Provinces of the Ottoman Empire

The Ottoman Empire had 29 provinces at the height of its power. These were known as beylerbeyliks eyalets or vilayets or pashaluks. As time progressed the number would vary from thirty-six a little over twenty, until many of the provinces were lost after WWI.

The vialyets were divided into smaller divisions known as sanjaks. The number of sanjaks per vilayet varied. The sanjaks were divided into a number of kaza or kadiluk.

Some sanjaks, such as the Sanjak of Jerusalem, were not part of a vilayet. After 1861 there also existed the autonomous Province of Lebanon, which had been created as a homeland for the Maronite Christians under European pressure.

Provinces of the Ottoman Empire at the height of its power

As well as the provinces there were three tributary states (Crimea, Wallachia, and Moldavia) and Transylvania, a principality under the suzerainty of the Porte.

The Provinces of Rumili and Anadolu were under the direct rule of the sultan in Istanbul. The other 27 provinces were controlled by governor-generals (beylerbeyis). See the article on state organisation of the Ottoman Empire for further information on the structure of power in the provinces.

et:Vilajett hu:Vilajet