Yavuz Sultan Selim'in Osmanlı Hukukuna Katkıları

The Ottoman Empire had a unique legal structure in which Sharia law and sultanic law (örfî hukuk) coexisted. Sultans issued legal regulations in areas permitted by Sharia law. During the reign of Yavuz Sultan Selim, various legal codes were enacted, one of the most notable being Kanunnâme-i Sultan Selim Han. This code, like its predecessors, contained provisions related to criminal law. However, it had a distinctive feature: in this code, the principle of legality is emphasized, and it is clearly stated that if the provisions of Sharia law are not applied, the penalty stipulated in the code will be applied.The Sheikh al-Islam (Şeyhülislam) during Selim I's reign was Zenbilli Ali Efendi. A noteworthy aspect of this period is the legal deliberations and interactions between the Sultan and the Sheikh al-Islam, and the reflections of these discussions in Ottoman law. Zenbilli Ali Efendi, a highly respected and knowledgeable scholar, served during the reigns of Bayezid II, Selim I, and Süleyman the Magnificent. He occasionally appeared before the sultan to express his legal opinions and called the ruler to justice and fairness. These dialogues and the decisions that followed made significant contributions to the development of Ottoman law. This study will examine the contributions of Yavuz Sultan Selim Han to Ottoman sultanic law.