“Responsa Nicolai ad consulta bulgarorum”, „Законъ соудный людьмъ“ and the Information on Slaves and Slavery during the First Bulgarian Empire

Authors:

Pages: 91-109
DOI: https://doi.org/10.54664/SJBX2282

Abstract:

‘Responsa Nicolai ad consulta Bulgarorum’ and ‘Законъ соудный людьмъ’ (the Law of Judging People) are two main sources about the situation in medieval Bulgaria after the Christianization of the population. They contain information about different aspects of social life, including data on the existence of slavery in the First Bulgarian Empire, and about the ways of enslavement (captivity, repression, kidnapping, sale). These texts show the legal and social statute of the slaves. Some common moments between them could be found as far as the abduction of people and the right of slaves to testify in court, for example, are concerned. Almost half of the sections in the Law of Judging People comment on different case studies of a penal nature in which slaves are involved or enslavement is provided for as a punishment. The fact that the topic of slavery is widely considered in both documents, leads us to the conclusion that slaves had their significant place in the social ladder in the First Bulgarian Empire. The information in the two sources demonstrates that the institution of slavery was normatively regulated and controlled by the legislator.

Keywords:

slaves, slavery, First Bulgarian Empire, sources, Responsa Nicolai ad consulta Bulgarorum, the Law of Judging People, enslavement, punishment, a way of enslavement

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