Богомилството и ислямизацията (историографски аспекти)
Bogomilism and Islamisation (Historiographical Aspects

Summary/Abstract: The present study examines the historiographical debate surrounding the relationship between Bogomilism and the process of Islamisation in the Balkans, with a particular focus on Bosnia. Bogomilism, a dualistic Christian heresy that emerged in the medieval Bulgarian lands, spread widely across Southeastern Europe and became especially influential in regions such as Bosnia, where religious diversity and institutional fragmentation were characteristic features of the late medieval period.The article traces the origins of the so-called “Bogomil theory” of Islamisation, which suggests that adherents of Bogomilism were more inclined to convert to Islam following the Ottoman conquest due to doctrinal similarities or their marginal position within Christian society. This theory, developed in late Ottoman and modern historiography, has been widely debated and often challenged.Drawing on a comparative and interdisciplinary methodology, the study analyzes abroad range of historiographical sources, examining Ottoman tax registers, narrative accounts, archaeological evidence, and epigraphic materials such as tombstones. These sources and studies reveal that Islamisation was a gradual and complex process, shaped by demographic changes, social mobility, economic incentives, and administrative structures under Ottoman rule, rather than by direct religious continuity with Bogomil beliefs.The research highlights that earlier interpretations overstated the role of Bogomilism, often influenced by ideological and national narratives, particularly in the context of Bosnian identity formation. Modern scholarship increasingly rejects the idea of a direct causal link between Bogomilism and Islamisation, emphasizing instead the diversity of religious experiences and the significance of broader socio-political factors.In conclusion, while the “Bogomil theory” continues to persist in certain historiographical and public discourses, it lacks solid empirical support. The Islamisation of Bosnia should be understood as a multifaceted historical phenomenon, embedded in the wider context of Ottoman expansion, regional dynamics, and evolving identities in Southeastern Europe.

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