Regulating Power: Ottoman Administrative-Territorial Structures in Moldavia: The Role of the Bey, Kâdı, and Defterdâr
Regulating Power: Ottoman Administrative-Territorial Structures in Moldavia: The Role of the Bey, Kâdı, and Defterdâr
Author(s): Igor BercuSubject(s): History, Middle Ages, Modern Age, 15th Century, 16th Century, 17th Century, 18th Century
Published by: Academia Română – Centrul de Studii Transilvane
Keywords: Ottoman Empire; Moldavia; 15th–18th centuries; administrative-territorial policy; frontier governance;
Summary/Abstract: This study explores the evolution and function of Ottoman administrative-territorial structures in Moldavia between the late 15th and early 18th centuries, focusing on the institutional roles of the sancâkbey (governor), kâdı (judge), and defterdâr (financial officer). The analysis places Moldavia within the broader framework of Ottoman expansion and governance, highlighting the strategic and political rationale behind the empire’s establishment of fortified frontier provinces along the northern Black Sea coast. The paper examines the mechanisms by which the Sublime Porte consolidated control through direct administration, military oversight, judicial integration, and fiscal regulation. It also addresses the complex interplay between central authority and provincial autonomy, showing how Ottoman pragmatism, legal pluralism, and institutional specialization contributed to imperial cohesion and longevity.
Journal: Transylvanian Review
- Issue Year: XXXIV/2025
- Issue No: Suppl. 1
- Page Range: 25-36
- Page Count: 12
- Language: English
