THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE KADI REGISTERS (SER'IYYE SICILLERI) OF THE IOANNINA, MANASTIR, AND SHKODER PROVINCES FOR STUDIES OF THE OTTOMAN PERIOD (Osmanli Donemi Arastirmalari Icin Yanya, Manastir ve Iskodra Vilayetleri Kadi Sicillerinin (Ser'iyye Sicilleri) Onemi)
Albania, which was part of the Rumeli region for almost five centuries during the Ottoman Administration, currently preserves a large collection of records in its Central Archive pertaining to the aforementioned period. Consequently, Albania can be considered as the most important and richest holder of these records in the Balkans, in terms of quantity and content. These documents are written in Turkish, Arabic and Persian. Among them are the Kadi Registers (Ser'iyye Sicilleri) of the Ionnina, Manastir, and Shkoder provinces. Although extensive research has been conducted, the Kadi Registers of the Kosova province have unfortunately not yet been found. The collection of Kadi Registers of the Ioannina, Manastir and Shkoder provinces chronologically begins in the year 1529, with the registers of Elbasan (copies) and ends in the year 1926, with the registers of the city of Berat. The Kadi Registers of the city of Berat, historically recognized as mahkeme i ser'iyye Beligrad i Arnavud, begins in 1602. They are nearly complete, saved in their original format, and include 211 files. These registers are recorded in the form of an encyclopaedia and contain information regarding the history of Albania, the Balkans, and the entire world.