THE UPRISING OF THE ARNAUTS AGAINST THE TURKISH AUTHORITIES IN PASHALIK OF SKOPJE AND KOSOVO IN 1844 (REBELLION OF THE DERVISH EMPEROR)

Abstract

Despite high expectations of central Turkish authorities that the proclamation of the Hatt-i §erif of Gulhane would re-establish order in the Ottoman Empire, the events that followed proved otherwise. Decisions of the Hatt-i §erif of Gulhane not only did nothing to stabilise the political and economic situation in Turkey and improve the status of Christians, but actually had negative results. Instead of a period of progress and development in the Ottoman Empire, in 1839 began a period of anarchy, rebellions and uprisings in almost all pashaliks of Rumelia vilayet. The main category which defined the social and agrarian legal relations was faith. Religious teachings of Islam and Sharia Law clearly defined the position of the non-Muslim population as second-class citizens, who did not have the right to influence the social, political and economic conditions in the Ottoman Empire. Anti-reform propaganda was strongest in Old Serbia, where the local population of Arnauts took extremely hostile stance on the introduced reforms. Heavily influenced by their religious ideology, socio-politically conscious Arnauts did not change their attitude towards the position of Serbian population in Turkey. Dissatisfaction of Arnauts culminated in 1844 in the uprising that spread to Pashaliks of Kosovo and Skopje.