Temeşvar Eyalet


The Eyalet of Temeşvar was a first-level administrative unit of the Ottoman Empire. It existed from 1552 to 1716. Provincial administration was centered in Temeşvar from 1552 to 1659, and again from 1693 to 1716. During the 1659–1693 interval, its second capital was Yanova, and within that period, it was also known as the Eyalet of Yanova. The province was located in the Banat region of Central Europe. Besides Banat, it also included southern parts of the Crișana region, north of the river Mureș. Its territory is now divided between Hungary, Romania, and Serbia.

Names

The name of the province in Ottoman Turkish was Eyâlet-i Temeşvar or Eyâlet-i Tımışvar, in Hungarian was Temesvári vilajet, in Romanian was Eialetul Timișoarei or Pașalâcul Timișoara, in Serbian was Темишварски ејалет or Temišvarski ejalet. The province was named after its administrative seat, Temeşvar. The Turkish name Temeşvar is given after the Hungarian one, Temesvár meaning "Castle on the Temes".

History

Since the capture of Belgrade, Ottoman forces have intensified their incursions towards Hungarian territories beyond the Danube, gradually establishing several posts on its left banks, while the Temes County and surrounding regions remained under the Hungarian rule. By 1536, the Banate of Lugos and Karansebes was established within the Eastern Hungarian Kingdom, as a military frontier towards the Ottomans. In the same time, local magnate Petar Petrović emerged as a semi-autonomous governor of the region, balancing between Hungarians and Ottomans.
Upon the initial dissolution of the Eastern Hungarian Kingdom in the summer of 1551, much of its territories, including the Temes County and the surrounding regions, were integrated into the Habsburg Kingdom of Hungary, thus provoking the reaction of the Ottoman Empire, that invaded the region in the autumn of the same year, taking several cities, but not being able to conquer Temeşvar.
The Eyalet of Temeşvar was formed in 1552, when the Hungarian castle of Temesvár defended by the troop of István Losonczy was finally captured by the Ottoman troops led by Kara Ahmed Pasha on July 26, 1552.
The Eyalet was led by a vali or beylerbey, whose residence was at the former Hunyadi Castle in Temeşvar, and also in Yanova.
It existed until 1716, when its territory was conquered by the Habsburg monarchy during the Austro-Turkish War. In 1718, the Habsburgs formed a new province in this region, named the Banat of Temeswar.

Demographics

Numerous Muslims mostly from the Balkans settled in the area, living mostly in the cities and associated with trade and administration. The countryside of the Banat region was mainly populated by Rascians in the west, and Vlachs in the east. Thus, in some historical sources, the region of Banat was referred to as Rascia, while in others as Wallachia. Temeşvar was mostly populated by Muslims during Ottoman rule.

Administrative divisions

Upon creation in 1552, the Eyalet of Temeşvar was divided into these sanjaks:
  • Sanjak of Tımışvar
  • Sanjak of Arad
  • Sanjak of Çanad
  • Sanjak of Lipva
  • Sanjak of Modava
By the end of the 16th century new sanjaks were created:
  • Sanjak of Pankota
  • Sanjak of Orşova
During the 17th century additional sanjaks were created:
  • Sanjak of Fenlak
  • Sanjak of Çakova
  • Sanjak of Lagoş
  • Sanjak of Şebeş
  • Sanjak of Pançova
Sanjaks of Güle, Yanova and Fenlak, and northern parts of the Çanad and Lipva sanjaks were transferred to Habsburg Monarchy after signing of the Treaty of Karlowitz.

Governors