Religious and social life of the city of Kyustendil between 1700-1878

Kyustendil is a city that bears the traces of many civilizations. It has been considered important due to its geographical location and rich underground and aboveground resources. With the transition of the Ottomans to Rumelia, many cities of the Balkans started to come under Turkish rule in a short time. In 1371, the Serbs who dominated the city recognized the power of the Ottomans. In 1395, the city was fully under Ottoman rule. Since the city was located in a highly strategic place, the Ottomans turned it into a cultural, demographic, religious, commercial and economic center in a short time. The city was built up and remained a Turkish homeland for 483 years. Kyustendil stands out among the cities of Rumelia especially with the vitality of its religious life. In the XVIII. and XIX. centuries, it is seen that it became a spiritual center due to the density of mosques, masjids, tekkes and foundations. After Sofia and Plovdiv, Kyustendil, together with Shumnu, has the highest number of tekkes in Bulgaria. There is no detailed study on the religious life of the city of Kyustendil, which is one of the places where spiritual life is most intense. Sufis who grew up in the city not only influenced the region, but also assumed important duties in Rumelia and Anatolia. This study includes information about the religious and social life of the city for a period of time.