The Terra Nullius between the Contado of Split and the Pious Foundation (vakıf) of Rüstem Paşa c. 1574-1585

Abstract

A synopsis of Venetian and Ottoman sources for the period 1574 – 1585 allows the reconstruction of a belt of no-man's land in the immediate hinterland of Split which separated the City's territorio from the çiftlik possessions of the famous Grand Vizier Damad Rüstem Paşa, son-in-law (damad) of Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent, which was made up of several mills and about 70 taxpaying Christian households. The Ottoman survey register BOA TD (Başbakanlık Osmanlı Arşivi, tarhir defteri) 622 of 1585 is the first defter to record the grounds of this no-man's land. It refers to them as having been «unproductive» or «empty» of any regular agricultural activity since they were taken from the Venetians «at the time of conquest». By 1585 the grounds in question, consisting of fields and vineyards, were placed under the responsibility of the local cavalry troops (sipahi). It is likely that this belt of territory was «policed» by the fortress personnel of Klis and, more particularly, the nearby castellum of Lončarić and the kale of Kamengrad (Kamen).