The presence of Islam in South-Eastern Europe dates back to the 14th century or even earlier. What is often forgotten is that the spread of Islam in these areas in the Ottoman period was not only a result of forced conversion practices but also of persuasion. In fact, the Islamization of the Balkans during the centuries of Ottoman rule was less due to (devshirme) and the immigration of Muslims from Asia than to the more subtle long term influences of dervishes, charismatic sheikhs and wandering preachers and their ties with Ottoman officials. This volume by Michel Balivet, specialist on Turco-Greek relations and professor at the University of Provence, provides an in-depth study of one of these influential personalities; Bedreddin of Samavna (1358/9-1416). In his lifetime this Sufi leader recruited numerous disciples in Bulgaria, Thrace and Macedonia, and he created a movement which probably merged with the Bektashi movement founded by Hajji Bektash. This book offers an excellent discussion of Bedreddin’s political role and his religious influence on the development of mystical Islam in the Balkans.

• SOMMAIRE (page 6)
• SYSTEME DE TRANSCRIPTION (page 7)
• AVANT-PROPOS (page 9)
• Aux ORIGINES ANATOLIENNES DU MOUVEMENT DE BEDREDDIN : SOUFISME ET UNIVERSALISME DANS LE SULTANAT SELDJOUKIDE D'ASIE-MINEURE AU TREIZIEME SIECLE (page 13)
• VIE ET MORT DU CHEIKH BEDREDDIN DE SAMAVNA (760/1358-59, 819/1416) :SOUFISME ET UNIVERSALISME DANS LE SULTANAT OTTOMAN MEDIEVAL (page 43)
• LA POSTERITE SPIRITUELLE ET LA DIFFUSION DES IDEES DU CHEIKH BEDREDDIN EN MONDE OTTOMAN (page 101)
• BEDREDDIN ET SON ROLE: UN BILAN TRES PROVISOIRE POUR UNE INFLUENCE MAJEURE (page 121)
• GLOSSAIRE (page 123)
• CHRONOLOGIE (page 129)
• BIBLIOGRAPHIE (page 133)
• INDEX (page 150)
• Liste des illustrations (page 161)