diff --git a/starpunk/micropub.py b/starpunk/micropub.py
index 7b69f75..2bb05c0 100644
--- a/starpunk/micropub.py
+++ b/starpunk/micropub.py
@@ -294,6 +294,15 @@ def handle_create(data: dict, token_info: dict):
         title = extract_title(properties)
         tags = extract_tags(properties)
         published_date = extract_published_date(properties)
+
+        # Extract custom slug if provided (Micropub extension)
+        custom_slug = None
+        if 'mp-slug' in properties:
+            # mp-slug is an array in Micropub format
+            slug_values = properties.get('mp-slug', [])
+            if slug_values and len(slug_values) > 0:
+                custom_slug = slug_values[0]
+
     except MicropubValidationError as e:
         raise e
     except Exception as e:
@@ -303,7 +312,10 @@ def handle_create(data: dict, token_info: dict):
     # Create note using existing CRUD
     try:
         note = create_note(
-            content=content, published=True, created_at=published_date  # Micropub posts are published by default
+            content=content,
+            published=True,  # Micropub posts are published by default
+            created_at=published_date,
+            custom_slug=custom_slug
         )
 
         # Build permalink URL
diff --git a/starpunk/notes.py b/starpunk/notes.py
index 0385c76..7cb7415 100644
--- a/starpunk/notes.py
+++ b/starpunk/notes.py
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ def _get_existing_slugs(db) -> set[str]:
 
 
 def create_note(
-    content: str, published: bool = False, created_at: Optional[datetime] = None
+    content: str, published: bool = False, created_at: Optional[datetime] = None, custom_slug: Optional[str] = None
 ) -> Note:
     """
     Create a new note
@@ -147,6 +147,7 @@ def create_note(
         content: Markdown content for the note (must not be empty)
         published: Whether the note should be published (default: False)
         created_at: Creation timestamp (default: current UTC time)
+        custom_slug: Optional custom slug (from Micropub mp-slug property)
 
     Returns:
         Note object with all metadata and content loaded
@@ -208,20 +209,27 @@ def create_note(
 
     data_dir = Path(current_app.config["DATA_PATH"])
 
-    # 3. GENERATE UNIQUE SLUG
+    # 3. GENERATE OR VALIDATE SLUG
     # Query all existing slugs from database
     db = get_db(current_app)
     existing_slugs = _get_existing_slugs(db)
 
-    # Generate base slug from content
-    base_slug = generate_slug(content, created_at)
+    if custom_slug:
+        # Use custom slug (from Micropub mp-slug property)
+        from starpunk.slug_utils import validate_and_sanitize_custom_slug
+        success, slug, error = validate_and_sanitize_custom_slug(custom_slug, existing_slugs)
+        if not success:
+            raise InvalidNoteDataError("slug", custom_slug, error)
+    else:
+        # Generate base slug from content
+        base_slug = generate_slug(content, created_at)
 
-    # Make unique if collision
-    slug = make_slug_unique(base_slug, existing_slugs)
+        # Make unique if collision
+        slug = make_slug_unique(base_slug, existing_slugs)
 
-    # Validate final slug (defensive check)
-    if not validate_slug(slug):
-        raise InvalidNoteDataError("slug", slug, f"Generated slug is invalid: {slug}")
+        # Validate final slug (defensive check)
+        if not validate_slug(slug):
+            raise InvalidNoteDataError("slug", slug, f"Generated slug is invalid: {slug}")
 
     # 4. GENERATE FILE PATH
     note_path = generate_note_path(slug, created_at, data_dir)
diff --git a/starpunk/slug_utils.py b/starpunk/slug_utils.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..db36b09
--- /dev/null
+++ b/starpunk/slug_utils.py
@@ -0,0 +1,267 @@
+"""
+Slug validation and sanitization utilities for StarPunk
+
+This module provides functions for validating, sanitizing, and ensuring uniqueness
+of note slugs. Supports custom slugs via Micropub's mp-slug property.
+"""
+
+import re
+from typing import Optional, Set
+
+# Reserved slugs that cannot be used for notes
+# These correspond to application routes and special pages
+RESERVED_SLUGS = frozenset([
+    # Core routes
+    'api',
+    'admin',
+    'auth',
+    'feed',
+    'static',
+    'notes',
+
+    # Auth/admin routes
+    'login',
+    'logout',
+    'settings',
+    'micropub',
+    'callback',
+
+    # Feed routes
+    'feed.xml',
+    'rss',
+    'atom',
+
+    # Special pages
+    'index',
+    'home',
+    'about',
+    'search',
+])
+
+# Slug validation regex
+# Allows: lowercase letters, numbers, hyphens
+# Must start with letter or number
+# Must end with letter or number
+# Cannot have consecutive hyphens
+SLUG_PATTERN = re.compile(r'^[a-z0-9]([a-z0-9-]*[a-z0-9])?$')
+
+# Maximum slug length
+MAX_SLUG_LENGTH = 200
+
+
+def is_reserved_slug(slug: str) -> bool:
+    """
+    Check if slug is reserved
+
+    Args:
+        slug: Slug to check
+
+    Returns:
+        bool: True if slug is reserved
+    """
+    return slug.lower() in RESERVED_SLUGS
+
+
+def sanitize_slug(slug: str) -> str:
+    """
+    Sanitize a custom slug
+
+    Converts to lowercase, replaces invalid characters with hyphens,
+    removes consecutive hyphens, and trims to max length.
+
+    Args:
+        slug: Raw slug input
+
+    Returns:
+        Sanitized slug string
+
+    Examples:
+        >>> sanitize_slug("Hello World!")
+        'hello-world'
+
+        >>> sanitize_slug("My--Post___Title")
+        'my-post-title'
+
+        >>> sanitize_slug("  leading-spaces  ")
+        'leading-spaces'
+    """
+    # Convert to lowercase
+    slug = slug.lower()
+
+    # Replace invalid characters with hyphens
+    # Allow only: a-z, 0-9, hyphens
+    slug = re.sub(r'[^a-z0-9-]+', '-', slug)
+
+    # Remove consecutive hyphens
+    slug = re.sub(r'-+', '-', slug)
+
+    # Trim leading/trailing hyphens
+    slug = slug.strip('-')
+
+    # Trim to max length
+    if len(slug) > MAX_SLUG_LENGTH:
+        slug = slug[:MAX_SLUG_LENGTH].rstrip('-')
+
+    return slug
+
+
+def validate_slug(slug: str) -> bool:
+    """
+    Validate slug format
+
+    Checks if slug matches required pattern:
+    - Only lowercase letters, numbers, hyphens
+    - Starts with letter or number
+    - Ends with letter or number
+    - No consecutive hyphens
+    - Not empty
+    - Not too long
+
+    Args:
+        slug: Slug to validate
+
+    Returns:
+        bool: True if valid, False otherwise
+
+    Examples:
+        >>> validate_slug("my-post")
+        True
+
+        >>> validate_slug("my--post")  # consecutive hyphens
+        False
+
+        >>> validate_slug("-my-post")  # starts with hyphen
+        False
+
+        >>> validate_slug("My-Post")  # uppercase
+        False
+    """
+    if not slug:
+        return False
+
+    if len(slug) > MAX_SLUG_LENGTH:
+        return False
+
+    if not SLUG_PATTERN.match(slug):
+        return False
+
+    return True
+
+
+def make_slug_unique_with_suffix(base_slug: str, existing_slugs: Set[str], max_attempts: int = 99) -> str:
+    """
+    Make slug unique by adding sequential numeric suffix
+
+    If base_slug exists, tries base_slug-2, base_slug-3, etc.
+    Uses sequential numbers (not random) for predictability.
+
+    Args:
+        base_slug: Base slug to make unique
+        existing_slugs: Set of existing slugs to check against
+        max_attempts: Maximum number of attempts (default: 99)
+
+    Returns:
+        Unique slug with suffix if needed
+
+    Raises:
+        ValueError: If unique slug cannot be generated after max_attempts
+
+    Examples:
+        >>> make_slug_unique_with_suffix("my-post", {"my-post"})
+        'my-post-2'
+
+        >>> make_slug_unique_with_suffix("my-post", {"my-post", "my-post-2"})
+        'my-post-3'
+
+        >>> make_slug_unique_with_suffix("my-post", set())
+        'my-post'
+    """
+    # If base slug is available, use it
+    if base_slug not in existing_slugs:
+        return base_slug
+
+    # Try sequential suffixes
+    for i in range(2, max_attempts + 2):
+        candidate = f"{base_slug}-{i}"
+        if candidate not in existing_slugs:
+            return candidate
+
+    # Exhausted all attempts
+    raise ValueError(
+        f"Could not create unique slug after {max_attempts} attempts. "
+        f"Base slug: {base_slug}"
+    )
+
+
+def validate_and_sanitize_custom_slug(custom_slug: str, existing_slugs: Set[str]) -> tuple[bool, Optional[str], Optional[str]]:
+    """
+    Validate and sanitize a custom slug from Micropub
+
+    Performs full validation pipeline:
+    1. Sanitize the input
+    2. Check if it's reserved
+    3. Validate format
+    4. Make unique if needed
+
+    Args:
+        custom_slug: Raw custom slug from mp-slug property
+        existing_slugs: Set of existing slugs
+
+    Returns:
+        Tuple of (success, slug_or_none, error_message_or_none)
+
+    Examples:
+        >>> validate_and_sanitize_custom_slug("My Post", set())
+        (True, 'my-post', None)
+
+        >>> validate_and_sanitize_custom_slug("api", set())
+        (False, None, 'Slug "api" is reserved')
+
+        >>> validate_and_sanitize_custom_slug("/invalid/slug", set())
+        (False, None, 'Slug "/invalid/slug" contains hierarchical paths which are not supported')
+    """
+    # Check for hierarchical paths (not supported in v1.1.0)
+    if '/' in custom_slug:
+        return (
+            False,
+            None,
+            f'Slug "{custom_slug}" contains hierarchical paths which are not supported'
+        )
+
+    # Sanitize
+    sanitized = sanitize_slug(custom_slug)
+
+    # Check if sanitization resulted in empty slug
+    if not sanitized:
+        return (
+            False,
+            None,
+            f'Slug "{custom_slug}" could not be sanitized to valid format'
+        )
+
+    # Check if reserved
+    if is_reserved_slug(sanitized):
+        return (
+            False,
+            None,
+            f'Slug "{sanitized}" is reserved and cannot be used'
+        )
+
+    # Validate format
+    if not validate_slug(sanitized):
+        return (
+            False,
+            None,
+            f'Slug "{sanitized}" does not match required format (lowercase letters, numbers, hyphens only)'
+        )
+
+    # Make unique if needed
+    try:
+        unique_slug = make_slug_unique_with_suffix(sanitized, existing_slugs)
+        return (True, unique_slug, None)
+    except ValueError as e:
+        return (
+            False,
+            None,
+            str(e)
+        )