مرکز منطقه ای اطلاع رساني علوم و فناوري - The Demographic Structure of Skopje from the 1833 Register

Abstract :

Skopje, the capital city of The Republic of Macedonia, is located on both sides of the Vardar. The city became one of the three important frontier regions in 1392 when it was conquered by the Ottoman State and, after 1463 the city gained county status. The size and quality of the population of Skopje began to change with the settlement of the Turkmen coming from the Saruhan region. The Muslim population occasionally preferred to live in the downtown area, while the Christian population preferred to live in rural areas, which, however, changed over the centuries. It is shown by scholars who have the studied tax records that the Christian population living in rural areas around the city since the conquest gradually, over the centuries moved towards the centre. The number of neighborhoods in the city increased to 70 while in 1832 this number was reduced to 47, and accordingly the number of villages changed. Although the 1831 census, taken in order to determine jizya tax levied on the Non-Muslims subjects, and for military service and the number of the male population, is not acknowledged as flawless, it provides some valuable information about the regions included in the census. The aim of this study is to show the population structure of Skopje according to the register of 1833. The register (BOA NFS.d. 5624), the main source employed in this study, contains various detailed records. The information recorded shows the size of the population in the city center and the villages of Skopje and the distribution of population in the settlements and in religious groups. In addition, the register also provides valuable information about jizya tax and the economic conditions of the non-Muslim citizens.