Ottoman Syria

1851 map of Ottoman Syria, showing the Eyalets of Aleppo, Damascus, Tripoli, Acre and Gaza.

Ottoman Syria refers to divisions of the Ottoman Empire within the Levant, usually defined as the region east of the Mediterranean Sea, west of the Euphrates River, north of the Arabian Desert and south of the Taurus Mountains.

Ottoman Syria became organized by the Ottomans upon conquest from the Mamluks in the early 16th century into Eyalets (provinces) of Damascus and Aleppo. Elayet of Tripoli was formed in 1579 and later Eyalet of Adana was split from Aleppo. In 1660, Eyalet of Safed was established and shortly renamed into Eyalet of Sidon. The Eyalets were later transformed into the Vilayet of Syria, the Vilayet of Aleppo and the Vilayet of Beirut, following the 1864 Tanzimat reforms.

History

See also: Timeline of Ottoman Syria

Before 1516, Syria was part of the Mamluk Empire centered in Egypt. The Ottoman Sultan Selim I conquered Syria in 1516 after defeating the Mamlukes at the Battle of Marj Dabiq near Aleppo in northern Syria. Selim carried on his victorious campaign against the Mamlukes and conquered Egypt in 1517 following the Battle of Ridanieh, bringing an end to the Mamluk Sultanate.

Administrative divisions

See also: Subdivisions of the Ottoman Empire

When he first seized Syria in 1516, Selim I kept the administrative subdivisions of the Mamluk period unchanged. After he came back from Egypt in July 1517, he reorganized Syria into one large province or eyalet named Şam (Arabic/Turkish for "Syria"). The eyalet was subdivided into several districts or sanjaks.

1549

In 1549, Syria was reorganized into two eyalets. The northern Sanjak of Aleppo became the center of the new Eyalet of Aleppo. At this time, the two Syrian Eyalets were subdivided as follows:

• The Eyalet of Aleppo (Arabic language: إيالة حلب‎)
  • The Sanjak of Aleppo (حلب)
  • The Sanjak of Adana (أضنة)
  • The Sanjak of Ablistan (Marash (مرعش))
  • The Sanjak of Aintab (عينتاب)
  • The Sanjak of Birejik (البيرة) (Urfa (أورفة))
  • The Sanjak of Kilis (كلس)
  • The Sanjak of Ma'arra (معرة النعمان)
  • The Sanjak of Hama (حماة)
  • The Sanjak of Salamiya (سلمية)
  • The Sanjak of Homs (حمص)

• The Eyalet of Damascus (Arabic language: ‎إيالة العرب)
  • The Sanjak of Damascus
  • The Sanjak of Tripoli
  • The Sanjak of Safad
  • The Sanjak of Nablus
  • The Sanjak of Jerusalem
  • The Sanjak of Lajjun
  • The Sanjak of Salt
  • The Sanjak of Gaza

1579

In 1579, the Eyalet of Tripoli was established under the name of Tripoli of Syria (Turkish:Trablusşam) (Arabic: طرابلس الشام). At this time, the eyalets became as follows:

The Eyalet of Aleppo included the Sanjaks of Aleppo, Adana, Marash, Aintab, and Urfa.

The Eyalet of Tripoli included the Sanjaks of Tripoli, Latakia, Hama and Homs.

The Eyalet of Damascus included the Sanjaks of Damascus, Beirut, Sidon, Acre, Safad, Nablus, Jerusalem, Gaza, Hauran and Ma'an

1660

The Eyalet of Safad was established in 1660. It was later renamed the Eyalet of Sidon, and later, the Eyalet of Beirut.

1833–1840

In 1833, the Syrian provinces were ceded to Muhammed Ali of Egypt in the Convention of Kutahya. The firman stated that "The governments of Candia and Egypt are continued to Mahomet Ali. And in reference to his special claim, I have granted him the provinces of Damascus, Tripoli-in-Syria, Sidon, Saphet, Aleppo, the districts of Jerusalem and Nablous, with the conduct of pilgrims and the commandment of the Tcherde (the yearly offering to the tomb of the Prophet). His son, Ibrahim Pacha, has again the title of Sheikh and Harem of Mekka, and the district of Jedda; and farther, I have acquiesced in his request to have the district of Adana ruled by the Treasury of Taurus, with the title of Mohassil."

1861

Following the massacre of thousands of Christian civilians during the 1860 Lebanon conflict, and under a growing European pressure, mainly from France, an Ottoman edict issued in 1861 transformed "Al Kaimaqumyateen," the former regime based on religious rule that led to civil war, into the Mutesarrifiyyet governed by a Mutasarrıf who according to law had to be a non-Lebanese Christian .

1864

As part of the Tanzimat reforms, an Ottoman law passed in 1864 provided for a standard provincial administration throughout the empire with the Eyalets becoming smaller Vilayets governed by a Wali or governor still appointed by the Porte but with new provincial assemblies participating in administration.

1874

In 1874 Jerusalem and the surrounding towns became the Mutasarrifate of Jerusalem, gaining a special administrative status.

1877

In 1877, the subdivisions of Syria were

• Aleppo Vilayet (Arabic language: ولاية حلب‎)
• Sanjak of Zor (Arabic language: سنجق دير الزور‎)
• Beirut Vilayet (Arabic language: ولاية بيروت‎)
• Damascus Vilayet (Arabic language: ولاية سورية‎)
• Mutasarrifate of Mount Lebanon (Arabic language: متصرفية جبل لبنان‎)
• Mutasarrifate of Jerusalem (Arabic language: متصرفية القدس الشريف‎)

Contemporary maps, showing Eyalets (pre Tanzimat reforms)

Maps of Contemporary Ottoman Syria showing Eyalets (pre 1864 Vilayet Law)

1696 (Jaillot), showing Eyalets

1707

1740 (Seutter), showing Eyalets

1851

Contemporary maps, showing Vilayets (post Tanzimat reforms)

Maps of Contemporary Ottoman Syria showing Vilayets (post Tanzimat reforms)

1855, showing sanjaks

1862

1873

1893

1897

1900 (Stanford), showing Vilayets

1909

1911

See also

• History of Syria
• Roman Syria
• Sykes-Picot Agreement
• Arab Kingdom of Syria
• French Mandate of Syria
• Southern Syria

Sources

• Bayyat, Fadil, The Ottoman State in the Arab Scope (in Arabic; 2007)
• Johann Ludwig Burckhardt, Travels in Syria and the Holy Land, Appendix II: On the Political Divisions of Syria

External links

• Ottoman History Podcast: History of Ottoman Syria