This paper takes a look at what a belligerent occupation is and what its goals are, i.e., what is the purpose of the law of belligerent occupation. After giving an answer to these questions, the paper takes a look at the history of the law of belligerent occupation and the development of it mostly through international agreements and case law from the 19th and 20th centuries, but also through customary international law. After that, the paper gives insight into some of the features of the concept of belligerent occupation: how and when belligerent occupation is established, importance of coercion in establishing and exercising effective control over the occupied territory, issue of effective control over portions of the occupied territory, issue of sovereignty in context of belligerent occupation, who has sovereignty over the occupied territory, issue of transferring of legal title over the portions of the occupied territory, and termination of the belligerent occupation. These are the theoretical issues that are dealt with in the paper. There is also word about some implementation issues stemming from international legal provisions, like issues of administering occupied territories, issues regarding property of both the ousted government and the civilian population, and issues regarding protected persons and other civilians.