Vilayet

A vilayet (ولايت) was the first-level administrative division, or province, of the Ottoman Empire, introduced with the promulgation of the Vilayet Law ( قانون ولايت Kanun-i Vilayet) in 1864. The law was part of the Tanzimat reforms, a series of modernizing efforts aimed at centralizing administration and improving efficiency across the Empire.

Prior to 1864, the Ottoman administrative structure was considerably less standardized and varied significantly across different regions. The vilayet system sought to replace this patchwork of eyalets (larger administrative divisions) and other less formal arrangements with a uniform provincial governance structure.

Each vilayet was headed by a vali (governor), who was appointed directly by the central Ottoman government in Constantinople (Istanbul). The vali was responsible for the overall administration of the province, including maintaining order, collecting taxes, and implementing government policies.

Each vilayet was further subdivided into sanjaks (districts), which were administered by mutasarrıfs. The sanjaks were in turn divided into kazas (subdistricts), headed by kaymakams. This hierarchical structure aimed to provide a more streamlined and accountable system of local governance.

The introduction of the vilayet system was intended to strengthen central control over the provinces, facilitate economic development, and improve the provision of public services. However, the implementation of the reforms faced various challenges, including resistance from local elites, logistical difficulties, and the sheer size and diversity of the Ottoman Empire.

The vilayet system continued to be the primary administrative structure of the Ottoman Empire until its dissolution after World War I. After the collapse of the Empire, the concept of vilayet continued in some successor states, such as Turkey, where vilayet (now il) remains the term for a province.