engleski

Being an Ottoman Vlach. On Vlach Identity(ies), Role and Status in Western Parts of the Ottoman Balkans (15th-18th Centuries)

Following the Ottoman conquest of the Balkans, the Vlachs, still largely nomadic and semi-nomadic population, made special arrangements with the conquerors. They served as colonizing force in newly conquered areas, manned auxiliary military units such as voynuks and martoloses, etc. In exchange, the Ottomans granted the Vlachs wide exemptions and autonomies, that made them significantly different from ordinary subject population – re‘âyâ. During the course of time, along with centralization and changes of state structure, economical system and military organization, services that the Vlachs used to provide became unnecessary. In the 1520s started the process of Vlach sedentarization and reduction of their privileges, that by the end of the century equated the majority Vlachs first with filuricis, and later with ordinary re‘âyâ peasants. The Vlach response to the pressure of the state was threefold: (1) rebellion and migration to the enemy territory, (2) acceptance of new realities and loss of the Vlach quality, and (3), assimilation with the “ruling people” by means of Islamization. The 18th century, on the other hand, witnessed the rise of “conquering Orthodox merchants, ” originally Vlachs who managed to distinguish themselves by wealth acquired in international trade. Despite their success, however, they relatively quickly assimilated into host societies, following the fate of their nomadic predecessors.

Vlachs; Ottoman Empire; Western Balkans; voynuks; martoloses

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