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Map of the Vilayet of Kossovo within the Balkans

The Kosovo Province, also known as the Kosovo Vilayet (Turkish: Kosova Vilayeti; Albanian: Vilajeti i Kosovës; Macedonian: Косовска Покраина, Kosovska Pokraina; Serbian: Косовски вилајет, Kosovski vilajet) was a vilayet of the Ottoman Empire in the Balkan Peninsula roughly corresponding to the current disputed territory of Kosovo, the western part of the Republic of Macedonia, a part of southern Serbia and a portion of north-eastern Montenegro. It was created from the Rumelia Province as part of an Ottoman administrative reform law of 1864. For hundreds of years the vilayet stood as a microcosm of Ottoman society, incorporated within its boundaries were diverse groups of peoples and religions: Albanians, Serbians, Bosniaks, Muslims, Christians, both Orthodox and Catholic resided in the province. As a result of the Treaty of San Stefano and the subsequent Treaty of Berlin of 1878 (that recognized the complete independence of the principalities of Romania, Serbia and Montenegro, and the autonomy of Bulgaria), the vilayet of Kosovo became the first line of defense for the Ottoman Empire and large garrisons of Ottoman troops were stationed in the province. Moreover, the province was renowned for its craftsmen with important cities such as Ipek, housed distinct Ottoman architecture and public baths and are still present today. The birthplace of the Albanian national identity was first articulated in Prizren by the League of Prizren in 1878. Uskup (modern Skopje) was also important, serving as the capital of the province and the mid way point between Istanbul and its European provinces. Prior to the First Balkan War of 1912-1913, the province's size meant that it did not allow for a contiguous Serbia and Montenegro to exist. As a result of the First Balkan War the vilayet was conquered by the Montenegro, Serbia^[1]. A portion of the Viyalet was incorporated into Albania.

History

Ethnographic map of Bakans and Asia Minor, 1898

The Province of Kosovo was an area much larger than today's Kosovo; not only was today's province incorporated into the Ottoman administered district, but also parts of north-western Macedonia including the capital city, Skopje (then Üsküp). Just as Skopje is larger than Pristina today (Kosovo's administrative seat), it was significantly larger then too, although the population in both towns was several times smaller. Skopje was the provincial capital of Kosovo Province as a Turkish vilayet. Kosovo encompassed sections of the Sandžak region cutting into present-day Central Serbia and Montenegro along with the Kukës municipality and surrounding region in present-day northern Albania. Between 1881 and 1912 (its final chapter), it also included other regions of present-day Republic of Macedonia, including larger urban settlements such as Štip (İştip), Kumanovo (Kumanova) and Kratovo (Kratova) (see map).

The province's boundaries shifted as the Ottoman Empire lost territory to neighboring states in the Treaty of Berlin following the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878 and parts were also internally transferred to Monastir Province and from Salonica Province. In 1878, the Sanjak of Novi Pazar, a subdivision of the Province of Kosovo, fell under Austro-Hungarian military occupation in accord with the Berlin treaty. There it would remain until 1908.

Population

The population of the province had a mixed population. The majority were Albanians^[2]. Bosnianks were the majority in the Sanjak of Novi Pazar. Serbs, Bulgarians and Turks were also present in the Province. The Albanians were mostly adherents of Islam, whilst Serbs and Bulgarians were believers in Eastern Orthodoxy. Some Albanians adhered to Roman Catholicism.

Subdivisions

The province was subdivided into the following sanjaks (Albanian town names in italics):

Üsküb (Skopje) including the towns of Skopje, Kumanovo ; Kačanik (Kaçanik); Štip; Kratovo; and Kočani.
Prizren including the towns of Prizren (Pirzerin) and Tetovo (Kalkandelen).
İpek (Peć) including the towns of Peć (İpek); Ðakovica (Yakova); Gusinje, Berane, and Trgovište.
Priştine (Pristina) including the towns of Pristina (Priştine); Kosovska Mitrovica (Mitroviça); Vučitrn (Velçetrin), Gnjilane (Gjilan), and Preševo (Preşova).
Yenipazar (Novi Pazar) including the towns of Novi Pazar, Sjenica (Seniçe), Kolašin (Kolaşin), Nova Varoš (Yeni Varoş) , and Prijepolje (Akova).

Governors

List of the governors of the province:

. until 1893 : Ibrahim Edem Pasha
1894-1899 : Hafiz Mehmed Pasha
1900-1902 : Reshad Bey Pasha
1903-1904 : Shakir Pasha Numan
1905-1907 : Mehmed Shefket Pasha
.. . . . 1908 : Hadi Pasha
1909-1910 : Mazhar Bey Pasha
.. . . . 1911 : Halil Bey Pasha
.. . . . 1912 : Ghalib Pasha

References

^ http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/feb/26/kosovo.serbia
^ George Gawrych The Crescent And The Eagle: Ottoman Rule, Islam And The Albanians, 1874-1913 (I. B. Tauris & Company, 2006).

Literature

Sûreti defter-i sancak-i Arvanid, H. Inalcik, Ankara 1954. (Turkish)
Sûreti defter-i esami vilayeti Dibra, f. 124-176, Başbakanlık Arşivi, maliyeden müdever, nr.508. (Turkish)
Regjistri turk i vitit 1485* - Prof. As. Dr. David Luka (Albanian)
A.F. Gilferding, Putovanje po Hercegovini, Bosni i Staroj Srbiji, Sarajevo, 1972, 241-245 (Serbian)

External links

[1] ttp://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/feb/26/kosovo.serbia

[2] George Gawrych The Crescent And The Eagle: Ottoman Rule, Islam And The Albanians, 1874-1913 (I. B. Tauris & Company, 2006).

[1]

[2]

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 [[Image:Kosovo03.png|thumb|305px|right|Map of the Vilayet of Kossovo within the Balkans]]
 {{History of Kosovo}}
-The '''Kosovo Province''', also known as the '''Kosovo Vilayet''' ({{lang-tr|Kosova Vilayeti}}; {{lang-sq|Vilajeti i Kosovës}}; [[Macedonian language|Macedonian]]: Косовска Покраина, ''Kosovska Pokraina''; [[Serbian language|Serbian]]: Косовски вилајет, ''Kosovski vilajet'') was a ''[[vilayet]]'' of the [[Ottoman Empire]] in the [[Balkan Peninsula]] roughly corresponding to the current [[International recognition of Kosovo|disputed territory]] of [[Kosovo]], the western part of the [[Republic of Macedonia]], a part of southern [[Serbia]] and a portion of north-eastern [[Montenegro]]. It was created from the [[Rumelia]] Province as part of an Ottoman administrative reform law of 1864. For hundreds of years the ''vilayet'' stood as a [[microcosm]] of Ottoman society, incorporated within its boundaries were diverse groups of peoples and religions: [[Albanians]], [[Serbians]], [[Bosniaks]], [[Muslims]], [[Christians]], both Orthodox and Catholic resided in the province. As a result of the [[Treaty of San Stefano]] and the subsequent [[Treaty of Berlin (1878)|Treaty of Berlin]] of 1878 (that recognized the complete independence of the principalities of [[Romanian Principalities|Romania]], [[Principality of Serbia|Serbia]] and [[Principality of Montenegro|Montenegro]], and the autonomy of [[Principality of Bulgaria|Bulgaria]]), the ''vilayet'' of Kosovo became the first line of defense for the Ottoman Empire and large garrisons of Ottoman troops were stationed in the province. Moreover, the province was renowned for its craftsmen with important cities such as Ipek, housed distinct Ottoman architecture and public baths and are still present today. The birthplace of the Albanian national identity was first articulated in [[Prizren]] by the [[League of Prizren]] in 1878. Uskup (modern [[Skopje]]) was also important, serving as the capital of the province and the mid way point between Istanbul and its European provinces. Prior to the [[First Balkan War]] of 1912-1913, the province's size meant that it did not allow for a contiguous Serbia and Montenegro to exist. As a result of the First Balkan War the ''vilayet'' was divided between  various Balkan entities.
+The '''Kosovo Province''', also known as the '''Kosovo Vilayet''' ({{lang-tr|Kosova Vilayeti}}; {{lang-sq|Vilajeti i Kosovës}}; [[Macedonian language|Macedonian]]: Косовска Покраина, ''Kosovska Pokraina''; [[Serbian language|Serbian]]: Косовски вилајет, ''Kosovski vilajet'') was a ''[[vilayet]]'' of the [[Ottoman Empire]] in the [[Balkan Peninsula]] roughly corresponding to the current [[International recognition of Kosovo|disputed territory]] of [[Kosovo]], the western part of the [[Republic of Macedonia]], a part of southern [[Serbia]] and a portion of north-eastern [[Montenegro]]. It was created from the [[Rumelia]] Province as part of an Ottoman administrative reform law of 1864. For hundreds of years the ''vilayet'' stood as a [[microcosm]] of Ottoman society, incorporated within its boundaries were diverse groups of peoples and religions: [[Albanians]], [[Serbians]], [[Bosniaks]], [[Muslims]], [[Christians]], both Orthodox and Catholic resided in the province. As a result of the [[Treaty of San Stefano]] and the subsequent [[Treaty of Berlin (1878)|Treaty of Berlin]] of 1878 (that recognized the complete independence of the principalities of [[Romanian Principalities|Romania]], [[Principality of Serbia|Serbia]] and [[Principality of Montenegro|Montenegro]], and the autonomy of [[Principality of Bulgaria|Bulgaria]]), the ''vilayet'' of Kosovo became the first line of defense for the Ottoman Empire and large garrisons of Ottoman troops were stationed in the province. Moreover, the province was renowned for its craftsmen with important cities such as Ipek, housed distinct Ottoman architecture and public baths and are still present today. The birthplace of the Albanian national identity was first articulated in [[Prizren]] by the [[League of Prizren]] in 1878. Uskup (modern [[Skopje]]) was also important, serving as the capital of the province and the mid way point between Istanbul and its European provinces. Prior to the [[First Balkan War]] of 1912-1913, the province's size meant that it did not allow for a contiguous Serbia and Montenegro to exist. As a result of the First Balkan War the ''vilayet'' was conquered by the [[Kingdom of Montenegro|Montenegro]], [[Kingdom of Serbia|Serbia]]<ref>http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/feb/26/kosovo.serbia</ref>. A portion of the Viyalet was incorporated into [[Albania]].
 ==History==