Ottoman historical documents : the institutions of an empire / V.L. Ménage ; edited with additions by Colin Imber.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 184-195) and index.

"This collection of translated primary sources for Ottoman history shows how the major institutions of Ottoman government developed and functioned. Each chapter covers a key topic: Legitimation and Titulature; Princes; Recruitment into the Sultan's service; the Vizierate and the Dīvān; the Religio-Legal Institution; Ḳānūnnāmes (sultanic legislation); Taxation and Finance; Waqfs (endowments); and Treaties and Foreign Relations."-- Publisher website.

English text translated from the Ottoman Turkish, Modern Greek, Arabic, Persian, Latin and Italian.

1.2\x ḳānūnnāme of Sīs, 1518 -- 6. The ḳānūnnāme of Nikopol, reign of Süleymān I -- a. Instructions on dealing with the tīmārs of the district -- b. Exposition of the ḳānūnnāme of the voynuḳs -- 7. Extracts from the ḳānūnnāme of Egypt, after 1525 -- Sources -- Chapter VIII: Taxation and Finance -- 1. Annual income and expenditure of the Imperial Treasury -- a. An estimate of treasury income and expenditure, c1475–80 -- b. An estimate of treasury income and expenditure for the years 1527–8 -- 2. Customs and muḳāṭaʻas -- a. Entry from a register of muḳāṭaʻas -- b. Entry from a register of muḳāṭaʻas -- c. A decree granting a muḳāṭaʻa -- d. The problems of a tax-farmer -- e. Demand for the delivery of payment due from a tax-farm -- f. Tax avoidance -- g. Tax arrangements in newly conquered fortified towns -- h. A command written to the ḳāḍī and the fortress-commander of Kili -- 3. Silver mines -- a. Instructions to a farmer of silver mines -- b. Extract from a register for Bosnia, 1489 -- 4. Jizya -- a. Instructions to a jizya-collector -- b. Two extracts from a jizya register -- c. Accounts for the jizya of the infidels of the vilāyet of Menlik -- 5.Debasement of the coinage -- a. Debasement under Meḥmed II -- b. A debasement heralds a mutiny -- Sources -- Chapter IX: Waqfs -- Section 1: Foundation and Function -- 1.Founding a waqf -- 2. A vizieral waqf -- 3. A new waqf -- 4. Waqfs established by conquerors and colonisers -- a. The waqf of Murād I -- b.The waqf of the Ṣaru Şeyḫ -- c. Note protecting dervishes who descend from the district’s conqueror -- 5. The Waqf of Mūsā -- a. A note on the village of Ḳızıl Delü, 1412 -- b. A register entry on the waqf of Ḳızıl Delü, sixteenth century -- c. A renewed berāt for Ḳızıl Delü Sultan’s waqf, 1641/2 -- d. An undated register entry on the waqf of Ḳızıl Delü -- e. Note appended to an undated register entry on the waqf of Ḳızıl Delü -- 6. The Waqf of Orḫān -- 7. Waqfs in decline -- a. The Waqf of Dervīş Bāyezīd in Seydī Kavaġı -- b. The Waqf of Saġrı Ḥatun -- c. Waqf of the zāviye of Ḳāḍī Ṣalāḥuʼd-Dīn -- 8. The waqfīya of Selçük bint ʻAbduʼllāh, freedwoman of Meḥmed -- Section 2: Problems -- 1. A cash and family waqf -- 2. Cash and charitable waqfs -- a. The Waqf of charitable donors (erbāb-i ḫayrāt) in the quarter -- b. Waqf of charitable donors -- c. Waqf of Ḥāccī Meḥmed in the village of Şeynelü -- d. The Waqf of Ḥāccī Ḥasan b. Ūrūc the Felter -- 3. Cash waqfs: Questions of legality -- a. A question on donating profit from interest -- b. A question on interest -- c. A question on using legal devices -- d. A question on making restitution for not lending out waqf moneys -- Sources -- Chapter X: Treaties and Foreign Relations -- 1. The Genoese treaty with Murād I, 1387 -- 2. The Byzantine-Turkish Treaty of 1403 -- The peace settlement of 1444 -- a. The sworn statement of Ibrāhīm Beg of Ḳaramān, 1444 -- b. The Treaty of Edirne, 1444 -- 3. A grant of peace and of free passage for merchants -- 4. An offer to pay tribute -- 5. The peace terms offered by Süleymān I to Charles V, 1547 -- 6. The English capitulations, 1580 -- 7. The troubles of an ambassador -- 8. Latin text of the agreement at Zsitva-Torok, 1606 -- Sources -- Glossary -- Bibliography -- Index.