Sanjak of Elbasan
Encyclopedia
The Sanjak of Elbasan was one of the sanjak
s of the Ottoman Empire
. Its county town
was Elbasan
in Albania
.
It became part of the Monastir Vilayet when it was established in 19th century.
Marino Bizzi, the Archbishop of Bar
(Antivari), stated in his report that on May 17, 1591 that name of the sanjakbey of Sanjak of Elbasan was Mehmet Bey.
During the reign of Köprülü Fazıl Mustafa Pasha
(1637 – August 19, 1691) one of the sanjakbeys of Elbasan was Hasan Pasha. In 1714 the sanjabey of the Sanjak of Elbasan was Zejnil-beg. At the beginning of 20th century sanjakbey of Elbasan was Necib Efendi, who was transferred to another position in February 1904.
of all Ottoman sanjaks in the Balkans, with 5.65 /sqkm. Between 1520 and 1535 up to 94,5% population of the Sanjak of Elbasan were Christians. An Ottoman traveller Evliya Çelebi
recorded in 1670 that Elbasan had 18 quarters with Muslim population and 10 quarters populated by an Orthodox and Roman Catholic population. He also stated that Serbs, Bulgarians and Voyniks (Ottoman Christian mercenaries) were not allowed to take up residence in Elbasan, otherwise they would be immediately slain according to ancient custom. The Albanian languge was spoken by all residents, most of whom also had an advanced knowledge of Turkish. The merchants could also speak Greek and Italian.
At the beginning of the 20th century it was estimated that 15,000 people lived in Elbasan, which was then the seat of a Greek bishop. In the region between Elbasan and Berat there were numerous villages which population publicly declared themselves as Muslims, but privately practised Christianity
.
Albanians who lived in Elbasan were Tosks and because of that the Sanjak of Elbasan was seen as part of Toskalik, land of Tosks, together with sanjaks of Ergiri, Preveze, Berat, Yanya, Gorice and Manastir. Toskalik did not have a tribal society like Gegalik had.
at the end of 1912 the Sanjak of Elbasan together with most of the territory of Albania
was occupied and annexed by the Kingdom of Serbia
. Тhe Sanjak of Elbasan was on November 29, 1912 included in administrative system of Kingdom of Serbia as a srez within Durres County . In 1914 the territory of Sanjak of Elbasan became a part of the newly established Principality of Albania
, established on the basis of peace contract signed during London Conference
in 1913.
Sanjak
Sanjaks were administrative divisions of the Ottoman Empire. Sanjak, and the variant spellings sandjak, sanjaq, and sinjaq, are English transliterations of the Turkish word sancak, meaning district, banner, or flag...
s of the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
. Its county town
County town
A county town is a county's administrative centre in the United Kingdom or Ireland. County towns are usually the location of administrative or judicial functions, or established over time as the de facto main town of a county. The concept of a county town eventually became detached from its...
was Elbasan
Elbasan
Elbasan is a city in central Albania. It is located on the Shkumbin River in the District of Elbasan and the County of Elbasan, at...
in Albania
Albania (toponym)
The toponym Albania may indicate several different geographical regions: a country in the Balkans; an ancient land in the Caucasus; as well as Scotland, Albania being a Latinization of a Gaelic name for Scotland, Alba...
.
Administration
The Sanjak of Elbasan had three kazas:- ElbasanElbasanElbasan is a city in central Albania. It is located on the Shkumbin River in the District of Elbasan and the County of Elbasan, at...
, - GramshGramshGramsh is a town in central Albania, the capital of the Gramsh District, which borders the district of Pogradec to the east. Its population is estimated at 11,556 ....
and - PeqinPeqinPeqin is the capital of the Peqin District in central Albania. The town has a population of 10,000.The ancient name of Peqin was Claudiana. The city's modern name derives from the Ottoman form Bekleyin, which means a place of hospitality. During Ottoman rule Peqin belonged to the Sanjak of Elbasan...
.
It became part of the Monastir Vilayet when it was established in 19th century.
Marino Bizzi, the Archbishop of Bar
Bar, Montenegro
Bar is a coastal town in Montenegro. It has a population of 17,727...
(Antivari), stated in his report that on May 17, 1591 that name of the sanjakbey of Sanjak of Elbasan was Mehmet Bey.
During the reign of Köprülü Fazıl Mustafa Pasha
Köprülü Fazil Mustafa Pasha
Fazıl Mustafa Köprülü, Ghazi Fazıl Mustafa Köprülü was an Ottoman grand vizier in the 17th century when the Ottoman Empire was engaged in a war against Holy Alliance countries in the Great Turkish War. He was a member of the Köprülü family of Albanian origin...
(1637 – August 19, 1691) one of the sanjakbeys of Elbasan was Hasan Pasha. In 1714 the sanjabey of the Sanjak of Elbasan was Zejnil-beg. At the beginning of 20th century sanjakbey of Elbasan was Necib Efendi, who was transferred to another position in February 1904.
Demography
At the beginning of 16th century the Sanjak of Elbasan had the highest population densityPopulation density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
of all Ottoman sanjaks in the Balkans, with 5.65 /sqkm. Between 1520 and 1535 up to 94,5% population of the Sanjak of Elbasan were Christians. An Ottoman traveller Evliya Çelebi
Evliya Çelebi
Evliya Çelebi was an Ottoman traveler who journeyed through the territory of the Ottoman Empire and neighboring lands over a period of forty years.- Life :...
recorded in 1670 that Elbasan had 18 quarters with Muslim population and 10 quarters populated by an Orthodox and Roman Catholic population. He also stated that Serbs, Bulgarians and Voyniks (Ottoman Christian mercenaries) were not allowed to take up residence in Elbasan, otherwise they would be immediately slain according to ancient custom. The Albanian languge was spoken by all residents, most of whom also had an advanced knowledge of Turkish. The merchants could also speak Greek and Italian.
At the beginning of the 20th century it was estimated that 15,000 people lived in Elbasan, which was then the seat of a Greek bishop. In the region between Elbasan and Berat there were numerous villages which population publicly declared themselves as Muslims, but privately practised Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
.
Albanians who lived in Elbasan were Tosks and because of that the Sanjak of Elbasan was seen as part of Toskalik, land of Tosks, together with sanjaks of Ergiri, Preveze, Berat, Yanya, Gorice and Manastir. Toskalik did not have a tribal society like Gegalik had.
Disestablishment
During the First Balkan WarFirst Balkan War
The First Balkan War, which lasted from October 1912 to May 1913, pitted the Balkan League against the Ottoman Empire. The combined armies of the Balkan states overcame the numerically inferior and strategically disadvantaged Ottoman armies and achieved rapid success...
at the end of 1912 the Sanjak of Elbasan together with most of the territory of Albania
Albania (toponym)
The toponym Albania may indicate several different geographical regions: a country in the Balkans; an ancient land in the Caucasus; as well as Scotland, Albania being a Latinization of a Gaelic name for Scotland, Alba...
was occupied and annexed by the Kingdom of Serbia
Kingdom of Serbia
The Kingdom of Serbia was created when Prince Milan Obrenović, ruler of the Principality of Serbia, was crowned King in 1882. The Principality of Serbia was ruled by the Karađorđevic dynasty from 1817 onwards . The Principality, suzerain to the Porte, had expelled all Ottoman troops by 1867, de...
. Тhe Sanjak of Elbasan was on November 29, 1912 included in administrative system of Kingdom of Serbia as a srez within Durres County . In 1914 the territory of Sanjak of Elbasan became a part of the newly established Principality of Albania
Principality of Albania
The Principality of Albania refers to the short-lived monarchy in Albania, headed by William, Prince of Albania and to the state after the First World War, until the abolition of the monarchy in 1925, when Albania was declared a republic.-Principality:The Principality was established on February...
, established on the basis of peace contract signed during London Conference
London Conference of 1913
The London Conference of 1912-1913 was an international summit to discuss issues arising from the declaration of independence by Albania during the First Balkan War.-History:...
in 1913.