Brigandage in Herzegovina in the 18th century

Samovolja lokalnih moćnika, koja je tijekom 18. stoljeća sve više dolazila do izražaja, sukobi s vanjskim silama, porast redovitih i izvanrednih nameta te zlouporabe vladajućih struktura sve više ugrožavaju socijalni položaj stanovništva. Porezni i feudalni pritisak povećavao je odmetanje u hajduke, a pljačke, razbojstva i druga zlodjela postala su dio svakodnevice. Mjere koje su poduzimale osmanske vlasti nisu imale učinka, a hajdučke su družine svojim djelovanjem tijekom cijeloga 18. stoljeća unosile nemir i prijetile sigurnosti. Podršku i zaštitu nalazili su među svojim jatacima kojima je, jednako kao i hajducima, prijetilo kažnjavanje zbog učinjenoga. Raznovrsnu građu o zbivanjima u 18. stoljeću i hajdučiji na prostoru Hercegovine daju objavljeni i neobjavljeni sudski zapisnici (sidžili) na temelju kojih će se dati jedna jasnija i potpunija slika o hajducima i njihovu djelovanju.Arbitrariness of the local persons in power, which became more evident during the 18th century, conflicts with external forces, increase of regular and special levies as well as abuse of governing structures endangered social position of the population. Tax and feudal pressure increased the number of brigands and robberies and other atrocities became a part of everyday life. Measures undertaken by the Ottoman authorities did not have any effect and bands of brigands disturbed and threatened the security with their activities through the entire 18th century. They had the support and protection among their concealers, whom were equally as brigands threatened by punishment for everything they did. Published and unpublished court transcripts (sidzili) gave various materials about the events in the 18th century and brigandage in Herzegovina and a clearer and more complete picture about brigands and their activities will be made on the basis of those materials