The Legal Status of Muslims in the Assizes of the Court of Burgesses in the Lusignan Kingdom of Cyprus Mabrouka Kamel Deif Youssef (Damanhur University, Egypt)
MUSLIMS WERE AMONG the minorities in Cypriot society under the rule of the Lusignan dynasty. The Latin Kingdom of Cyprus comprised several minorities beside the Greek majority population, such as Syrians, Samaritans, Nestorians, Jacobites and Jews. The legal system was able to accommodate all these minorities. This research discusses and analyses the legal articles concerning Muslims in the Assizes. Although the Assizes regulated what should be practiced instead of what does exist, they still reflect the law compilers’ perspective on Muslims at the time. They also provide us with an indication of the status of Muslims᾽ in Cypriot society compared to other minorities. The articles include provisions on social, economic and criminal aspects of life which made it possible to have a perception of Muslims’ lives in Cyprus during the 13th and 14th centuries. Major issues of their lives, most importantly conversion and manumission along with their legal consequences will be discussed. In addition, some of the important queries in this research are the legal penalties imposed on Muslims in various criminal cases. Moreover, the points of difference and similarity between Muslims and other minorities in different judiciary matters such as court summons, offering testimonies and giving oaths are to be investigated. Furthermore, the nature of trials
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