Sanjak of Vidin


The Sanjak of Vidin or the Vidin Sanjak was a sanjak in the Ottoman Empire, with Vidin as its administrative centre. It was established after the Battle of Nicopolis in 1396 out of the territories of the Tsardom of Vidin and in the mid-15th century annexed some territories that belonged to the Serbian Despotate before the Ottomans captured it.

History

After the major breakthrough into the Balkans at the end of the 14th century, the Ottomans were well aware of the strategic importance of Danube and decided to capture all important fortresses on its banks. The Tsardom of Vidin, which was under control of Ivan Sratsimir, became an Ottoman vassal state in 1393, and a strong Ottoman garrison was stationed in Vidin. It was established after the Battle of Nicopolis in 1396 out of the territories of the Tsardom of Vidin Baba Vida fortress was expanded by the Ottomans who built long walls around it.
Some people from neighbouring Oltenia began migrating to the Sanjak of Vidin, especially after the Long War (1591–1606) and the hunger crisis which struck after the war.
In 1807, during the First Serbian Uprising, Serbian rebels attacked parts of the sanjak, which at the time was still under the control of Ottoman renegade Osman Pazvantoglu. The rebels' aim was to establish communication with the Russian troops in Wallachia under General Ignatiev. After the collapse of the Serbian uprising, part of the territory around Sokobanja and Svrljig recaptured from the rebels was annexed by the Sanjak of Vidin.

Administration and demographics

In 1455, Ottomans registered all populated places in the sanjak for the first time. According to the Ottoman tax registers from 1454–55 the territory of the Sanjak included the following nahiyahs: Banya, Belgrad, Veleshnitsa, Vidin, Gelvie, Zagorie, Isvrlig, Kladobo, Krivina, Timok, Tcherna reka/Crna reka and the following fortresses: Vidin, Banya, Belgrad, Isvrlig and Florentin. Negotinska Krajina, Ključ and partly Crna Reka, that belonged to the Serbian Despotate prior to Ottoman conquest, were included in the Sanjak of Vidin after 1455, and at that time were part of a special military frontier.
Four defters were made in the Sanjak of Vidin in the period between 1483 and 1586.
After 1541, the sanjak became part of the Budin Eyalet. From 1846 to 1864, the sanjak belonged to the Widdin Eyalet, while from 1864 to 1878, it was part of the Danube Vilayet.

Governors

Economy

The Sanjak of Vidin was one of six Ottoman sanjaks with the most developed shipbuilding.