Sanjak of Prizren
Encyclopedia
The Sanjak of Prizren was one of the sanjak
s in the Ottoman Empire
with Prizren
as its administrative centre. It was founded immediately after Ottoman Empire captured Prizren from Serbian Despotate
in 1455. It was one of the sanjaks established on the territory which Ottoman Empire conquered from Serbian Despotate
. The rest of the territory of Serbian Despotate was conquered after the fall of Smederevo in 1459, and divided into following sanjaks: Sanjak of Vučitrn, Sanjak of Kruševac and Sanjak of Smederevo
. At the beginning of the First Balkan War in 1912, the territory of Sanjak of Prizren was occupied by the armies of Kingdom of Serbia
and Kingdom of Montenegro
. Based on Treaty of London signed on May 30, 1913, the territory of Sanjak of Prizren was divided between Serbia and Montenegro.
, Nahiyah of Hoča
, Nahiyah of Žežna, Nahiyah of Trgovište
and Nahiyah of Bihor
.
The majority of the territory that once belonged to the Sanjak of Prizren now belongs to Kosovo
or Serbia
(Prizren
, Hoča
, and Žežna (20 km south-east of Novi Pazar
) and smaller parts now belong to Montenegro
(Bihor
, and Trgovište (a settlement near Rožaje
)).
was decided to be the seat of Kosovo vilayet.
The Sanjak of Niš
and Sanjak of Pirot together with Vranje
(which was kaza of the Sanjak of Priština) were separated from Kosovo vilayet and joined to the Principality of Serbia after Berlin Congress in 1878. The Sanjak of Dibra was attached to the Monastir Vilayet. After those changes Kosovo Vilayet consisted of three sanjaks: the Sanjak of Prizren, Sanjak of Skopje
and Sanjak of Novi Pazar
. Despite the decisions of Berlin Congress to award control over the Sanjak of Novi Pazar to Austria-Hungary
, it remained under de-facto administration of the Ottoman Empire
.
, occurred in 1908, the Ottoman Empire organized the first parliamentary elections in the Sanjak of Prizren.
, the Sanjak of Prizren was occupied by the Kingdom of Serbia
and that of Montenegro
. On the basis of the Treaty of London signed during the London Conference
in 1913, its territory was divided between Serbia and Montenegro.
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 in 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...
with Prizren
Prizren
Prizren is a historical city located in southern Kosovo. It is the administrative center of the eponymous municipality and district.The city has a population of around 131,247 , mostly Albanians...
as its administrative centre. It was founded immediately after Ottoman Empire captured Prizren from Serbian Despotate
Serbian Despotate
The Serbian Despotate was a Serbian state, the last to be conquered by the Ottoman Empire. Although the Battle of Kosovo in 1389 is generally considered the end of the medieval Serbian state, the Despotate, a successor of the Serbian Empire and Moravian Serbia survived for 70 more years,...
in 1455. It was one of the sanjaks established on the territory which Ottoman Empire conquered from Serbian Despotate
Serbian Despotate
The Serbian Despotate was a Serbian state, the last to be conquered by the Ottoman Empire. Although the Battle of Kosovo in 1389 is generally considered the end of the medieval Serbian state, the Despotate, a successor of the Serbian Empire and Moravian Serbia survived for 70 more years,...
. The rest of the territory of Serbian Despotate was conquered after the fall of Smederevo in 1459, and divided into following sanjaks: Sanjak of Vučitrn, Sanjak of Kruševac and Sanjak of Smederevo
Sanjak of Smederevo
The Sanjak of Smederevo , also known as the Pashaluk of Belgrade , was an Ottoman administrative unit , that existed between the 15th and the outset of the 19th centuries...
. At the beginning of the First Balkan War in 1912, the territory of Sanjak of Prizren was occupied by the armies of 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...
and Kingdom of Montenegro
Kingdom of Montenegro
The Kingdom of Montenegro was a monarchy in southeastern Europe during the tumultuous years on the Balkan Peninsula leading up to and during World War I. Legally it was a constitutional monarchy, but absolutist in practice...
. Based on Treaty of London signed on May 30, 1913, the territory of Sanjak of Prizren was divided between Serbia and Montenegro.
The 1571 Ottoman register
According to the 1571 Ottoman register, the Sanjak of Prizren consisted of five nahiyahs: Nahiyah of PrizrenPrizren
Prizren is a historical city located in southern Kosovo. It is the administrative center of the eponymous municipality and district.The city has a population of around 131,247 , mostly Albanians...
, Nahiyah of Hoča
Velika Hoca
Velika Hoča is a village in the municipality of Orahovac, in the Metohija region of Kosovo. It is one of the Serb enclaves in Kosovo.-Demographics:...
, Nahiyah of Žežna, Nahiyah of Trgovište
Trgovište
Trgovište is a small town and municipality located in the Pčinja District of Serbia. According to 2011 census, the population of the town is 1,785, while population of the municipality is 5,145.-Municipality:...
and Nahiyah of Bihor
Bihor, Montenegro
Bihor is a geographical region in northeastern Montenegro. The region is within two municipalities, Berane and Bijelo Polje. It was named after Bihor, a former medieval town that was near Bijelo Polje. The region mainly consists of ethnic Bosniaks....
.
The majority of the territory that once belonged to the Sanjak of Prizren now belongs to Kosovo
Kosovo
Kosovo is a region in southeastern Europe. Part of the Ottoman Empire for more than five centuries, later the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia...
or Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
(Prizren
Prizren
Prizren is a historical city located in southern Kosovo. It is the administrative center of the eponymous municipality and district.The city has a population of around 131,247 , mostly Albanians...
, Hoča
Velika Hoca
Velika Hoča is a village in the municipality of Orahovac, in the Metohija region of Kosovo. It is one of the Serb enclaves in Kosovo.-Demographics:...
, and Žežna (20 km south-east of Novi Pazar
Novi Pazar
Novi Pazar is a city and municipality located in southwest Serbia, in the Raška District. According to the official census in 2011, number of inhabitants of municipality is 92,776, while the city itself has a population of 60,638...
) and smaller parts now belong to Montenegro
Montenegro
Montenegro Montenegrin: Crna Gora Црна Гора , meaning "Black Mountain") is a country located in Southeastern Europe. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south-west and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast and Albania to the...
(Bihor
Bihor, Montenegro
Bihor is a geographical region in northeastern Montenegro. The region is within two municipalities, Berane and Bijelo Polje. It was named after Bihor, a former medieval town that was near Bijelo Polje. The region mainly consists of ethnic Bosniaks....
, and Trgovište (a settlement near Rožaje
Rožaje
Rožaje , is a town in northeastern Montenegro. It has a population of 9,121 Rožaje is the centre of the municipality, which has a population of 22,693. The municipality is located in the geographical region of Sandžak.-History:The history of Rožaje goes back to 1571 and 1585 when it was first...
)).
Scutari, Prizren and Kosovo vilayets
In 1867, the Sanjak of Prizren merged with the Sanjak of Dibra and Sanjak of Scutari and became the Scutari Vilayet. In 1871 the Sanjak of Prizren became part of the newly established Prizren Vilayet. The Prizren Vilayet and its sanjaks, together with the Sanjak of Prizren, became part of the Kosovo Vilayet, which was established in 1877. PrizrenPrizren
Prizren is a historical city located in southern Kosovo. It is the administrative center of the eponymous municipality and district.The city has a population of around 131,247 , mostly Albanians...
was decided to be the seat of Kosovo vilayet.
The Sanjak of Niš
Sanjak of Niš
The Sanjak of Niš or Sanjak of Nish was one of the sanjaks of the Ottoman Empire and its county town was Niš. It was composed of the kazas of Niš, Pirot, Leskovac, Vranje, Kuršumlija, Prokuplje and Tran ....
and Sanjak of Pirot together with Vranje
Vranje
Vranje is a city and municipality located in southern Serbia. In 2011 the city has total population of 82,782, while the urban area has 54,456...
(which was kaza of the Sanjak of Priština) were separated from Kosovo vilayet and joined to the Principality of Serbia after Berlin Congress in 1878. The Sanjak of Dibra was attached to the Monastir Vilayet. After those changes Kosovo Vilayet consisted of three sanjaks: the Sanjak of Prizren, Sanjak of Skopje
Sanjak of Skopje
The Sanjak of Skopje or the Sanjak of Uskub was one of the sanjaks in the Ottoman Empire with Skopje as its administrative centre.Skopje became part of Ottoman Empire after it was captured from District of Branković on January 6, 1392. The first Ottoman governor of Skopje was Pasha Yiğit Bey, a...
and Sanjak of Novi Pazar
Sanjak of Novi Pazar
The Sanjak of Novi Pazar was an Ottoman sanjak that existed until the Balkan Wars of 1912-1913 in the territory of present day Montenegro, Serbia and Kosovo.-History:It was part of the Bosnia Vilayet and later Kosovo Vilayet and included...
. Despite the decisions of Berlin Congress to award control over the Sanjak of Novi Pazar to Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary , more formally known as the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Imperial Council and the Lands of the Holy Hungarian Crown of Saint Stephen, was a constitutional monarchic union between the crowns of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary in...
, it remained under de-facto administration 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...
.
Young Turk Revolution
After the Young Turk RevolutionYoung Turk Revolution
The Young Turk Revolution of 1908 reversed the suspension of the Ottoman parliament by Sultan Abdul Hamid II, marking the onset of the Second Constitutional Era...
, occurred in 1908, the Ottoman Empire organized the first parliamentary elections in the Sanjak of Prizren.
Disestablishment
Until the end of October 1912, 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...
, the Sanjak of Prizren was occupied 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...
and that of Montenegro
Kingdom of Montenegro
The Kingdom of Montenegro was a monarchy in southeastern Europe during the tumultuous years on the Balkan Peninsula leading up to and during World War I. Legally it was a constitutional monarchy, but absolutist in practice...
. On the basis of the Treaty of London signed during the 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, its territory was divided between Serbia and Montenegro.