Corps de droit ottoman
Seven-volume French collection of Ottoman law edited by George Young.
Corps de droit ottoman is a seven-volume French-language collection of Ottoman law edited by George Young and published by Clarendon Press in 1905–1906. It compiles codes, regulations, and customary legal studies of the Ottoman Empire, drawing on non-public material including British embassy archives.
Quick Facts
- Editor
- George Young (1872–1952)
- Language
- French
- Volumes
- 7
- Publication years
- 1905–1906
- Publisher
- Clarendon Press
- Country of publication
- United Kingdom
Facts from the source article.
Background
When the work was published, Young served as a second secretary at the British embassy in Spain. He had earlier been posted to the British embassy in Constantinople, where an archivist and other staff helped him. Young lacked training in Asian studies and law. His book drew on non-public sources, including the British embassy’s Constantinople archives.
Contents
Young included English introductions and tables of contents in each volume, but no indexes, and added explanatory notes for every category. Volume one describes law on courts, government, and immovable property. Volume two covers the military, non-Muslim millets, and public order. Volume three deals with foreign affairs, maritime affairs, and public health.
Reception
D. G. Hogarth praised the book as covering ground no previous work had, though he noted the absence of Ottoman Turkish originals would have secured its fame as a permanent reference. He mentioned minor errors but none of much importance.
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