Mining Code (Serbia)

Illustration from a 16th-century illustrated manuscript copy The Mining Code, also known as the Mining Law or Miners' Law (Serbian Cyrillic: Закон о рудницима) or Novo Brdo Code (Новобрдски законик), was a compilation of medieval laws on mining in the Serbian Despotate, enacted by Despot Stefan Lazarević on 29 January 1412, but formulated somewhat earlier (c. 1390). Apart from mining laws, there are legal provisions concerning the organization and life in Novo Brdo (Статут Новог Брда, the Statute of Novo Brdo), a city which at that time was the largest mine in the Balkans. The compilation survived in several later transcripts, of which a 16th-century illustrated manuscript is regarded as the most important. Preserved manuscripts The text was written by mining specialists, the body of 24 "good men" from places outside of Novo Brdo, who have gathered at the invitation of the despot. When the text was finalized Despot Stefan, raised it to the level of the law with his signature and seal at the assembly in Novo Brdo. The Mining Law was made out of two parts. The first part of the Law contained regulations regarding the organization of min