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.