Lèse-majéste - an Exception or Part of Everyday Life in the Period of Austro-Hungurian Rule in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Lèse-majéste - an Exception or Part of Everyday Life in the Period of Austro-Hungurian Rule in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Summary/Abstract: At the turn of the 19th to 20th century, inhabitants of Bosnia and Herzegovina were between two empires, Ottoman and Habsburg. Emperor, as a synonym for the new system and new government, became a target of vulgar assaults and curses with which people tried to express their dissatisfaction by the new rule. Strict prison sentence served as a warning that such behavior is a crime. The article discovers whether the crime of insulting majesty and his family was part of everyday life of inhabitants in Bosnia and Herzegovina or it just happened occasionally. Analysing available court records that included the number of offenders, a comparison of certain years was made. Special attention is drawn to 1914 and the period after the assassination of heir to the throne. This event was of great importance, considering that after it, the royal family “entered” to every house in Bosnia and Herzegovina and (un)deliberately became a part of their daily life. As a consequence, number of offenders has increased, as well as the number of fake accusations. Also, detailed information about offenders were being reported, such as their age, gender and social status. Through concrete examples it is shown how the court process took place and which punishment was chosen. Each punishment had certain aggravating and extenuating circumstances, which court had accepted regardless of how illogical they were. Furthermore, the practice of false accusations had been indicated, which presented the violation of law, as well as pardons and occasional postponing of execution of the verdict.

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