The title occurs in the Virgina Charter in two spellings: “топшикалъ” and “тѡпшикалъ”. The charter’s authenticity has been disputed, so these isolated attestations must be treated with caution. Nevertheless, the text is old and follows medieval documentary conventions, while its administrative information has not been convincingly disproved. The word is not Greek, and no parallel is known in Serbian administration. It may have entered the charter from a lost Bulgarian document, although its ultimate origin and original meaning cannot be established securely.
The topshtikal’s duties are known only indirectly. Scholars have variously interpreted him as a minor judicial officer, an official combining judicial and financial tasks, or a fiscal agent who also possessed judicial authority. The strongest evidence is the formula following the title: “ни сѫдити ни сказати ни глобѫ възѫти”. Its prohibition on judging, undertaking the corresponding accusatory or policing action, and collecting a fine indicates involvement in the administration and enforcement of justice. The office can therefore be described most cautiously as judicial and policing in character. Broader taxation or financial powers are possible, but the sources do not confirm them.
In both lists of provincial officials, the topshtikal occupies sixth place. This suggests that the office did not belong to the very lowest level of local administration, although the lists are insufficient to reconstruct its exact rank. No individual holder is known by name, nor are there any identified seals, coins, or insignia associated with the office. The sole surviving source does not reveal when the office arose, how long it remained in use, or when it disappeared.
The title appears in the Virgina Charter in two forms: “топшикалъ” and “тѡпшикалъ”. Because the charter’s authenticity has been questioned, these two isolated examples have to be used carefully. Even so, the text is old and follows the usual patterns of medieval official documents, and the information it gives about administration has not been convincingly disproved. The word is not Greek, and no close parallel is known in Serbian administration. It may have come into the charter from a lost Bulgarian document, but its final origin and original meaning cannot be established with confidence.
The duties of the topshtikal are known only indirectly. Scholars have described him in different ways: as a minor judicial officer, as someone who handled both legal and financial work, or as a fiscal agent who also had judicial authority. The clearest evidence is the phrase that follows the title: “ни сѫдити ни сказати ни глобѫ възѫти”. This bans judging, taking the matching accusatory or policing action, and collecting a fine, which shows that the office had a role in carrying out and enforcing justice. The safest description is therefore that it was judicial and policing in character. Wider tax or financial powers are possible, but the sources do not prove them.
In both lists of provincial officials, the topshtikal is placed sixth. This suggests that the office was not part of the very lowest level of local administration, although the lists are too limited to show its exact rank. No named officeholder is known, and no seals, coins, or insignia tied to the office have been identified. The only surviving source does not tell us when the office began, how long it lasted, or when it ended.
The Virginia Charter mentions a local official called a topshtikal. The charter may not be fully real, so this word must be used with care. The term is old, but its exact origin is unknown. It may have come from a lost Bulgarian document.
The official seems to have had duties linked to justice and police work. He is listed sixth among provincial officials, so he was not at the very bottom. But we do not know who held the office, when it began, or when it ended.