Transfer of Mining Company Shares in Medieval Serbia
Transfer of Mining Company Shares in Medieval Serbia

Summary/Abstract: The beginning of mining in medieval Serbia is related to the settlement of the Saxons that is commonly thought to have taken place in the mid-13th century. Saxons brought with them not only the technique and knowledge for silver and gold mining and extraction but also customary rules that regulated numerous issues concerning mining. The first written mining law codification appeared in Serbia around 1400. This codification is known as the Mining Code of Despot Stefan, and it was enacted for Novo Brdo (Ново Брдо), the most important mining site in the state at the time. Although the influence of Saxon customs is evident, Serbian law showed significant unique development, resulting from the intensity of metal production and isolation from other European Saxon mining centres. One of the most important subjects regulated in the Code was the transfer of shares in mining companies. Although this was not the first issue regulated by the Code, according to the transcription from 1638, one seventh of its articles were dedicated to the change of shareholders. These articles prescribed various rules on registration of ownership, bearing of costs, representation, unilateral rescission of sale, and expulsion from the company. The aim of this study is to answer the question as to what extent these rules were the result of transplantation of Saxon customs, and which part of the rules represents a possibly unique Serbian legal contribution.

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