how the system worked and what its components were, on the basis especially of the Ottoman archival documents of the period. It first focuses on how Bosnian Catholics were defined by the Ottoman empire, in order to answer the question of whether or not they were recognized as a separate millet. Secondly, it concentrates on the Bosnian Catholic clergy’s relations with the Ottoman centre and questions the meaning of the Ahdname given to the Bosnian Catholics by Mehmed II, which constitutes the basis for their legal status. Thirdly, by discussing the mutual expectations of the Bosnian Catholics and the Ottoman centre, the article sheds light on how the network of relations and cooperation between the two parties worked. Finally, it focuses on the institutions and states that the Bosnian Catholics used as intermediaries to get the Ottoman centre to intervene in order to solve the problems they faced.